The History of Texas

It is believed that Texas was originally discovered by Spain. However, it must not be forgotten that Texas' intriguing history began thousands of years ago when indigenous people occupied this land. Spaniard Alonso Alvarez de Pineda discovered Texas in 1519 while exploring what is now known as the Gulf Coast.

Since then, the ownership of Texas has been disputed over and over again. It has been claimed by the countries of Spain, France, and Mexico. Spain laid claim to the territory first, and although many Spanish explorers followed Alonso Alvarez de Pineda, many of the settlements didn't make it. France occupied Louisiana and in 1685, Frenchman Rene-Robert Cavalier set up a colony in Texas, believing it to be at the mouth of the Mississippi River. In attempt to keep France out, Spain re-established settlements with Catholic missions.

After the Mexican War of Independence with Spain, Texas was claimed by the country of Mexico. The Texas Revolution in 1835 allowed Texas to declare itself its own governing body, the Republic of Texas. The Mexican-American War made the southern border of Texas the Rio Grande. Shortly after this, the United States of America instituted Texas as the 28th state to the Union. This didn't last long either, as in support for the institution of slavery, the state of Texas seceded from the Union and became a Confederate State. With the loss of the Civil War, Texas took about 15 years to restructure and has been a part of the United States ever since.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the prime industry was cotton growing and cattle ranching. That is, of course, until the discovery of oil, which catapulted Texas' economy past the recovery phase of the Civil War and into industry and technology. Texas is a state with a most dynamic history.