Texas History - Spring Semester Exam Review Packet

Flashcards for Texas History exam review, covering early statehood to government principles.

Sam Houston's roles in Texas History

Commander of the Texas military, President of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator, and Governor.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the U.S. had the right to settle North America from coast to coast.

Why the 1844 annexation treaty was rejected

The Senate rejected the treaty because Texas allowed slavery.

Terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The border between Texas and Mexico was the Rio Grande, Texas was part of the United States, Mexico gave up the land of the Mexican Cession, The United States gave Mexico $10 million, Mexicans living in the Mexican Cession could choose to become U.S. citizens

Importance of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to the United States

It fulfilled America’s dream of Manifest Destiny.

When Texas was annexed to the United States

1845

How Texas benefited from joining the U.S. by joint resolution

It was more favorable to Texas because they would enter the U.S. as a state and they would get to keep their public land.

President Polk's reason for the war with Mexico

President Polk sent troops into the disputed territory between the rivers and viewed Mexican troops attacking American soldiers as an invasion of U.S. territory.

Largest immigrant group in Texas after Mexican Texans

German Texans

Sam Houston’s role during the secession crisis

He refused to support secession from the United States and was removed as Governor of Texas.

Political party formed to prevent the spread of slavery

The Republican Party

Region of the United States that seceded from the Union

The Southern Slave States

Four important battles fought in Texas during the Civil War

Battle of Galveston, Battle of Sabine Pass, Battle of Palmito Ranch, Battle of Brownsville

Significance of the Battle of Palmito Ranch

The Battle of Palmito ranch occurred one month after the Civil War ended and is considered the last battle of the Civil War.

The Freedmen's Bureau

The Freedmen’s Bureau was created to help former slaves; they gave food, helped them find jobs, and taught them how to read and write.

The Emancipation Proclamation

A proclamation issued by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863, stating that all slaves residing in rebelling states are free.

Why the Ku Klux Klan was formed

The Ku Klux Klan was formed to stop freed slaves from exercising their rights.

The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment

The 13th amendment freed all slaves, the 14th amendment protected the rights of formerly enslaved people, and the 15th amendment guaranteed African American men the right to vote.

How reconstruction changed the power of the Texas governor

Reconstruction led to a new Constitution in Texas that limited the power of the governor.

Buffalo soldiers

Buffalo soldiers were African American troops stationed in West Texas in the late 1800s.

Why Texas settlers were vulnerable to Native Americans during the Civil War

Texas settlers were easy targets for Native Americans during the Civil War because all the soldiers left Texas to fight in the Civil War and there was no one left to protect the frontier.

Quanah Parker

Quanah Parker was a Comanche chief that was considered the most influential Comanche leader of all time.

Impact of barbed wire on the Texas frontier

Barbed wire ended the open range by allowing for ranchers to fence off their land and cattle.

Why owners branded their cattle

Owners branded their cattle because unbranded cattle could be claimed by anyone.

Significance of the Chisholm Trail

It was the first of the Great Cattle Trails in Texas.

Geographic features of Texas that helped the cattle industry become so successful

The cattle industry in Texas became so successful because of the warm, dry climate, open prairies with room to roam and endless supply of grasses.

How minorities in Texas were kept from exercising their right to vote besides literacy tests

Some whites used violence and intimidation to prevent minorities from voting. Jim Crow laws and poll taxes were also established to make it more difficult.

How the development of railroads was beneficial to Texans

Settlement increased at a rapid rate and more towns grew up in west Texas. The cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio all grew as a result.

How high demand for cotton affected the farming industry in post Civil War Texas

High demand caused overproduction of cotton and low prices.

James Hogg and his accomplishments

He served as the attorney general of Texas and was later elected as governor. He wrote the state’s first antitrust law and established the Texas Railroad Commission.

The Grange, the Farmers’ Alliance and the Populist Party

The Grange was an organization that was meant to help farmers that were struggling, the Farmers’ alliance was an organization that petitioned the state government to pass reform laws to help farmers, and the Populist Party was a political party formed to pass legislation to help farmers.

Significant event happened in 1901

In 1901 oil was discovered at a well at Spindletop beginning a major oil boom in Texas.

How the oil boom helped the lumber industry

Lumber was needed to build oil derricks.

What Galveston did to protect themselves after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900

They built a six-mile long sea wall and raised the level of the city.

The 19th amendment

The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote.

What happened to the price of cotton as production increased during the 1920s

As cotton production increased, the price of cotton fell.

Document that influenced the United States to join World War I

The Zimmerman Telegram was sent from Germany to Mexico during World War I suggesting an alliance against the U.S.

New technology widely used during WWI

Airplanes

How the urbanization of Texas in the 1920s affected people’s way of life

The urbanization of Texas caused more people to live in the cities than in rural areas.

How the Dust Bowl impacted Texas

Many farmers abandoned their land or lost their farms due to the drought. One third of the panhandle population left the area.

Oveta Culp Hobby

Oveta Culp Hobby was the founder and commander of the Women’s Air Corps.

Audie Murphy

Audie Murphy was the most highly decorated American in World War II.

POW camps and Japanese internment camps in the United States

People were removed from their homes and sent to these camps. Officials tried to make camp life as normal as possible, but those living in camps had limited freedom and were constantly under guard.

How German Texans were discriminated against during World War I and II

German prisoners of war were sent to camps in Texas during the war. German Texans also faced discrimination during the war.

The Holocaust

The Holocaust was when Hitler had millions of Jews imprisoned and killed during World War II.

United States Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Function of the county level of government

County governments run elections, provide public safety, and operate jail. They maintain roads and bridges, keep records of property deeds, collect taxes, and marriage licenses.

Rights of Texas citizens

Citizens have the right to petition the government, freedom of speech and religion, right to bear arms, right to trial by jury, right to run for a political office, right to vote, and freedom of the press.

Responsibilities of Texas citizens

Serve on a Jury, Know and Obey the Law, Pay Taxes, Vote

7 Principles of the Constitution

Popular sovereignty is that the government’s right to rule comes from the people, limited government is that the government only has the power the constitution gives to it, separation of powers is hat the constitution divides the government into three branches, checks and balances is that each branch of government has the power to limit the actions of the other two, federalism is a way of governing where powers are shared between the federal and state governments, republicanism is that people get to vote for representatives, and individual rights are rights that guarantee personal freedoms.

How the United States acquired each of the territories on the map above.

The Mexican Cession acquired by the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, Area annexed by the United States in 1845, Louisiana Purchase bought by the United States from France in 1803, Allowed the construction of a transcontinental railroad and gave the United States its current shape, Territory given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819

Significance of each of the important dates

Texas became an independent republic, Texas was annexed by the United States, Beginning of the Civil War (Texas secedes and joins the Confederacy), Texas adopts its current state constitution, Oil was discovered at Spindletop, beginning a major oil boom