Major Events in Texas History

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Major Events in Texas History

• Africans left 60,000 years ago.
• DNA science shows all humans living today mutated
  from one African male bushman ancestor (click on
  hyperlink). For thousands of years our ancestors
  migrated in different directions mutating as
  the need arose. Watch this 2 hour PBS special
  about this (Click on hyperlink). You can even
  have your own DNA tested to find your path and
  can even have your DNA broken down into its
  various mutant race components. Fascinating!
• Evidence of 1st humans near Killeen, Texas about
  15,000 years ago. White Europeans discover
  continent in 1492, 1st settle Virginia in 1607.
  Fights will follow from beginning when white man
  wants valuable native resources, such as Trail of
  Tears. See Cherokees.

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Major Events in Texas History

• 1400s, Spanish conquistadors killed 24 million by
  military conquest infecting natives by European
  diseases that would last for 400 years and one of
  the gravest crimes in world history. The
  slaughter of the Inca, Aztec, Maya empires
  other indigenous populations extended from the
  tip of South America all the way from the
  Mississippi River west and north to present day
  Canadian border. You must convert to Catholicism
  Spanish culture or die. http//www.pbs.org/gun
  sgermssteel http//www.pbs.org/conquistadors
• 1519, explorer Pifieda mapped Texas' coast.
• 1528, explorer Cabeza de Vaca Shipwrecked near
  Galveston. Hiked to Mexico City started tales
  of 7 Cities of Gold.
• 1541, Coronado, explored New Mexico, West Texas,
  and up to Kansas.
• 1682, 1st Spanish missions built near El Paso
• 1682 French at mouth of Mississippi and will
  control a vast region from there up to the
  northwest (Louisiana Purchase) 1685, La Salle
  Fort St. Louis on Texas coast (Matagorda Bay)
  claims for France. Killed by one of his own men,
  disease, starvation, Indian attacks kill all
  others.
• 1689, Spanish expedition sent to destroy Fort St.
  Louis. Found empty.
• 1718, Mission San Antonio de Valero established
  as collection of huts.
• 1727 Alamo compound built, and the present church
  in 1758

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Louisiana Texas?

• 1775-1783 American War for Independence from
  Great Britain
• 1789-1799 French Revolution
• Louisiana territory
• All or part of 15 current U.S. states and the
  Canadian provinces (Alberta Saskatchewan)
• 1699 until 1762 France controlled this vast area,
  then gave back to its ally Spain.
• 1800 France took back hoping to build an American
  empire.
• 1791-1804 Haiti Congo slave (sugar plantations)
  revolution with aid from Great Britain Spain
  allies
• 37,000 French combat deaths, 25,000 French
  civilian deaths, 20,000 French died of yellow
  fever Haitian casualties uncounted but certain
  to be many times the French.
• Impending war with England
• France abandoned American expansion - sold entire
  Louisiana to USA 1803 for 15 million, equivalent
  to 233 million today's US dollars, or 3 cents an
  acre
• Doubled size of USA. Lewis Clark Expedition
  1804-1806.

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How Texas Became a State?

• 1812-1815 War of 1812 between USA Great Britain
• President John Quincy Adams-Onis Treaty 1819
• Spain forbade USA settlement in Texas
• Many Americans viewed as unwise to cede to Spain
  a foreign power believed Spain boundary
  claims questionable.
• 1810-1821 Mexican War of Independence from Spain
  (Peace Treaty of Cordoba) after domination by
  Spain (foreign power) since late 1400s.
• Texas territory of Spain now new country of
  Mexico - called Coahuila y Tejas. Stephen F.
  Austin leader of Anglos in Spanish Mexico,
  influential with Mexican officials. He convinces
  Mexico to encourage USA immigration.
• After independence - Mexico reversed Spain
  policy opened floodgates to USA settlement in
  Texas to foster economic ties get people to
  develop dangerous wilderness area.
• 1826 Austin forms Texas rangers.
  http//www.texasranger.org/history/BriefHistory1.h
  tm http//www.txdps.state.tx.us/TexasRangers

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The gathering storm of future war

