The Six Flags that Flew Over Texas

Right now I 'm sure you are asking yourself "Is she talking about the amusement park Six Flags in San Antonio, Texas?" Well the answer is NO. I am talking about the six worldwide flags that have flown over Texas since the first European exploration of the region by Cortez in 1519.

Spain was the first European nation to claim what is now Texas. In 1519 Cortez organized Spanish presence in Mexico, and Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda mapped out the Texas coastline. A few shipwrecked Spaniards, like Cabeza de Vaca, and explorers such as Coronado, sometimes explored the great wilderness. After more than a 100 years, Spain made its first settlement in Texas which was the Ysleta Mission in El Paso that was organized in 1681. Progressively expanding from Mexico, other Spanish missions, forts, and civil organizations followed for nearly a century-and-a-half until Mexico quit the European rule and became independent in 1821.

Planning to increase its base from French Louisiana, France took a bold step in 1685, planting its flag in eastern Texas near the Gulf Coast. Although declared by Spain, most of Texas had no Spanish presence at all; the nearest Spanish settlements were hundreds of miles away. French nobleman, Rene Robert Cavelier, and Sieur de la Salle, founded a colony called Fort St. Louis. But the effort was ruined by a series of disasters such as shipwrecks, diseases, famine, unfriendly Indians, and internal conflict resulting in La Salle's death by one of his own men. By 1690, France's bold claim on Texas had been destroyed.

For over a decade after Mexico became independent, brave pioneers from the Hispanic south and the Anglo north started rushing into Texas. It was a limited region for both Anglo Texans and Mexican citizens. But the different social and political attitudes began to separate the two cultures. The final decision was decided when Mexican General Santa Anna declared himself chief of the Mexican federal constitution. Then the Texans were not happy with the decision and so they eventually won their independence April 21, 1836, on the battleground of San Jacinto near Houston.

During nearly ten years of independence, the Texas republic experienced widespread diseases, financial crises and still having difficulties with Mexico. But it was during this period that unique accents of the Texas heritage developed. Texas became the birthplace of the American cowboy; Texas Rangers were the first to use Sam Colt's remarkable six-shooters; Sam Houston became an American model of bad personality. Texas joined the United States on December 29, 1845. The red, white and blue Texas state flag with its lone star (the same flag that was adopted by the republic in 1839) today still flies practically everywhere: on government buildings, schools, banks, shopping malls, and even on oil derricks.

Sixteen years after Texas joined the union, the American Civil War broke out. Gov. Sam Houston,was persuading Texans to re-establish a neutral republic.

Texas cast its lot with the doomed southerners, devastation and business breakdown as did all Confederate states. But two events fixed Texas and Texans in a somehow different look in the nation's eyes. First, Texas troops won the final battle of the Civil War, not knowing the south had surrendered a month earlier. Then, returning Texans found a population explosion of wild Longhorns, sparking the great cattle-trail drives that became American legends. The first Confederate flag flown in Texas was the South's national mascot, "The Stars and Bars" of the Confederate States of America, although the later-crossed Confederate battle flag is better known today.

When joining the union, Texas became the 28th star on the United States flag, keeping aside the defeat and difficult reconstruction after the Civil War. First was the fabled Texas Longhorn, providing beef for an expanding nation and newly turned topsoil on large farm land producing lots of crops.

The 20th Century started out with the discovery of fabulous sources-oil wells expanding in a place called Spindletop near Beaumont. By mid-century, modern Texas industries were growing in a fertile climate of advanced technology. Today under the magnificent "Star Spangled Banner," Texas horizons continue to expand, pushing hard up to the limitless reaches of outer space.

The Six Flags that Flew Over Texas

By:Ngozi Osode

Texas Under Mexico. 1821-1836

Texas as a Republic. 1836 -1845

Texas in the Confederacy. 1861-1865

Texas Under France. 1685-1690

San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site

Texas in the US.1845-1861 and 1865-2014

Texas Under Spain. 1519-1685 and 1690-1821.

My Favorite Texas Symbol

Six Flags

Enough talk about the Six Flags that flew over Texas, lets talk about our favorite Texas symbols.

What is your favorite Texas Symbol?

The bluebonnet is my favorite Texas symbol. That is because it has a beautiful crystal blue color that makes me feel happy and relaxed.