History of Texas

Economic Development after Reconstruction

After Reconstruction, the Texas economy flourished, largely based on the growth of the cattle industry. Barbed wire was introduced in 1880, and ranchers began using scientific cattle breeding to increases production and improve the quality of meat.

World Wars and Beyond

As a result of WWI, Texas emerged as a leading military training center. Several military bases were established in the state, bringing economic growth. The rapid development of the aircraft industry and highly technological businesses led to rapid industrialization in the state. By WWII, Texas was a leading state in the defense industry.The modern economy of Texas still relies on agriculture, ranching, and oil production, but new high-technology industries are rapidly becoming the top economic forces in the state.

Confederacy Period

At the onset of the American Civil War, Texas left the union and joined the Confederacy as a proslavery state. After five years of war, the Confederate army, led by General Robert E. Lee, surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, the leader of the Union forces. After the war, the Union forces occupied the South for a period of 12 years - this era was called the Reconstruction Period.

Sam Houston

A delegation of Texans traveled to Washington, D.C., to secure support from U.S. government. Sam Houston a former governor of Tennessee, volunteered to fight for Texas and eventually became the commander-in-chief of the Texas army.

Texas Declaration of Independence

A few days before the Battle of the Alamo, a group of Texans met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to issue a declaration of independence and to form the new government. An interim government for the republic of Texas established, with David G. Burnet as president and Lorenzo de Zavala as vice president.

Jumanos

A fourth group lived in the mountains and basins of west Texas. The information about this group is limited because they virtually disappeared before the Spaniards arrived in the area.

Mexican-American War

Between 1846-1848, Mexico and the US waged a war that ended with a decisive victory and tremendous land acquisitions for the US. As a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico withdrew its claim over Texas and established the Rio Grande, or Rio Bravo, as it is known in Mexico, as the official border between the two countries. Mexico also ceded California and the territory known today as the American Southwest to the United States.

Texas War for Independence

Conflicts between Texans and the Mexican government started as early as 1830. The colonists felt that the government was not providing adequate support and protection to Texas.Initially, they wanted to negotiate with the new president, Santa Anna, and sent Stephen Austin to Mexico City to represent the colony. The Mexican government was not willing to negotiate and jailed Austin for a year. `

Republic Period

Despite the economic hardship typical of new nations, Texas managed to remain independent from ten years and was recognized by several nations in the world, including the US. However, unable to secure its borders and reverse its financial situation, the new nation sought the support of the US.

Reconstruction Period

During Reconstruction, Texas was briefly under occupation by U.S. troops. Texas was allowed to rejoin the union in 1870. The Ku Klux Klan became very active at this time, terrorizing African Americans in Texas and the southern state.

Mexican Independence

During the first part of the nineteenth century, the Spanish empire began crumbling. Mexico obtained its independence in 1821 and took control of the colony of Texas.

French Influence in Texas

In 1682, Robert de la Sallle established a French settlement in fort Saint Louis in East Texas. A few years later, the Spaniards expelled the French and established a series of missions in East Texas to control the French threat in the region.

First Mission in Texas

In 1682, the Spanish established the first permanent settlement in Texas - the mission of Ysleta del Sur near the present-day city of El Paso. After this mission, no serious efforts were made to colonize the area until the French began to threaten the Spanish hegemony in East Texas.

San Antonio

In 1718, the Spanish established a mission and a fort - San Antonio de Valero and Fort San Antonio de Baxar - near what is now the city of San Antonio. These settlements were established to provide protection and support to the settlements in East Texas.

Anglo-American Presence in Texas

In 1820, Mose Austin received permission from the Spanish government to bring Anglo-American families to settle in Texas. This agreement was voided when Mexico took control of the territory. Later, Austin's son, Stephen, negotiated with the Mexican government and obtained a similar agreement to allow Angel0Americans to settle in Texas. By 1835, the settlers were the majority in the region, which antagonized the Mexican government and resulted a war.

Texas Joins he Union

In 1845, Texas became the twenty-eighth state of the American union. Immediately, the U.S. government sent troops to the Rio Grande (which Mexicans considered their territory) to secure the Texas border. The ensuing clashes between Mexico and U.S. forces resulted in Congress declaring war in May 1847.