• Mexico offers free land but required Catholicism.
  Immigrants had own religions refused. By 1830s
  30,000 USA citizens were dominate population of
  Texas frontier too late to close gates. Viewed
  as U.S. illegal immigrants not complying with
  law. However, they were a minority among hostile
  Apaches, Comanche's and other tribes hostile to
  the invasion. The Indian Wars will last in Texas
  until the 1880s.
• The flood of illegal American immigrants into
  Mexico flowed from the USA across the rivers
  south into Mexico (ironic considering todays
  politics), and they brought their slaves with
  them (prohibited by Mexican law). Angered by the
  disrespect of its laws, Mexico orders slaves
  freedom. To avoid immediate war, Texans evaded by
  technically freeing the slaves, but required all
  former slaves to sign lifetime indentured
  contracts in effect slavery is continued. In
  1830 Mexico reacted by forbidding further
  settlement, but the flow continued (just like
  today), and this leads to war.
• USA believed right to protect its citizens,
  because it owned part of Texas (Louisiana
  Purchase), Manifest Destiny beliefs to include
  USA expansion north (54.40 - or fight is the
  east-west latitude north all the way to Russian
  Alaska most of Canada), south (Mexico) west
  to Pacific. They believed was debatable in court
  whether Texas boundary was Sabine River (present
  Texas eastern boundary) or somewhere between
  there and the Rio Grande River.

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Texas Leader

• Sam Houston
• A charming 66 leader, a school teacher, a
  lawyer, a USA Army officer wounded hero in War
  1812 under Andrew Jackson, a drunk, a hot
  tempered dueler.
• Ambassador from Cherokee Indian Nation to USA
  whose Indian name was Raven.
• US Representative Governor from Tennessee
  discussed as the future President of US.
• 1832 censured by US House for beating another
  Member (Stanberry, Ohio) into a coma with a
  hickory stick for alleging he profited from US
  contracts with Indians. (honor everything to
  Houston). Moves to Texas frontier
• Friends with a dozen US Presidents 1812-1860.
• Defeated Mexico/Santa Annas army at San Jacinto
  4/21/1836
• President of the Republic of Texas
• US Senator Governor of State of Texas, slave
  owner who refused allegiance to Confederacy.
• Died 1863 during USA civil war.

His statue is the tallest of any American hero
and located along I-45 at Huntsville north of
Houston, Texas.
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War Revolution

• Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the president of
  Mexico, viewed self as French Napoleon of the
  West -leads Mexican 6019 man army against Texas
  rebels.
• 10/2/1835, Battle of Gonzales "Come and Take It!

• USA President Jackson (1829-1837) always wanted
  to annex Texas, but didn't act
• US Revolution fresh in memory, French Revolution,
  Mexican revolution, America growing, Manifest
  Destiny idea of living free spreading like
  forest fire among adventurous aggressive and
  fascinating men.
• 1835, Stephen F. Austin announced war with Mexico
  (liberty/freedom!)

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Battle of the Alamo

• 1836, Gov. Smith of Texas Council orders Travis
  (left photo) to defend Alamo starting 2/23/1836.
  Co-command by Bowie (right photo). Also Davy
  Crockett, Member of Congress 1826-1835 (bottom).
• 3/2/1836 Texas Declaration of Independence
  enacted by Council at Washington-on-the-Brazos
  (near Navasota).

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Battle of the Alamo

• 3/5/1836 Santa Anna ordered band to play ancient
  Islamic tune Deguello" (signifies the act of
  beheading or throat-cutting) along with the
  hoisting of the blood red flag of no quarter
  death to traitors. There will be no survivors.
• 3/6/1836 Final pre-dawn battle of the Alamo that
  ended the occupation of the defenders after 13
  days. One this one day, Texans in the Alamo
  killed 1,600 Mexicans wounded 500.
• All 187 Alamo warriors were killed in action with
  the enemy Mexicans 13 civilians spared.
• 3/20/1836 Massacre at Coleto Creek near Goliad.

