Funny enough, I was taught next-to-nothing about the Alamo growing up. I think it was mentioned maybe once in all 12 years of grade school. I don't know that it has the same cultural currency it once did, at least outside of Texas.

We were taught largely that the Mexican-American War was started because of illegal immigrants from the USA going to then-Mexico and throwing a fit, including many Southerners who brought their slaves with them, and Mexico was cracking down on enforcement of anti-slavery laws.