Oil in Texas

In 1901, oil was discovered in the Spindletop Oil Field near Beaumont. The development of the oil industry made Texas the leading producer of oil in the US. As a result of the boom, cities like Houston, and Dallas became large urban and industrial centers.

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado

In response to reports of the mythical Seven Cities of Cibola, Coronado led an expedition of almost a thousand men in search of the golden cities. The expedition left Mexico City and explored the southwestern United States and northern Texas. In 1542, Coronado returned to Mexico empty handed. For the next 140 years, the Texas region remained isolated, and no other attempts were made to colonize it.

Juan de Onate

In1595, Onate received permission from King Philip II of Spain to colonize New Mexico. In 1598, he founded the first European settlement west of the Mississippi in New Mexico.

Before European Colonization

Several Native American groups inhabited the territory known today as Texas.

Cabeza de Vaca

The Spanish exploration of the territory today known as Texas began in 1528, when Cabeza de Vaca and three companions landed in the territory. The four Spaniards made contact with the Caddo in the southeastern part of the state, near modern-day Houston. In his accounts of the meeting, de Vaca described the Caddo as a very sophisticated Native American group. From there, de Vaca continued exploring the region of modern-day New Mexico and Arizona. No other significant events happened in the region until 1541, when Francisco Vazquez de Coronado explored Texas.

The Alamo and Goliad

The first meaningful battle of the Texas war for independence took place near the present-day city of San Antonio in a small mission and fort known as the Alamo. When the war began, few than 200 men, led by Colonel William Travis, protected the Alamo. Eventually, additional historical characters like James Bowie and Davy Crockett joined Travis in defending the fort. In 1836, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and the Mexican army took the fort and killed all its defenders, including Texas of Mexican ancestry. Following this victory, Santa Anna continued marching against the rebels and took the city of Goliad, where more than 300 rebels were killed. These two battles provided the patriotic emotion that resulted in the creation of an army and eventually led to victory. against Mexico.

Comanche and the Apaches

The last two groups coexisted with Europeans and resisted the colonization efforts. After they domesticated horses, previously introduced by the Spanish, the Comanche and Apaches became fearless warriors and successful buffalo hunters. The domestication of the horse allowed the development of the culture of the buffalo. When buffalo were later annihilated in the area, these two groups became practically extinct.

First Battle in Gonzales

The town of Gonzales had a cannon to protect the colonists from the Indians. By order of the government, Mexican soldiers came to take the cannon from the colonists in October 1835. The Texans refused to relinquish their weapon and fired the cannon against the Mexican soldiers. With this incident in Gonzales, the war for Texas independence began.

Coastal Plains Indians

the Coahuiltecan, Karankawas, and Caddos - they were good gathers, fishermen, and farmers. When the Spanish arrived in Texas, they made initial contact with these groups. The name Texas came as a result of contact with the Caddos. Attempting to communicate to the Spaniards that they were not hostile, some Caddos identified themselves with the word taysha, which in their language meant friend or ally. When the Spaniards heard the word taysha, they thought the Caddos were identifying the name of the region. From that exchange, the Texas and the state motto, "Friendship," emerged.

Six Flags Over Texas

•Spain •France •Mexico •Republic of Texas •United States •Confederacy •Back to the American union

State Facts and Symbols

•State Flower- Bluebonnet •State bird - Mockingbird •State tree - Pecan •State motto - Friendship •Border States: Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and new Mexico •State song - "Our Texas," by William J. Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright.

Battle of San Jacinto

•While the colonist were fighting the Mexican army at the Alamo and in Goliad, General Sam Houston was strengthening the army of the new republic. The Texas army continued retreating ahead of the Mexican forces until they reached the San Jacinto River, near the city of Houston. •In a battle that lasted less than twenty minutes, Houston's troops defeated the Mexican army and captured General Santa Anna. •Texas President Burnet and Mexican President Santa Anna signed the Treaty of Velasco, with Santa Anna agreeing to withdraw his troops from Texas in exchange for safe conduct back to Mexico, where he would lobby for recognition of Texas independence. •Santa Anna's commitment never materialized, and the Mexican government refused to recognize Texas as an independent republic. •Nevertheless, Sam Houston became the president of the new republic, and from 1836 to 1845, Texas functioned as an independent nation. •However, the Mexican government still considered it one of its rebellious provinces that it could one day reclaim.