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Jan 1, 1400
Age of Exploration Begins
European explorers had 3 motives - God, gold, and glory. Most explorers were from France or Spain. A conquistador is a Spanish conquerer. The explorer Columbus was trying to prove the world was round by sailing around the earth back to Asia. Hernan Cortes was responsible for bringing down the Aztec Empire (tenochtitlan). -
Jan 11, 1517
Pineda Maps the Coast
He was leading expeditions to find a fast route to Asia by mapping the gulf coast. There was no sea passage, but he accomplished other things. He proved that Florida wasn't an island, it was a peninsula. Pineda's map of the gulf coast was the first document of Texas and very accurate. -
Jan 11, 1535
Cabeza de Vac Shipwrecks
He was captured by Karankawa Indians in Florida. In the age of contact many people died due to sickness or less food. When he reached Mexico a book was published of his stories and journey. They give important information about lives of native Americans. -
Jan 12, 1540
Coronado Sets Out for Cibola
Cibola is a legendary city, sometimes called Seven Cities of Cibola, which is said to hold treasure from the Naive Americans. Coronado didn't find the cities, but he heard about another place called Quivira which was said to also have a lot of gold. On the journey to Quivira he crossed over the Panhandle. -
La Salle Lands in Texas
France was challenging Spain and trying to get Texas. The river he discovered is Missippi. -
Fort St. Louis was Founded
La Salle founded Fort St. Louis in Texas. The fort failed because there wasn't very good defense and cannons, and the huts weren't very strong. La Salle's own expedition killed him because he wasn't a good leader. -
Mission San Fransisco was Founded
A mission is led by Spanish and are built to convert Indians to Christianity. New Spain was responsible for making missionaries. Presidios were forts defending the missions. Most missions failed because not many Indians converted to Catholicism. -
Marques de Rubi Inspects Texas
King Carlo III appointed him. Marques was ordered to inspect he presidios and other urgent issues. He recommended reorganizing the presidios and abandoning east Texas afterwards. -
Philip Nolan Expedition
Some filibusters are Jean Lafitte and Peter Ellis Bean. Jean Lafitte was a pirate who stole goods and attacked other ships. He turned Galveston in to a trading post for smuggled goods. -
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803 the U.S. bought a LOT of land from France causing the size of America to double. Spain was really angry that France sold land to U.S., even though there was a treaty signed that no land would be sold to foreign countries. Boundaries weren't clear either after the purchase. 3 countries that sill claimed land were - Britain, Mexico, and Spain. -
Moses Austin Asks Permission for Colony
Austin's father died before he could build a colony. Baron helped get the grant accepted. -
Stephen F. Austin Establishes His Colony
An empresario is someone who has a grant to build a colony on Mexican land. Austin built his colony by Colorado and Brazos river. Mexico made sure Austin's colony had settlers of good character and discipline, were loyal to the government, and were either catholic or ready to convert to Catholicism. The "Old 300" were Anglo-Americans and most of them were farmers. Problems- First the ship Lively got lost and many supplies and colonists didn't make it, and there was drought. -
Mexico Gains Independance
Mexico gains independence from Spain. Federalist of this new independent country made the Constitution of 1824. This constitution made Texas and Coahuila join together. -
Fredonian Rebellion
The goal of the Fredonian Rebellion was to break away from Mexico. Edwards brothers were upset because there were already natives and Mexicans living in the place he had a grant for. They threatened people who were living there to get them off the land, but that made Mexico revoke the brother's grant. They rebelled but it all fell apart when Mexican forces came to Fredonia. -
Mier y Teran Report
The goal was to inspect Texas. Mier y Teran was sent to bring back a report of problems or complaints to Mexico. Some things in his report were that there were too many Americans and not enough Tejanos. He said to encourage Mexicans to move to Texas and stop U.S. immigration. -
Law of April 6, 1830 passes
U.S. Immigration was banned; Empresario contracts were cancelled if they were unfinished; Mexican immigration is encouraged by giving them good transportation, and land; Slavery was not permitted (no new slaves) but if you already have then no change; For forts the government or officials can take any land they want at any time; and lastly import taxes were increased. -
Convention of 1833
This convention was held in order to persuade the Mexican government to take away their ban on U.S. immigration. Stephen F. Austin went to Mexico to present the convention only to get arrested. -
Stephen F. Austin Gets Arrested
Austin gets arrested, because the government thought that he was against them and was trying to start a rebellion in Texas. After this imprisonment he changed his mind about being with the Mexican government, and realized that the government was corrupt and mean. -
Battle of Gonzalas
Fought because the texans weren't giving back a cannon to Mexico. The slogan was come and take it and the texans won. -
San Antonio de Bexar Seige
A siege is when enemies completely surround a place so no supplies can come and they surrender. Befor Mexico controlled San antoni and then afterwards Texas controlled it. -
Convention of 1836
The 2 most important documents created were Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. -
Fall of the Alamo
3 Alamo defendersmwere William Travis, Davey Crockett, and James Bowie. There were about 200 Texan defenders and there were about 1800 Mexicans. Sam Houston didn't send reinforcements because he was strategic and new they wouldn't win. The Mexicans won. -
Runaway Scrape
Everybody was moving east so they could run away from Santa Anna and slow him down. Everybody Sam Houston was a coward and that he shouldn't be the leader of he keeps retreating. -
Goliad Masacre
Fannin and his men were resting in an open spot when Mexico soldiers surrounded them. Fannin surrendered and they were taken prisoners. Santa Anna ordered the execution of them. Most of the Texans died except for the few that escaped. -
Battle of San Jacinto
The two war cries were "Remember Goliad! Remember the Alamo!" Only 2 Texans died and about 600 Mexicans died. During the battle Santa Anna was trying to get away by going toward the river. At the end Texas won claiming their independence.