TEXAS HISTORY EXAM REVIEW
41. Stephen F. Austin
"Father of Texas." First and most successful American Empresario who brought in American families to live in Texas in the 1820's.
37. Adams-Onis Treaty 1819 - Significance?
Peace treaty boundary line created between the U.S. and Spain in 1819. The U.S. received Florida from Spain and agreed to surrender any claims to take over Texas. The Sabine River would be the boundary between Spanish Texas and the U.S.
47. (a) Santa Anna
President of Mexico and later General in the Mexican Army in the Texas Revolution. When he first came to power in 1833, the Texans supported him because he claimed to be a Federalist and promised to support the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Later, Santa Anna became a dictator.
12. Cortez - Who was he? What did he do? Why is he significant? Significance of 1519?
Spanish Conquistador who invaded Mexico in 1519 and conquered the Aztec Empire.
49. Components and effects of the Law of April 6, 1830
banned any further immigration from the United States to Texas, inclusive of any new slaves (NEED TO FINISH)
22. French vs. Spanish interest in Texas
- French explorers were nicer to the Natives than the Spanish were - The French wished to form friendships and trade with the Natives - The Spanish looked for valuable minerals and stole land from Natives - The Spanish tried to force their religion on the Natives and also enslaved them.
24. What is the Columbian Exchange?
- Global "Exchange"/TRADE of people, goods/products, and ideas between Europe and the "New World" of the Western Hemisphere (where the U.S. is located, etc...). This "exchange" occurred after Columbus Discovery of the "New World."
39. Definition Empresario
American "land agents" who, with permission of the Mexican government, bought vast amounts of land and brought in settlers to help colonize Mexican Texas.
The Mountains and Basins Region
- least densely populated region in Texas; SPARSELY populated! - mountains, basins, plateaus, with desert vegetation - farming requires irrigation from the Rio Grande and Pecos rivers and natural springs; crops grown are cotton and pecans - hot summers and cold winters with very little rainfall - tourism, manufacturing, and trade are usually connected with Mexico - proximity to Mexico and New Mexico creates Hispanic cultural ties
The Coastal Plains Region
- most densely populated region of Texas - very green- a lot of rainfall (most rainfall of any region) - natural resources: forests, oil, natural gas - excellent soil for farming (long growing season) - coastal seaports connected by many roads, railrodes, pipelines, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway - many large international airports; global business connections; trade with Mexico; tourism
The North Central Plains Region
- plains with grasses, shrubs, and small trees - natural resources: oil and natural gas -livestock in this region includes goats, sheep, horses, and cattle - some important manufacturing industries include airplanes, helicopters, and electronics - ranching culture- a lot of smaller towns, but near enough to larger cities
The Great Plains Region
- population sparse; mostly rural and agricultural - mostly flat, elevated plains with some canyons; the plains run east of Rockies in the U.S., from Canada to Mexico - little rainfall - natural resources: oil and natural gas - issues with drought and irrigation technology used; the soil is thin/rocky and eroded - farmers pump water from aquifers for irrigation in farming - livestock= cattle, goats and sheep-raising (the rocky terrain is suitable for sheep and goats) - recreational activities in Hill Country and hunting (lease) - small to midsize towns; the "rural" culture is heavily based on agriculture and the petroleum industry
27. What were the reasons Spain established missions?
- to keep Texas out of French control - to convert the Natives to Christianity - to "civilize" the Natives and force them to become peaceful farmers who paid taxes - to use the Natives for slave labor in fields
34. Louisiana Purchase - Who? What? Where? When? Why important?
1803. Thomas Jefferson purchased this vast area of the Mississippi River Valley from the French under Napoleon. The price was $15 million dollars and it DOUBLED the size of the existing United States back then.
44. Centralists vs. Federalists - Explain what each are and describe which the Texans preferred and why?
A Centralist government is where true power and control rests with a very small number of people, concentrated in the central/national government (example- a Dictator and his advisors). Santa Anna became a dictator leader in the Mexican government. They believe that POWER should be concentrated in the national government of a country. Federalism is a government like the U.S.
40. Define Tejano
A person of Hispanic origin/heritage living in Texas.
33. 1776-
American colonies declare independence from Britain.
10. Christopher Columbus - Who was he? What did he do? Why is he significant?
An Italian who sailed from Spain in 1492 and paved the way for New World domination by Spain.
35. Define Filibuster as it applies to Texas; How did filibusters affect Texas?
An adventurer, rebel, or "pirate" who tried to gain personal power or wealth and some made attempts to liberate Texas from Spain. American filibusters illegally entered Texas.
