Texas’s history is a vast tapestry woven from the cultural legacies of Indigenous peoples, Spanish colonizers, Mexican governance, independent nationhood, and ultimately statehood within the United States. Its distinctive identity has been molded by both peaceful assimilation and violent conflict, by individuals determined to carve out lives in unforgiving terrain, and by the ever-shifting political allegiances of an evolving frontier.
Research your ancestors on MyHeritage
Pre-Columbian Era (c. 10,000 BCE – 1500 CE)Pre-Columbian Era (c. 10,000 BCE – 1500 CE)
- Indigenous groups, including the Caddo, Karankawa, and Comanche, establish complex societies, agriculture, and trade networks.
- Three main indigenous populations inhabit Texas in the pre-Columbian period and peak before European exploration: the Pueblo in west Texas, the Mound Builder in east Texas, and Mesoamerican civilizations in south Texas.
- Early artifacts, rock paintings, and archaeological sites reflect a long span of habitation.
Spanish Exploration and Colonization (1519 – 1821)Spanish Exploration and Colonization (1519 – 1821)
- 1519: Alonso Álvarez de Pineda maps the Texas coastline, marking the first Spanish contact.
- 1528 – 1536: Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca’s expedition is shipwrecked; his accounts provide some of the earliest detailed descriptions of the region’s Native peoples.
- 1682: Establishment of the first Spanish mission in Texas near present-day El Paso (Mission Corpus Christi de la Ysleta).
- 1685 – 1689: French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, founds Fort St. Louis on the Texas coast, triggering Spanish re-exploration and increased mission-building to secure the territory.
- 1690s – 1700s: Spanish missions and presidios proliferate, aimed at Christianizing Indigenous populations and solidifying Spanish control.
- 1810 – 1821: The Mexican War of Independence; Texas transitions from Spanish colonial territory to part of an independent Mexico.
Mexican Texas (1821 – 1836)Mexican Texas (1821 – 1836)
- 1821: Stephen F. Austin receives permission to settle Anglo-American colonists in Mexican Texas, ushering in the era of the “Old Three Hundred.”
- 1824: The Mexican Constitution of 1824 forms a federal republic; Texas is joined with Coahuila as the state of Coahuila y Tejas.
- Early 1830s: Growing tension between American settlers and the Mexican government over issues including immigration restrictions, taxation, and governance.
- 1835: Outbreak of the Texas Revolution marked by clashes like the Battle of Gonzales (“Come and Take It”) over a cannon in the possession of Texan settlers.
Republic of Texas (1836 – 1845)Republic of Texas (1836 – 1845)
- March 2, 1836: Texas Declaration of Independence is adopted at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
- March 6, 1836: Battle of the Alamo results in the defeat of Texan defenders but galvanizes support for independence.
- April 21, 1836: Texan forces under General Sam Houston defeat General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, securing de facto independence.
- 1836 – 1845: The Republic of Texas stands as an independent nation; issues of international recognition and security dominate.
Annexation and Early Statehood (1845 – 1861)Annexation and Early Statehood (1845 – 1861)
- December 29, 1845: Texas is admitted to the United States as the 28th state.
- 1846 – 1848: The Mexican–American War reaffirms Texas’s southern and western boundaries as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- 1850s: Rapid population growth, increased settlement, and economic development, with agriculture (especially cotton) and ranching as mainstays.
Civil War and Reconstruction (1861 – 1870s)Civil War and Reconstruction (1861 – 1870s)
- 1861: Texas secedes from the Union to join the Confederacy; Governor Sam Houston is removed from office for refusing to swear loyalty to the Confederacy.
- 1861 – 1865: Texans fight in major Confederate campaigns; home front experiences economic and social upheaval.
- 1865: Emancipation of enslaved individuals is enforced in Texas on June 19 (Juneteenth), over two months after the Civil War’s official end.
- 1866 – 1870: Reconstruction policies, new state constitutions, and federal oversight attempt to integrate formerly enslaved people and reconcile Texas with the Union.
Late 19th Century: Cattle, Railroads, and Frontier Life (1870s – 1890s)Late 19th Century: Cattle, Railroads, and Frontier Life (1870s – 1890s)
- 1870s: The cattle drive era flourishes; the Chisholm Trail and others bring Texas beef to northern markets.
- 1880s: Expanding railroad lines connect major Texas cities and rural regions to national trade routes, spurring urban growth.
- 1870s – 1880s: Conflict with Indigenous tribes continues until forced relocation to reservations.
- 1890s: Discovery of oil fields begins to hint at the future prominence of Texas’s petroleum industry.
Oil Boom and Economic Transformation (1900 – 1940)Oil Boom and Economic Transformation (1900 – 1940)
- 1901: Spindletop gusher near Beaumont ushers in the Texas Oil Boom, transforming the state’s economy and accelerating industrial growth.[1]
- 1910s – 1920s: Rapid urbanization around Houston, Dallas, and other cities tied to the oil industry; Texas’s population diversifies as workers arrive from across the country and abroad.
- 1930: The East Texas Oil Field is discovered, becoming one of the largest oil deposits in the contiguous United States.
- Great Depression (1930s): Texas experiences widespread unemployment but oil and agriculture help buffer the worst economic hardships.
World War II and Postwar Growth (1940s – 1960s)World War II and Postwar Growth (1940s – 1960s)
- 1940 – 1945: Major military installations and training camps established across Texas; state economy benefits from wartime manufacturing.
- Post-1945: Defense industry presence grows significantly in Texas cities, fueling further population and economic expansion.
- 1950s: Interstate highway development, suburban growth, and diversification beyond oil into technology and finance.
- 1963: President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, thrusting Texas into the national spotlight.
Civil Rights and Modern Shifts (1960s – 1990s)Civil Rights and Modern Shifts (1960s – 1990s)
- 1960s: Civil Rights Movement influences Texas, leading to desegregation of public facilities and schools, as well as the rise of notable political figures championing reform.
- 1970s – 1980s: Boom-and-bust cycles in oil; economic recession when oil prices drop sharply in the mid-1980s.
- 1980s – 1990s: Rapid tech-sector growth around Austin and Dallas; growing influence of Latino/Hispanic communities in politics and culture.
Contemporary Texas (2000 – Present)Contemporary Texas (2000 – Present)
- 2000s: Continued diversification of the Texas economy, with significant growth in information technology, healthcare, and renewable energy.
- 21st Century: Texas emerges as one of the fastest-growing states in the nation; population surges from domestic migration and international immigration.
References
- ↑ Oil and Texas: A Cultural History. Texas Almanac