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Battle Cries forTexas Independence

• "Remember the Alamo!
• Remember Goliad!"
• "Thermopylae had its messenger of defeat ... the
  Alamo had none.
• From the fire that burned their bodies, rose the
  eternal spirit of sublime human sacrifice that
  gave birth to an empire state...

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Battle of San Jacinto

• 4/21/1836, near the present city of Houston.
• Texans' movements screened by trees and the
  rising ground. 330 PM Mexicans in siesta with no
  lookouts to observe the movement.
• The battle line formed with Burleson's regiment
  in center, Sherman's on left wing, Hockleys
  artillery (The Twin Sisters) on Burleson's right,
  Millards Infantry at right of artillery, and
  Lamars cavalry on extreme right.
• The whole line, led by Sherman's men, sprang
  forward on the run with the cry, "Remember the
  Alamo!" "Remember Goliad!

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San Jacinto Houston

• Battle lasted 18 minutes. 630 Mexicans killed
  and 730 prisoners. 9 of 910 Texans were killed
  30 wounded, including Houston whose ankle
  shattered by rifle ball. Santa Anna permitted to
  live and to take troops back across the River, in
  exchange for Texas independence. But Santa Anna
  broke the agreement and continues attacks into
  Texas.
• Coahuila y Tejas becomes Republic of Texas
  independent nation.
• http//www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Texas-mar
  ks-175th-anniversary-of-becoming-nation-1340806.ph
  p
• Sam Houston elected President, Republic of Texas,
  1837-39
• October 1836, 1st nation of Texas Congress
  convened at Columbia, now West Columbia (near
  Houston).
• Stephen F. Austin "Father of Texas. Secretary of
  State for Republic only 2 months. Died Dec. 27,
  1836
• Sam Houston moved capitol to Houston in 1837.

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Isaac Millsaps Alamo Land Grant for giving his
life in this battle
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Lamar Houston

• Mirabeau B. Lamar, 2nd president of the Republic
  of Texas ( 1839-41 ).
• 1839, capitol moved to Austin. Lamar Houston
  hated each other.
• Houston again President of the Republic of Texas
  1841-43. Because of continued Mexican attacks, by
  1842 Houston viewed there was no choice but to
  become a USA state or seek alliance with Great
  Britain. Great Britain proposed treaty where
  Mexico would recognize Texas independence, but
  boundaries not defined, if never join another
  country.
• Houston Lamar Burnett will be political
  opponents for years.
• September 1842. 1,000 Mexican army invaded Texas
  again and attacked San Antonio. Civilian Texas
  volunteers from La Grange came to its defense
  under the command of a Capt. Dawson, 36 Texan
  defenders were killed, but Mexican army was
  defeated and retreated across Rio Grand River.

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Black Bean Episode

• Somervell Expedition ordered by Houston to punish
  Mexico raids on San Antonio in 1842
• captured Laredo and Guerreo along Rio Grande
  River
• 1/3 of force quit so Somervell ordered to disband
  and return to Texas.
• 300 refused and continued raids, and captured
  town of Mier.
• The Texans outnumbered 10 to 1 but killed 600
  Mexicans wounded 200, while sustaining only 31
  killed and wounded.
• But Texans surrounded without supplies, and
  surrendered.
• Santa Anna ordered execution, order changed, and
  prisoners marched toward capitol. But they
  escaped.
• For 7 days Texans headed for the Rio Grande, but
  in the mountains were re-captured.
• Santa Anna ordered their executions, but Governor
  Mexía of Coahuila refused. The foreign ministers
  in Mexico were able to get the decree modified.
• What did Santa Anna do next on March 25, 1843?

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Texas Indian Wars

• Indian Treaty of Birds Fort 1843 at present day
  Arlington, Texas near Fort Worth on the Trinity
  River. Chiefs of 9 Indian tribes signed peace
  treaty with Commissioner Tarrant ratified by
  the Republic of Texas Senate in 1844.
• In 1844, Sam Houston met with Comanche leaders,
  including Buffalo Hump, at Tehuacana Creek (near
  Waco), in which they agreed to surrender white
  captives and cease raiding Texan settlements. In
  exchange, the Texans would cease military action
  against the tribe, establish more trading posts,
  and recognize the boundary between Texas and
  Comanchería (a line through now downtown Fort
  Worth). Would be an uneasy truce.

