Davy Crockett, the figure who would become a legend in American folklore, began his life in a humble home on the frontier. Born in eastern Tennessee on August 17, 1786, Davy's father set him to work at an early age to help support his family. He was an unruly child and avoided his parents' attempts to send him to school, often playing hooky. Eventually, he ran away from home in fear of his father's punishment for missing school. Davy lived on his own for two and a half years, doing odd jobs to support himself. When he returned home to his family, he was forgiven by his father. In gratitude for his father's forgiveness, Davy worked to help repay all his father's debts. His father was a farmer and businessman, but unskilled at both, which often left him having to pay back debts. Davy worked to help repay the $76 his father owed, which, in 1802, was a sizeable sum for a poor family living on the frontier. This early willingness to shoulder a debt that was not his own showed a young man already learning responsibility.

Davy married Mary Finley just before he turned twenty and tried his hand at farming like his father. However, he had spent much of his life in the wilderness and, as a result, proved to be more effective as a hunter. He was known for hunting bears and other animals, which later inspired legends about him.

Davy served in the Tennessee militia and reenlisted to fight in the War of 1812, during which he served under the future president Andrew Jackson to drive British forces from Florida. This willingness to take up arms for his country, not once but twice, marked the beginning of a lifelong patriotism that would carry him from the battlefield to the halls of Congress and, ultimately, to Texas. After his stint in the military, Davy turned his view towards politics. He had already become a well-known figure and eventually was elected to a seat in Congress. Although he had served under Jackson, he opposed him politically. In response to those who were surprised at his actions, Davy defended himself, saying, "I have always supported measures and principles and not men." Davy was not afraid to stand alone and fight for what he believed to be right. Davy would say, "Be always sure you're right — then go ahead!" This dedication to his conscience led him to boldly oppose Jackson's Indian Removal Act, a stand for justice on behalf of a people who had no voice in Congress of their own, and one that required real honesty. It cost him his seat in Congress. During his political career, tall tales began to spread about Davy's exploits, which exaggerated his life on the frontier. When Davy lost a reelection to the Senate, he decided to embark on a journey to a new frontier and took his family down to Texas.

In Texas, Davy eventually joined the province's war for independence and was famously part of the two hundred Texas volunteers at the Alamo. There, he fought courageously against the thousands of Mexican troops. Davy was a central figure in the defense of the Alamo, encouraging and strengthening his fellow troops' resolve to stand firm against the oncoming foes. He was seen holding the defensive line in front of the Alamo church. This position was the most vulnerable to enemy attacks but was critical to ensuring the defenders would not be overrun. Davy took it upon himself to ensure the line would hold, and he died protecting it — a final, complete act of patriotism, given in defense of a cause not even his own by birth.

From his life on the frontier to his death at the Alamo, Davy stood steadfast in the face of difficulty. He embraced the rugged life, unafraid of risk or danger. These qualities created the backdrop for all the legends written about him. However, despite all the tall tales, Davy Crockett's life embodied the rugged American spirit necessary to survive the harsh life on the frontier. His life was an inspiration not only for the continued fight for Texas independence, but also for generations of Americans to come.