11. Define Conquistador
An armed Spanish soldier (explorer/leader) who fought for Spain and tried to obtain power, gold, glory, and riches for himself and his country (Spain)
6. What are reasons American's chose to colonize Texas?
Anglo-Americans chose to colonize Texas for multiple reasons. Texas had vast, cheap land, costing only twelve and a half cents per acre. Along with the cheap land, new opportunities sparked in ranching and farming. As many Anglo-Americans had lost money in an economic depressions in the United States, colonizing in Texas gave them a chance to escape the U.S. and start over. Another reason to escape was that many adventurous Anglo-Americans could escape the law and people that they owed money to in the U.S.
6. What was the impact of farming on native societies?
As nomadic tribes became more sedentary, they could become more of an advanced, complex culture.
43. Number of Anglo Americans in Texas vs. Number of Tejanos
By 1830, Anglo-Americans GREATLY outnumbered Tejanos in Texas around 10:1.
42. Reason Americans settled in Texas?
Cheap, vast amounts of fertile Texas land available to sell and settle at 12.5 cents per acre! A lot of excellent soil for farming and natural prairie grasses for livestock grazing in ranching. Texas was a great place to get rich and start a new life. There was an economic depression in the U.S. in 1819 and people wanted to get away and start over.
3. What are the effects of this growth rate on Texas today?
Cities in Texas have grown a lot (especially Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and the North Texas Metroplex) due to our low taxes and abundant job opportunities.
25. What are the effects of the Columbian Exchange?
Columbian Exchange: - Global "Exchange"/TRADE of people, goods/products, and ideas between Europe and the "New World" of the Western Hemisphere (where the U.S. is located, etc...). This "exchange" occurred after Columbus Discovery of the "New World." - Examples of products/ideas/things/ goods exchanged: Europeans brought over diseases, gunpowder, advanced weapons, metals, horses, pigs, sheep, slaves, wheat, oranges, rice etc... Europeans received peppers, squash, pumpkins, tobacco, corn, cacao (chocolate), sugar, potatoes, turkeys, etc...
15. Coronado - Who was he? What did he do? Why is he significant?
Conquistador who spent 2 years exploring Texas and the American Southwest (AZ/NM) in search of Gold; he never found the treasure he was looking for... He wanted to gain power and discover great riches in the New World.
48. Effects of the Fredonian Revolt
Empresario Haden Edwards and his followers started a rebellion in Nacogdoches as he tried to remove settlers from their land in a dispute over property rights and titles. The Mexican troops put down this uprising. Edwards had tried to create his own independent settlement in East Texas. Even though the American skirmish was defeated, this action began to increase the suspicions of the Mexican government. They wondered if other Americans would try to revolt and break away! The Mexican leaders sent Mier y Teran to investigate exactly what was going on in Texas! Eventually the Law of April 6th, 1830 was passed to "crack down" on rebellious Texans in an attempt to control them and stop any future rebellions.
32. Impact of European diseases on Natives
European diseases killed many Native Americans in the "New World."
19. La Salle - Who is he? What colony did he build?
French explorer who attempted to claim TEXAS for France in the 1680's; his brief settlement was near the Texas coast and called Fort St. Louis.
14. Friar Marcos - Who was he? What did he do? Why is he significant?
He traveled with Estevanico into New Mexico and claimed to see (from a distance) native pueblos gleaming with Gold. Most likely, he lied about his journey to the Viceroy in order to avoid disappointment after not having found Cibola.
7. Explain how adaptation to the environment allowed some native cultures in Texas to develop differently than others.
In Texas, sedentary/farming tribes such as the Caddo and Jumano tribes were more advanced than nomadic/primitive tribes such as the Comanche and Kiowa Plains tribes.
20. Describe life in La Salle's colony?
It was difficult. La Salle's French settlement was hit with attacks from Native Americans, disease, low supplies, and crop failure. La Salle was eventually killed by his own people in revenge for his poor leadership and arrogance.
16. Motivation of conquistadors - What did they want? Why did they explore/conquer?
Land, gold, riches, glory for themselves, Spain, and God.
31. Impact of European settlement on Native cultures
Many Natives lost their lives in battle and lost their land to the Spanish.
5. Why did Mexico allow Americans to colonize Texas?
Mexico allowed Americans to colonize Texas for multiple reasons mainly involving that there weren't many Mexicans living in Texas. The last thing Mexico wanted was to lose Texas to a foreign nation. Anglo-Americans living in Texas could help protect this boundary ("Buffer" zone) on the wild Texas frontier. Mexico hoped their land would improve through Americans farming and ranching. Plus, the Americans would make Mexico more productive and profitable. The Americans could also help Mexico defeat the aggressive Plains tribes such as the Comanche and Apache.
46. Slavery in Texas - What role did this play in the start of the revolution?
Mexico outlawed slavery in 1829. The Texans were excused from this decree, but they feared that Mexico would soon take away their rights to own slaves.
