|
On April 21, 1836, in
a battle that lasted approximately twenty minutes in the forests,
fields and marshes along the San Jacinto River, Texas' independence
was born. It was the wish of General Sam Houston that Texas join the
Union as a state, but the residents chose to declare themselves a
republic. This was to stand for nine years and Sam Houston finally
got his wish in 1845; Texas became a state. With its statehood came
the understanding that if for any reason deemed necessary by popular
vote, Texas could withdraw from the Union. This provision was acted
upon only during the Civil War, when Texas joined the Confederate
States of America. Following the Civil War, Texas rejoined the Union
as did all the southern states.
INTERESTING FACTS:
1. The King Ranch in Texas
was larger than the state of Rhode Island.
2. Dr Pepper was invented
in Waco, Texas. Note: there is no period following "Dr".
3. The worst natural disaster
in U.S. history occurred on September 8, 1900 when a hurricane killed
an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people in and around Galveston.
4. The Tyler Municipal
Rose Garden is the largest of its type, containing 38,000 rose bushes,
featuring 500 varieties.
5. Douglas
"Wrong Way" Corrigan was born in Galveston.
It is generally believed that his famous flight in the wrong direction
was intentional.
6. Chili was invented
in San Antonio, Texas.
7. The smallest state
park in Texas measures 12 feet by 21 feet. It's Acton State Historic
Site, the monument and gravesite of Elizabeth Patton Crockett, wife
of Davy.
8. There's a mysterious
mass grave in the historic city of Gonzalez, Texas. Read
about it here.
|