THE TALE OF TEXAS

A BRIEF LONE STAR HISTORY LESSON

BY ANNETTE BROOKS

Once upon a time, a tale of grit, glory, and a state with a larger-than-life personality was born. Welcome to Texas, a land where the hats rival the size of the cattle, and the history is as rich as its legacy oil fields and growing high-tech industries. So, saddle up, pardner, and let’s take a quick ride through the annals of Texas history. It’s a tapestry woven with threads of independence, resilience, and a pioneering spirit where the people are as diverse as the landscape, all coming together to create a unique identity and culture.

SPANISH EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT

The year 1519 marked the beginning of Spanish exploration and a search in Texas for El Dorado, a mythical city filled with gold. According to TexasPBS.org, the Spanish Colonial era began with Spanish missions established in the 1680s near where San Angelo, El Paso, and Presidio, Texas are located today. The missions spread, and settlers followed. At first, the indigenous people were friendly with the settlers. In East Texas, the Caddo native Americans initially called them “Tay-yas,” their word for friend or ally. The word went onto be spelled Tejas by the Spanish, and over time, the letter “j” was changed to “x,” and the area became known as Texas.

THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS, STATEHOOD, SECESSION AND RECONSTRUCTION

Fast forward a couple of centuries, and the region’s population became more diverse, with settlers pouringin from the newly formed United States. In 1821, the area won independence from Spain and fell under Mexican control. The Mexican government allowed settlers from the United States to immigrate into the area, but tensions and boundary disputes rose, leading to the Texas Revolution in 1835. According to TheAlamo.org, the famous rallying cry — “Remember the Alamo!”— occurred when the Texan Army, under Sam Houston, attacked and defeated Santa Ana’s army on the banks of the San Jacinto River.

This triumph secured Texas’s independence and cemented its place in the annals of history. Declaring its independence from Mexico, Texas became the Republic of Texas. It existed as a sovereign state for almost 10 years, until becoming our nation’s 28th state in December 1845. But war wasn’t over yet in the area. Mexico continued to consider Texas a rebel province, which led to the Mexican-American war from1846 to 1848.

Just 15 years after Texas became a state, with a new Governor, it seceded (something Gov. Sam Houstonwas against) in 1861, becoming the 7th state in the new Confederacy. After the Civil War, Texas experienced a period of reconstruction and growth, with the discovery of oil in the early 20th century transforming the state’s economy.

LOOKING FORWARD

As we look to the future, it’s clear that Texas will continue to play a significant role in the United States and the world. With its booming economy, rich history, and proud people, the Lone Star State remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for many. So, take a moment and raise a glass to the state’s storied past and bright future.

Five Iconic Ideas Born in Texas

Inventions are another significant part of Texas’ history. Here are just a few of the highlights.

Whole Foods Market – created in 1980, a small vegetarian food store called SaferWay was renamed Whole Foods and eventually grew to hundreds of locations. In 2017, Amazon acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.

Fritos – SanAntonio resident C.E. Doolin improved and popularized the corn chip and began selling Fritos in1932 during the Great Depression.In 1961, The Frito Company merged with H.W. Lay &Company, forming Frito-Lay, Inc. In 1965, the company merged with Pepsi-Cola to form PepsiCo.

Dr Pepper – According to DrPepper.com, the soft drink was originally made in Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, in 1885. In 1904, it was introduced to millions of visitors at the St. Louis World’s Fair and became one of our country’s biggest refreshment treats.

The Integrated Circuit –You might think the microchip was invented in California, but

Jack Kilby ofTexas Instruments demonstrated the first working integrated circuit in 1958.

Frozen Margarita – The Big D (Dallas) is known for many things, including this wondrous frozen drink invention. In 1971, Mario Martinez adapted a Slurpee machine to make frozen margaritas, and the rest

is history.