30. Reasons for the failure of Spanish missions in Texas
Most all of the Texas Natives rejected Christianity and did not want to settle down and become peaceful farmers. The Texas Plains tribes (Comanche and Apache, for example) attacked and raided the Spanish towns and missions. The Natives, for the most part, did not like the Spaniards. If the Natives came to the missions, it was usually for food and sometimes they would leave later on.
4. Explain the factors that led to Spain losing control of Mexico.
Multiple factors led to Spain losing control of Mexico. Mexico was so far away from the rule of the Spanish monarch in Madrid. Also, Spain was going broke and was no longer the powerful nation it once was. Native Americans Mexican "mestizos" were mistreated by the Spanish. Lastly, the laws in the New World (New Spain) favored the wealthy Spaniards.
7. What are the factors that led to the Texas Revolution?
Multiple factors led to Texas revolting against Mexican rule, also known as the Texas Revolution. Americans were worried that Mexico would take away its rights to own slaves. The rise of Santa Anna to power was another reason; He became a Centralist Dictator and denied rights of Texans. The Mier y Teran Report was a factor involving the number/influence of Anglo-Americans being very high in Texas in 1830. Another factor was the Effects of the Freedom Revolt, which was when the Texans were thinking about revolting and rebelling against Mexican rule. Lastly, the Law of April 6th, 1830 was when immigration to Texas was stopped, Texans were taxed (Customs Duty), and Mexico sent troops to occupy Texas settlements and to build more forts in Texas.
18. Declining interest of Spanish in Texas - Why did the Spanish lose interest in Texas?
No gold was found- only Native American settlements, rich soil, and excellent grasses (for future farming and ranching opportunities for settlers)
23. France as a threat to Spain - Describe. What role did this play in the development of Texas?
Spain built missions in Texas and the Spanish influence in language, place names, religion, food, music, architecture, and ranching can still be seen and felt today in Texas culture.
9. Spanish conquest of the new world - How did this affect the development of New Spain/ Texas?
Spain wanted to claim land in the "New World" in order to get natural resources like Gold and Silver; later, in order to hold onto Texas (keep it from becoming French), the Spanish tried, unsuccessfully, to convert the natives to Christianity by building missions.
36. Reasons Spain lost Texas...
Spain was broke, corrupt, and its overseas empire was too large to control. Spain had boundary disputes with the U.S. Eventually, all of the rebellions and independence movements from its colonies (think of Father Hidalgo and Mexico) became too powerful for Spain to crush.
13. Cabeza de Vaca - Who was he? What did he do? Why is he significant?
Spanish explorer who was shipwrecked on the Texas Coast and explored the interior of Texas for many years. He passed himself off as a Shaman and adapted to the lifestyle of the Karankawa natives. Later he found his way back into Mexico and then to Spain. He wrote a book about his long journey and recorded information about the plants and animals of Texas!
28. What was life like inside of the missions?
Strict religious lessons and hard work for the Natives (all day); their daily lives were controlled by the Spanish Friars and soldiers.
38. Mexican Independence 1821 - Significance? What effect(s) did this have on the development of Texas?
Texas went from being a province of Spain to a northern state of Mexico.
5. How does the agricultural revolution change societies?
The Agricultural Revolution was a significant time period in World History when, simultaneously, around the world, various cultures began to grow crops through farming and raise livestock. These early civilizations became quite advanced because they had a dependable, fairly constant supply of food (other than merely hunting wild game) and extra leisure time to begin a creative process and meet their own essential needs. To conclude, the "Agricultural Revolution" in farming allowed the following for the people around the world: - had a dependable food source - the population grew - this led to more advanced societies and creativity: - leisure activities and games - religion - calendars - language - experiments in science (astronomy, etc...) - had a "Division of Labor"; more people and, therefore, more workers and different people helping out and having varied jobs to join together and serve a purpose
4. 4 main regions of Texas - What are they? How do they differ?
The Coastal Plains, the North Central Plains, the Great Plains, and the Mountains and Basins (view specific questions for differences)
1. What is more important to Texas today, the Columbian Exchange or Agricultural Revolution?
The Columbian Exchange is more important to Texas today than the Agricultural Revolution. Although the Agricultural Revolution was when cultures began to raise livestock and grow crops through farming, the Columbian Exchange had a more significant impact on Texas. The Columbian Exchange was a trade route that opened up to and from Europe for the new and old world to trade people, goods/products, and ideas between the two sides. The Americas received gunpowder, advanced weapons, metal, horses, pigs, sheep, slaves, wheat, orange, rice, and more valuable necessities. Even though the American population declined due to disease such as smallpox and malaria brought by Europeans, the positives of this global trade network changed Texas profoundly.