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How Texas Became a State?

• 1844 USA debate Texas should enter as territory
  by treaty between Texas 2/3 US Senate (but
  not as a state that has congress votes) so not to
  inflame anti-slave states. Senate "Whigs"
  rejected treaty Houston angry.
• 1844 USA president election Polk elected
  Texas major issue.
• Outgoing President Tyler asked Congress to annex
  Texas as "state" by joint resolution (only simple
  majority vote needed). Boundary determined by USA
  later slavery OK 4 additional states permitted
  within Texas boundary to increase regions
  Congress votes. But all prior acquisitions were
  by treaty.
• 1/25/45, House yes 120-98. But 2/27/45, Senate
  changed House resolution voting 27-25 to permit
  president to decide between admitting Texas by
  House resolution, or open new treaty
  negotiations.

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How Texas Became a State?

• March 1845 President Polk takes office
  continues push. Congress action? Joint Resolution
  for Annexing Texas to the United States approved
  March 1, 1845 when House voted 132-75 to accept
  Senate amendment and was signed by President Polk
  http//www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/annexation/
  march1845.html Former President Tyler informed
  Texas no need for Senate treaty fight. Mexico
  viewed act of aggression.
• 7/4/1845 - Texas Congress special session
• Rejected Great Britain treaty (Mexico recognize
  Texas independence boundaries not defined if
  never join another country).
• Accepted USA resolution, adopted a state
  constitution requiring citizen voter approval by
  simple majority (10/1845)
• Then transmitted results to US Congress that then
  Congress passed a resolution accepting Texas as a
  state. 12/29/1845 President Polk signed
  resolution and Texas became 28th state of USA.
• Republic of Texas nation became 28th state
  12/29/1845 by Congress joint resolution signed by
  President Polk, instead of treaty 2/3 vote in
  Senate, and this is the reason a minority of
  violent radicals in the USA argue that this
  should have been done by treaty, thus Texas was
  improperly annexed and is still an independent
  nation illegally occupied by the USA (they are
  wrong). Houston then elected US Senator and war
  drums begin between the USA Mexico.

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War with Mexico 1846-48 Treaty of Hidalgo

• 4/1846 Mexican army murders USA soldiers near
  Nueces River to accelerate beginning of war.
• Mexican-American War lasts until Treaty of
  Guadalupe Hidalgo 2/1848 forcing Mexico at the
  points of guns to turn over ½ of remaining
  Mexican land to the USA for 18 million (490
  million in todays dollars) tantamount to
  giving it away --- but legal in international
  law.
• This link shows the time line before, during
  after the war with Mexico. http//www.pbs.org/kera
  /usmexicanwar/timeline_flash.html

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• Now a state, Houston elected US Senator.
• Amid grumblings of Texas seceding from the U.S.,
  Sam Houston resigned from the U.S. Senate to
  return to Texas where he was elected governor
  1859 to 1861.

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Secession War

• 1/28/1861, Texas seceded from U.S.
• 3/2/1861, Texas joined the Confederate States of
  America.
• South seceded to defy Lincoln to protect slavery
  (to stop it would undermine commerce
  civilization.) North went to war to defend
  itself, to keep country together later to end
  slavery. (Read following link) http//www.washingt
  onpost.com/outlook/five-myths-about-why-the-south-
  seceded/2011/01/03/ABHr6jD_story_1.html
• Gov. Houston refused to take oath to CSA
  resigned to avoid being thrown out of office.
• Sam Houston tried to tell Texans that secession
  and joining the Confederacy wouldn't work. He
  warned of "rivers of blood," a generation left
  dead or crippled by war and the ultimate defeat
  of the South at the hands of the industrial
  superior North. "After enduring civil war for
  years, will there be any promise of a better
  state of things than we now enjoy? November 1860
  letter. All came true.
• Houstons granite statue is 67 high in
  Huntsville, the tallest of any American hero.
• 50,000 Texans fought for CSA (1861-1865).
• 1st blood spilled, 4/1/61, in war between the
  states when a Mexican (Ochoa) hanged by Texas
  county officials supporting the confederacy.
• Confederate Ranger Captain John Ford (R.I.P.) and
  his men captured and killed 20 of Ochoas men.
  Ford became Texas confederacy best known
  soldier. He commanded the 1500 man Calvary of
  the West that never lost a battle.
• Col. E.J. Davis began by leading the 1st Texas
  Union Cavalry (USA). Was promoted to Brig Gen and
  commanded the Cavalry Division of Western
  Mississippi (USA).

