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Texas Declares Independence from Mexico
On March 1, 1836, 59 representatives of the people of Texas came together at the Convention of 1836. Here they wrote Texas' official declaration of Independence from Mexico, and it was then adopted on March 2,1836. -
Fall of the Alamo
On March 6, 1836, 182 Texans sacrificed their lives at the Alamo. The Texans were vastly outnumbered and held the Alamo for many days, but Santa Anna's massive army of dragoons eventually overwhelmed them. -
Battle of San Jacinto
On April 21, 1836, General Sam Houston led the Texan army into the Battle of San Jacinto. Although vastly outnumbered, Houston was able to lead his men to victory. The Texans caught the Mexican forces by surprise and killed 630 of the enemy while only losing 9 men. Houston's army was also able to capture the Mexican general, Santa Anna. -
The Republic of Texas
On September 1, 1836, Texas became a nation. It was officially known as the Republic of Texas. After leading Texas in its war for independence, Sam Houston was elected as Texas' first President and Mirabeau Lamar was elected as Vice President. Sam Houston then appointed Stephen F. Austin as the Secretary of State. The delegation also voted in favor of annexation. -
The U.S. Officially Recognizes Texas
On March 3, 1837, the United States of America officially recognized the Republic of Texas as an independent nation. This was the last formal act that Andrew Jackson did as President of the U.S. -
Withdrawal of Annexation
On October 12, 1838, Texas decided to withdraw their annexation request as nothing was being done by the U.S. to annex Texas as a State. -
Austin Becomes the Capital of Texas
On January 1, 1839, Mirabeau Lamar as the second President of Texas moves the capital from Houston to Austin to honor Stephen F. Austin. -
Lone Star Flag
On January 26, 1839, the Lone Star Flag became the official flag of the Republic of Texas, and it is still used today. -
Annexation Request
In January 1844, Elected as President once again after Lamar, Houston requests that Texas be annex as part of the United States. -
Texas is Annexed
On December 29, 1845, Texas was annexed as an official state of the United States. After a long process in which both sides had been hesitant, Texas finally became a state.