Early Texas History

Presidios

fortified bases built by the Spanish in the New World

Encomienda

grants from the crown giving the receivers the right to extract as much wealth for themselves from a specific area as possible, either through native labor or through the payment of tributes

Davy Crockett

Joined the Texas Revolution to fight against Mexico and was killed at the Battle of the Alamo

Alcalde Vicente Córdova

Leader of the rebels at the Cordova Rebellion.

Siege of Vicksburg

A turning point in the trajectory of the Civil War, this victory gave the Union control over the Mississippi River which was a key route for travel, communication, and supplies during the War.

Fray Damián Massanet

A Catholic priest and Spanish missionary who established the mission San Francisco de los Tejas in 1689.

General Agustín Iturbide

one of the leaders of Mexico's fight for independence and first leader of Mexico following independence

Temperance

A movement that began in the 1840's, dedicated to promoting moderation and even abstinence in the consumption of alcohol.

Mexican-American War / Mexican War

1846 - 1848. A war between the United States and Mexico over western territories (specifically sparked by annexation of Texas).

Battle of San Jacinto

April, 1836, led by Sam Houston. The final battle of the Texas Revolution, ending in Santa Anna's defeat and the signing of a treaty granting Texas independence from Mexico. (However, Mexico disavowed Santa Anna and the treaty was contested)

Battle of Palmito Ranch

The last battle of the Civil War. Occurred on the banks of the Rio Grande east of Brownsville, Texas.

Juneteenth

June 19, 1865: The day Union troops emancipated the slaves of Texas

Francisco Hidalgo

A Catholic priest and Spanish missionary who established the mission Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas.

José María Morelos

a priest and leader in Mexico's fight for independence

Texas Revolution

A fight between American colonists in Texas and the Mexican government between 1835 and 1836

Antonio López de Santa Anna

The Mexican president who led the Mexican troops against Texas as Texas fought for independence.

Quanah Parker

The son of a Comanche chief and a white woman who had been captured by the Comanches as a young girl, Parker later became principal chief over all Comanches.

Lorenzo de Zavala

A Mexican politician who eventually shifted allegiance to Texas; served as Vice President of Texas.

William B. Travis

A lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army who fought and died in the battle of the Alamo

The Santa Fe Expedition

A failed attempt by the president of Texas to increase trade with New Mexico.

James K. Polk

United States President during the Mexican-American War.

Women's Suffrage

The right of women to vote in political elections.

Resettlement

Requiring Native Americans to leave their homelands and move further west to areas designated by the U.S.

Karankawa

Not much is known, but believed to be hunters and gatherers in the Central and Gulf regions who were the first Native Americans to come into contact with European explorers, and suffered greatly because of this

San Francisco de los Tejas

A mission in East Texas established in 1689 with the goal of converting Native Americans to Christianity. It was abandoned four years later due to hostility from the Native Americans.

Moses Austin

planned and secured approval for the settlement of what is now Austin, Texas

Texas Rangers

A group created in 1823 to protect Texas settlers on the frontier.

Stephen F. Austin

led the successful settlement of Texas in 1825

Conquistadores

Spanish explorers who searched for and found expansive amounts of gold in the New World.

The Battle of The Alamo

Attack led by Santa on mission of Alamo beginning on March 6, 1836. Remembered for the Texans who died including Colonel William Travis, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie. A devastating defeat of Texas fighters by Mexico, but seen as a turning point in the war leading to Texas achieving independence.

Miguel Hidalgo

One of the first leaders in the Mexican fight for independence from Spain. His attempt was unsuccessful and he was executed.

Sieur De La Salle

French explorer who founded the first permanent colony in Texas, Fort St. Louis, in 1685

Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas

A mission established years later in the same location as the failed mission San Francisco de los Tejas.

Hector Garcia

First Mexican-American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Alcalde

The head of a town in the Spanish territory in the New World

Francisco Vasquez De Coronado

Conquistador who searched for the mythical "Seven Cities of Gold" in 1540. Expedition failed but did pave the way for future European influence in Texas lands.

Buffalo Soldiers

The 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army and composed of regiments of African American soldiers.

James Bowie

A soldier in the Texas Revolution who was killed at the Battle of the Alamo and is considered a hero

The Battle of Gonzales

first battle in the war over Texas independence when Mexico attempted to disarm the city of Gonzales by removing their cannon

John Magruder

became a prominent member of the Confederate Army after training and serving in the U.S. military

The Council House Fight

A fight that erupted during a peace meeting between Comanche and Texan leaders.

Cynthia Parker

a white woman who had been captured by the Comanches as a young girl; mother of Quanah Parker

Caddo

Farming and hunting tribe found in eastern Texas that made permanent structures of wood and mud.

Coahuiltecan

An accumulation of several tribes that shared language and culture. Nomadic hunters and gatherers found widespread throughout South Texas

Mirabeau Lamar

Second president of the Republic of Texas, he established a fund to support public education in Texas.

Alonso Álvarez de Pineda

a Spanish explorer who, in 1519, mapped the coast of Texas as well as surrounding coastlines.

Battle of Galveston

A battle won by the Confederate Army and fought on land and at sea near Galveston.

Reconstruction

The period after the Civil War where the Confederate states and the Union states began the rebuilding of a single nation. Legislation was passed to ensure equality for former slaves, but longterm impacts were limited.

John Bell Hood

Confederate General during the Civil War.

Acequias

Shared community waterways used to irrigate agriculture in Spanish territories of the New World

José de Escandón

A Spanish explorer who settled the land that is now northern Mexico and southern Texas.

Empresarios

Settlers given a contract by the Spanish crown given unrestricted rights to settle in a region as long as they assumed full responsibility for recruiting and governing colonists in their region.

Comanche

Nomadic Native American hunters and gatherers who were fierce warriors and skilled traders, found in the northern Texas grasslands

Thornton Affair

1846 Mexican military attack against US forces in Texas that began the Mexican-American War

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Treaty signed in 1848 that ended the Mexican-American War, sparked by the Texas Revolution. Gave the US an additional 525,000 square miles for $15,000,000.

Sam Houston

A leader in the Texas Revolution (won surprise attack over Santa Anna and his troops at the Battle of San Jacinto). Elected the first president of the new republic.

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

Spanish explorer searching for the Seven Cities of Gold. He arrived in Texas when a hurricane pushed him and his men ashore in 1529

Joshua Houston

An educated slave of Sam Houston; later freed and went on to become a politician.

Treaty of Córdoba

the treaty recognizing Mexico's independence from Spain

Red River War

(sometimes called the Red River Indian War) war between the United States and Native Americans living in the Red River valley of Texas from 1874-1875, ending in defeat for the Native Americans.

Mary Maverick

A Texas settler who kept detailed journals of her experiences throughout the fight for Texas independence

Plan of Iguala

plan to guide Mexico after it gained independence from Spain in 1821

1) the official adoption of Catholicism

2) the equality and unity of all Mexican citizens

3) the creation of a constitutional monarchy

Texas Declaration of Independence

Republic of Texas was formed with this Declaration on March 2, 1836

Córdova Rebellion

A rebellion of Native Americans and Mexican settlers in Nacogdoches against the newly independent Texas in 1838.

Tonkawas

Hunters and gatherers in the Gulf Region of Texas who lived in huts and teepees and were enemies to the Comanches