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End of War

• 4/9/1865, Lee surrenders to Grant. Texas refuses
  to surrender!
• May 13, 1865, last land battle of Civil War
  fought at Palmito Hill, near mouth of Rio Grande
  River.
• Ranger Ford told his boss Gen Slaughter, who was
  demoralized You can retreat and go to hell if
  you wish! These are my men and I am going to
  fight!
• On a nervous prancing horse he yelled at his
  Texans Men, we have never lost a fight and we
  can do it again! The troops cheered as he
  screamed Chaaaaarge!
• Texas Confederates win with no dead, but the
  unions 34th Indiana alone lost 220 of its 300!

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End of War

• Many Confederates fled to Mexico with general
  Sheridans army on the way.
• There was never a formal surrender in Texas,
  unlike other states. The Texas Confederate Army
  government simply melted away.
• Tens of thousands of bluecoats arrived to restore
  order in Texas to implement the post war Radical
  Reconstruction Plan.

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End of War

• Radical Reconstruction, known as the 2nd Civil
  War, begins. Any who hinted resistance were
  arrested, humiliated publicly, imprisoned, or
  killed.
• The Radicals, both native Scalawags, and
  Carpetbaggers, were political buccaneers. They
  disliked old Southern order and wished to remake
  Texas like a northern state. They were viewed as
  pirates, like E.J. Davis.
• Gen. Sheridan, in 1867 order, branded the Texans
  as an impediment to reconstruction.

• Of 31 million population, 2.4 million served, 1.1
  million military casualties (623,026 killed equal
  to all dead in all USA wars to date). Perhaps
  another ¼ million civilian casualties. Equivalent
  of about 11 million in todays population. 1 in
  10 killed/injured in north 1 in 4 killed/injured
  in south.
• On June 2, 1865, Gen. EJ Davis represented the
  Union at Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith's surrender of
  the Trans-Mississippi West Confederate Army --
  the only significant Confederate army left.

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Official Readmission to US

• Texas officially readmitted to the Union on March
  30, 1870 during Reconstruction that would not end
  until the Compromise of 1877 following the bitter
  Presidential election of 1876.
• July 1870, Battle of Little Washita River. Jim
  Dosher, Texas Ranger and Confederate vet, now US
  Army scout, wins Medal of Honor against Chief
  Kicking Bird his Kiowa Apaches who had stolen
  US Mail about 40 miles from Jacksboro.

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STATE SYMBOLS

• "Texas" comes from Hasinai Indian word
  "tayshas," meaning friends, which Spanish
  pronounced Tejas, and Anglos pronounced Texas.

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Texas flag

• Flag Known as Lone Star Flag. Adopted 1/25/1836,
  as Republic of Texas flag.
• The Texas flag is one of only two state flags to
  also serve as the symbol of an independent
  nation. The other is the state flag of Hawaii.
• The red, white and blue colors of the Lone Star
  flag represent bravery, purity and loyalty. The
  phrases "clouds up" and "blood runs down" are
  often used as reminders that the Texas flag's
  white stripe appears at the top and the red
  stripe appears at the bottom.
• Despite popular legend, the Texas flag is not the
  only state flag that may be displayed at the same
  height as the U.S. flag. All state flags may fly
  at the same height as the U.S. flag when
  displayed on an adjacent staff, according to U.S.
  flag code (Title 4, USC, Chap. 1), but if in a
  cluster of state flags, the USA flag must be in
  the center higher than the others.
  http//www.legion.org/word/flagcode.doc