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Establishment of Fort St. Louis
Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle established Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay, and thus formed the basis for France's claim to Texas. Two years later, LaSalle was murdered by his own men. -
Alonso de Leon reaches Fort St. Louis
Mexican explorer Alonso de Leon reached Fort St. Louis, and found it abandoned, during an expedition planned to reestablish Spanish presence in Texas. -
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Spanish missions
Throughout the 18th century, Spain established Catholic missions in Texas, and along with the missions, the towns of San Antonio, Goliad and Nacogdoches. -
Gutierrez-Magee Expedition
About 130-men strong, the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition crossed the Sabine from Louisiana in a rebel movement against Spanish rule in Texas. -
Colonization of the Brazos River region.
Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River. -
Mexico forbids U.S. emigraration.
Relations between the Texans and Mexico reached a new low when Mexico forbid further emigration into Texas by settlers from the United States. -
Battle of Velasco
The Battle of Velasco resulted in the first casualties in Texas' relations with Mexico. After several days of fighting, the Mexicans under Domingo de Ugartechea were forced to surrender for lack of ammunition. -
Battle of Gonzales
Texans repulsed a detachment of Mexican cavalry at the Battle of Gonzales. The revolution began. -
Goliad Campaign of 1835
The Goliad Campaign of 1835 ended when George Collingsworth, Ben Milam, and forty-nine other Texans stormed the presidio at Goliad and a small detachment of Mexican defenders. -
Battle of Concepcion
Jim Bowie, James Fannin and 90 Texans defeated 450 Mexicans at the Battle of Concepcion, near San Antonio. -
Texas Declaration of Independence
Texas Declaration of IndependenceThe Texas Declaration of Independence was signed by members of the Convention of 1836. An ad interim government was formed for the newly created Republic of Texas. -
Battle of the Alamo
Texans under Col. William B. Travis were overwhelmed by the Mexican army after a two-week siege at the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio. The Runaway Scrape began. -
Battle of San Jacinto
Texans under Sam Houston routed the Mexican forces of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Thus, independence was won in one of the most decisive battles in history. -
Texas Statehood
U. S. President James Polk followed through on a campaign platform promising to annex Texas, and signed legislation making Texas the 28th state of the United States -
Mexican-American War begins
The Mexican-American War ignited as a result of disputes over claims to Texas boundaries. The outcome of the war fixed Texas' southern boundary at the Rio Grande River. -
Compromise of 1850
In a plan to settle boundary disputes and pay her public debt, Texas relinquished about one-third of her territory in the Compromise of 1850, in exchange for $10,000,000 from the United States. -
Texas Secession
Texas seceded from the Federal Union following a 171 to 6 vote by the Secession Convention. Governor Sam Houston was one of a small minority opposed to secession. -
Texas rejoins the Union
The United States Congress readmitted Texas into the Union. Reconstruction continued, however, for another four years. -
University of Texas opens
The University of Texas opened its doors in Austin for its inaugural session. First courses were offered in the Academic Department and a Law Department.
