Early Texas History

2008-06-09 10:11:23

( Education )



Pre-Colonial Period of Texas

Before the arrival of foreign colonizers, the earliest Texas settlers were various Native American tribes. In fact, the name Texas was Indian and it means FRIENDS. There was no dominant tribe culture in the area at the time.

Native American tribes were either friendly or warlike. The friendly tribes were open to new Texas settlers and did not mind sharing their expertise in planting corn and hunting for wild game. The warlike tribes, on the other hand, made the territory dangerous for new settlers, especially European visitors.

Early Texas Under European Rule

Although the Spanish were the first to reach Texas, they made no attempts to colonize the area before the seventeenth century. These visitors had come to explore the territory.

The French were able to establish Fort St. Louis and thus they were the first colonizers of Texas. Government under the French lasted only several years.

The Spanish went back to Texas in 1689 and established claim under the Spanish government. Several Catholic missions were also founded in San Antonio and other towns.

Early Texas Under Mexican Rule

Mexico launched a war against the then-ruling Spanish government in 1821, and was successful in gaining independence. Texas became part of the newly established Mexican independent government.

The United States government at the time made several offers to buy Texas, and this resulted in Mexico's prohibition of American immigrants from entering Texas. This move angered Texan colonists who revolted against the Mexican government.

The Independence of Early Texas

Texas became an independent republic in 1836 after Texan colonists revolted against Mexico. The new republic received diplomatic recognition from the United States and several European countries.

The new republic was not without conflict, however. Soon, there were two large factions that fought bitterly against each other. The first faction advocated the continued independence of Texas, its territorial expansion towards the Pacific Ocean, and expulsion of Native Americans. The other faction supported the annexation of Texas to the United States in order to alleviate internal economic difficulties.

Annexation to the Union

The huge debts that the Republic of Texas had incurred gave initiative for its annexation. Texas was annexed in 1845 and became the 28th state of the United States.

The new state still supported slavery and the slave trade, and was a part of the Confederacy. Thus, it became involved in the Civil War, but its role was mostly as a supply state. Texan regiments also fought actively in major battles.

With the Confederacy's defeat in the Civil War in 1865, Texas had to abolish slavery. For a few years, there was some disorder and anarchy in the state until a provisional governor took over the state. In 1870, Texas was readmitted into the Union.

Rich, Multicultural Texas

Influences from early Texas settlers as well as new immigrants from other states of the Union has made Texas culture varied and rich. Major cities and tourist spots still exhibit old colonial influences in architecture, food and arts.


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