From Coahuiltec to Comanche
Many Native Americans have lived in Texas, but their languages and lifestyles differed greatly. The Coahuiltec lived in the far south. They built homes of adobe(dried clay) and planted beans. Farther up the coast, the Karankawa relied on the seafood they caught for food. In the east, the Caddo lived in orderly, permanent villages. Many others, such as the Apache of central Texas, were nomadic (moving from place to place, without a permanent home). They followed the buffalo on foot. But the Comanche hunted buffalo on horseback. Their skill with horses made them a powerful force on the Texas frontier.
Remember the Alamo!
Before 1821, Spain claimed much of present-day Texas, but when Mexico revolted and gained independence from Spain, Texas became part of Mexico. General Santa Anna took power in Mexico and used his army to keep new settlers out of Texas. By 1835, most Texans, including many Mexicans living there, had had enough of General Santa Anna's rule. Stephen Austin and Sam Houston recruited men for a fight and took over the city of San Antonio. But Santa Anna returned with more men and met 189 Texans at the Alamo, the old Mission San Antonio de Valero. These few fought off four thousand Mexican soldiers for 13 days. At the end, all of the Texan defenders, including famed frontiersmen Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, were killed. However, a victory by Sam Houston at San Jacinto forced Santa Anna to surrender. In 1836, Texas became its own country!
Six Flags over Texas
Texas has been a hot spot for a long time. It has belonged to many different countries! First Spain claimed it, then France, Spain again, and eventually Mexico. It became an independent republic in 1836 and joined the United States in 1845. In 1861, it left the United States and joined the Confederate (Southern) States of America before finally rejoining the United States after the Civil War. In keeping with the tradition of independence, Texans still like to do things their own way.
Cowboys and Cattle Drives
There's a reason why Texas is famous for its barbecues and chili cook-offs: it's called beef. The open grasslands and plains of Texas brought cowboys and ranchers by the thousands to raise cattle. After the Civil War, many former soldiers drifted west to Texas to make a living. Stray cattle from the days of the Spanish roamed wild in large herds and could be taken by anyone. Cowboys herded their cows through Texas up to Oklahoma and Kansas on the Chisholm Trail. Such cattle drives ended when the railroad came. But beef production never stopped. It's still a big Texas business.
Black Gold
Texas had a gold rush in 1901. But it wasn't the kind of gold you would want to put in your pocket. Texas gold was black. It was oil! The discovery of oil in Beaumont, where it gushed from a well for more than a week, led to explorations all over the state. In just a year, hundreds of companies formed. As America started making and buying cars, more and more oil was needed. And Texas was happy to oblige. With the oil needs of two world wars, Texas became a world capital for oil. Money from oil helped build new industries, including the computer industry.
Four Texas Presidents
Four Texans have been president of the United States. Dwight D. Eisenhower, born in Denison, helped the Allies win World War II before becoming president in 1953. Lyndon B. Johnson, vice president to John F. Kennedy, became president when Kennedy was shot in Dallas in 1963. George Bush, elected in 1988, sent troops to fight in the Gulf War. His son, George W. Bush, served as Texas governor until he won the controversial 2000 presidential election. President Bush won a second term in 2004.
