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Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
1500-1600
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Nov 5, 1528
Cabeza de Vaca
Cabeza de Vaca's ship wrecked on Galveston island. He traded there and then explored Texas on his journey towards Mexico. -
Apr 20, 1540
Coronado
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was one of the first fortune seekers to venture to Texas. He searched for the Seven Cities of Cibola, leading an expedition, but found nothing. Coronado never found the treasure he hoped for. -
Period: to
1600-1700
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La Salle
Rene Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle, traded in Canada then traveled down the Mississippi River and claimed it in France's name. He led a journey and hit Matagorda Bay. La Salle and some others that stayed with him settled here. -
Period: to
1700-1800
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Period: to
1800-1900
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Austin Grant
Stephen F. Austin began a colony on the Brazos after recieving a grant from the Mexican government. -
Mexican Independence
The Constitution of 1824 granted Mexico a republican government. It did not suceed in rights of states like Texas in this republic. -
Austin Imprisoned
The Mexican Goverrnment captures and imprisons Stephen F. Austin, the colonizer of Texas. Stephen F. Austin was a revolutionary colonizer. This would create more tension in the Texan fight for independence. -
Battle at Gonzalez
The Mexicans fired cannons at the Texans. The Texans responded by firing scrap metal at the Mexicans. The Mexicans fleed with one casualtty while the Texans had none. -
Battle of the Alamo
At the battle of the Alamo, the Mexicans gathered 2000 troops, intending to take San Antonio. The attacked the Alamo. defended by 189 Texans. All 189 of the Texans were killed. -
Runaway Scrape Begins
The Runaway Scrape was a period between the fall of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. It was a period of fear for Texan colonization. -
Massacre at Goliad
James W. Fannin was the commander of forces at Goliad. Fannin was called for reliefbut retreated. His troops were soon surrounded by the Mexican forces and surrendered. Santa Anna sent order to Goliad for the newly captured prisonerrs to be excecuted. On Palm Sunday, all the prisoners were shot. They dead were collected and burned. -
Battle at San Jacinto
Sam Houston and his troops arrived at the San Jacinto River and prepared their defenses against the Mexicans. General Santa Anna readied his army. On the 21st of April, The Texans charged, yelling "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad". The Texans won. -
Texas joins the United States
The President of the United States, James Polk, promised annex to Texas and signed the legislation that established Texas as the 28th state in the United States of America. -
Texas secedes and joins the Confederacy
To many Texans, Lincoln's election was a declaration of war. Sam Houston did not believe Texas should secede. A Secesssion Convention was held in Austin to to consider whether or not
Texas should secede. They signed the Ordinance of Secession. -
Battle of Galveston- The Bayou City
The Union army sailed to Galveston and ordered surrender of Galveston Island. Colonel Joseph J. Cook, the commander of Galveston, obeyed. On New Year's Day, the Confederate force, intending to take back the island, targeted a Union ship. After a brief naval battle, the last Confederate ship was outnumbered 6 to 1. But the Confederates fought on. The Union vessels were soon defeated and the Confederates had recaptured Galveston.