3. Compare and contrast Spain and France's methods of exploration/settlement.
The French and Spanish explored and settled quite differently. French explorers were nicer to the Natives than the Spanish. The French wished to form friendships and trade with the Natives. On the other hand, the Spanish built on Native land, chose to use violence, tried to convert the Natives to a new religion, enslaved Natives, and would bribe them to get what they wanted.
47. (b) Mier y Teran
The Mexican government sent Manuel Mier y Teran to investigate Texas settlements in the 1820's. He was very alarmed by what he saw! He reported back to the Mexican government that American influence was VERY strong in Texas and that the American settlers outnumbered the Tejanos 10:1.
21. What were the effects of La Salle's colony in Texas?
The Spanish did not want to lose Texas to the French- so they came back into Texas and started to build missions. Because the French effort to colonize Texas failed, Texas would be "re-claimed" by Spain and forever have a Spanish influence (which we can still see today in the culture of Texas).
17. Describe the interaction between Spanish and Native Americans
The Spanish were the first to explore North America and colonize parts of it. They were always looking for gold and treasure in this "New World." Frequently, they fought with Native Americans, enslaved them and introduced deadly diseases. Later, the Spanish wanted to convert the Texas Natives to Christianity. The Spanish also introduced their language to North America, their religion-Catholicism, and livestock. - French explorers were nicer to the Natives than the Spanish were - The French wished to form friendships and trade with the Natives - The Spanish looked for valuable minerals and stole land from Natives - The Spanish tried to force their religion on the Natives and also enslaved them.
26. How did the arrival of the French impact the development of Spanish missions?
The Spanish worked very quickly to start building religious settlements, roads, and forts in order to have a strong presence in Texas (keep it out of French control or influence).
50. Santa Anna as federalist vs. Santa Anna as a dictator
The Texans liked Santa Anna at first- then he became a dictator. When Santa Anna came into power in 1833, he was liked, at first, by the Texas Colonists because he promised to be a Federalist and follow the Mexican Constitution of 1824. This was the Constitution (Body of Laws) that the Mexicans wrote in 1824. Back then, they were trying to be like the United States and modeled themselves after the U.S. They wanted to have a democracy (a Republic where people vote to choose their leaders) and they created a government with states, a congress and a president. In time, Santa Anna became a Centralist dictator and threw out this Constitution of 1824.
2. Summarize the relationship between Native Americans and the Spanish. Include examples of cooperation, conflict, and the ultimate result for Native Americans.
The relationship between the Spanish and the Native Americans was conflicted by differences in religion and beliefs. The Spanish tried to force their religion on the Natives and also enslaved them. The Spanish looked for valuable minerals and stole land from the Natives. Overall, the Spanish treated the natives with force and violence and didn't respect them as other cultures did.
1. Cultural Diffusion - What is this? How does it affect the development of societies?
The spreading out of and blending of different cultures. People take their own culture to different places when they move around.
29. 1718 - Founding of San Antonio
This year marks the time that the settlement of San Antonio was created and the Mission San Antonio de Valero was founded (The Alamo is its chapel.)
2. Describe the growth rate of the current Texas population?
Throughout its history, the people in Texas have moved from farms to cities. Cheap land, no state income tax, and good economy.
45. Importance of the Mexican Constitution of 1824
When Santa Anna came into power in 1833, he was liked, at first, by the Texas Colonists because he promised to be a Federalist and follow the Mexican Constitution of 1824. This was the Constitution (Body of Laws) that the Mexicans wrote in 1824. Back then, they were trying to be like the United States and modeled themselves after the U.S. They wanted to have a democracy (a Republic where people vote to choose their leaders) and they created a government with states, a congress and a president. In time, Santa Anna became a Centralist dictator and threw out this Constitution of 1824.
8. List and explain the lifestyle and traditions of the following native cultures: a. Plains b. Pueblo c. Gulf
a. Plains- Nomadic, hunted bison, rode horses introduced by the Spanish, primitive lifestyle based on hunting and war b. Pueblo- West Texas, similar culture to New Mexico and Arizona, farming through irrigation (grew corn, beans, squash), settled/sedentary, traded and made pottery c. Gulf- primitive, nomadic, the Karankawa tribe adapted to life by the Gulf of Mexico (seafood) and moved with the seasons while the Coahuiltecans were in the harsh land of southern Texas and struggled to eat and survive
47. Identify the role and importance of the following people: a. Santa Anna b. Mier y Teran
a. Santa Anna- President of Mexico and later General in the Mexican Army in the Texas Revolution. When he first came to power in 1833, the Texans supported him because he claimed to be a Federalist and promised to support the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Later, Santa Anna became a dictator. b. Mier y Teran- The Mexican government sent Manuel Mier y Teran to investigate Texas settlements in the 1820's. He was very alarmed by what he saw! He reported back to the Mexican government that American influence was VERY strong in Texas and that the American settlers outnumbered the Tejanos 10:1.
