The early ancestors of the modern American Indians in Texas lived approximately 37,000 years ago and survived primarily on game. In East Texas, more permanent villages were established by American Indians and federations were formed for mutual protection. These became known as confederations and Caddo farms, developed alongside political and religious systems. These American Indians would certainly influence the history of Texas when the first Europeans arrived in 1528. The Caddos are credited with giving Texas its name, which is a derivative of the Caddo greeting- “Tai-yas” or friends. Remember, the Texas motto is “friendship”.
During the early 1700s, the Spanish sent more than thirty expeditions to Texas. San Antonio had a military post and a mission (the Alamo). Missions were also established in Nacogdoches in the east, Goliad in the south, and El Paso in the west. Moses Austin received permission from the Spanish government to settle 300 families on a grant of 200,000 acres. After Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, Stephen Austin (Moses’ son) received approval of the grant from Mexico. By 1832, there were about 8000 people in his colonies.
When Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took over the presidency of Mexico, Texans supported him. When Stephen Austin traveled to Mexico to address the government about restrictive government complaints, he was met with imprisonment. By the time he returned to Texas in 1835, clashes had already broken out between colonists and Mexican troops. Texas declared its independence in Washington on the Brazos in 1836. The Battle of the Alamo lasted from February 23 to March 6, 1836, before all the defenders inside the Alamo were killed. Sam Houston, a military commander, led a surprise attack on Mexican troops at the Battle of the San Jacinto River, capturing Santa Anna and securing the victory for Texas. Now the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston became president and Stephen Austin became secretary of state. Houston became the capital of the republic until it was later moved to Austin as the permanent capital. The republic struggled both financially and with the constant threat of American Indian attacks. The US wanted to continue expanding westward, so the US and Texas agreed to an annexation in 1845, and fortunately, Texas managed to retain title to its public lands.
After the annexation, border disputes led to the Mexican-American War with American troops trapped in Mexico City. Mexico relinquished claims to Texas and other areas in what are now the lands of New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, which was signed on February 2, 1848. Texas claimed most of this land, but gave it up in the compromise of 1850. It was a series of bills passed by Congress to help settle disputes between slave and free states as the United States expanded westward and continued to claim new territory. It also established the current northern and western borders of Texas. More disruption occurred with the outbreak of the American Civil War. Texas joined the Confederacy in 1861 and then rejoined the Union in 1870 after losing the war. The period of reconstruction after the war brought a political atmosphere of distrust of the government in general. When Texans wrote the 1876 constitution under which we still operate, they made sure to provide limits on all three branches of government.
All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and are instituted for their benefit. It is the faith of the people of Texas to stand bound to preserve a republican form of government, and it is only subject to this limitation that they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform, or abolish their government in such manner as they may deem proper.
There is no doubt that limited government was an advantage not only in 1876 but also today.
By the end of the nineteenth century, the population of Texas was growing as well as the economy. By 1900, the population was over three million people. The Comanche were moved from Texas to a reservation in Oklahoma. New immigrants arrived and cities were established. Cattle industries and farming spread from Central Texas to West Texas. And, of course, in 1901, when the Spindletop oil shale was discovered outside of Beaumont, the oil industry took off and more jobs were created.