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Republic of Texas Timeline

(March 2, 1836 – December 29, 1845)

The Republic of Texas was an independent sovereign nation in North America that existed from 1836 to 1845, after Texas won independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto. Governed by leaders such as Sam Houston and Mirabeau B. Lamar, the republic faced challenges including debt, border disputes, and relations with Native American tribes before joining the United States as the 28th state in 1845. Less

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Colonial and Mexican Era

Spain returns Louisiana to France

1799 - 1803

During the years 1799 to 1803, at the height of the Napoleonic Empire in France, Spain returned Louisiana to France, leaving the status of Texas during these transfers unclear.

Image source: Louisiana Purchase

Spain returns Louisiana to France

Mexican War of Independence begins

1810 - 1821

Starting in 1810 with the outbreak of the Mexican War of Independence, New Spain sought a different relationship with the Spanish crown. Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821 brought Texas into the newly formed Mexican state.

Image source: Mexican War of Independence

Mexican War of Independence begins

Battle of Rosillo Creek and Salcedo's surrender

Apr 1, 1813

Bolstered by new recruits and led by Samuel Kemper, who succeeded Magee after his death in battle in 1813, the expedition gained victories against soldiers led by Spanish governor Manuel María de Salcedo. Their victory convinced Salcedo to surrender on April 1, 1813; he was executed two days later.

First Republic of Texas declared

Apr 6, 1813 - Aug 18, 1813

On April 6, 1813, the victorious Republican Army of the North drafted a constitution and declared the independent Republic of Texas, with Gutiérrez as its president. The ephemeral republic came to an end on August 18, 1813, when the Spanish Army crushed the Republican Army of the North at the Battle of Medina.

Image source: Republic of Texas

First Republic of Texas declared

Adams–Onís Treaty establishes Texas boundary

1819

The Adams–Onís Treaty between Spain and the United States ceded Spanish Florida to the United States and established a clear boundary between Texas and Louisiana, resolving the ambiguous status of Texas after the transfers of Louisiana.

Image source: Adams–Onís Treaty

Adams–Onís Treaty establishes Texas boundary

James Long returns to Texas

1820

Undeterred by earlier defeat, James Long returned to Texas again in 1820, joining refugees at Bolivar Peninsula on April 6, 1820 with more reinforcements. By December 1820 he commanded only 50 men.

Image source: James Long (filibuster)

James Long returns to Texas

Long's expedition ends after capture attempt

Sep 19, 1821

The expedition led an uncertain existence until September 19, 1821, when Long and 52 men marched inland to capture Presidio La Bahía, marking the final failure of the filibustering effort for a Republic of Texas.

Texas joined with Coahuila as a Mexican state

1824

The First Mexican Empire was short-lived, being replaced by a republican form of government in 1823. In 1824, the sparsely populated territories of Texas and Coahuila were joined to form the state of Coahuila y Tejas.

Image source: Coahuila y Tejas

Texas joined with Coahuila as a Mexican state

Law of April 6 bans American immigration

Apr 6, 1830

Mexican President Anastasio Bustamante outlawed American immigration to Texas following several conflicts with the Empresarios over the status of slavery, which had been abolished in Mexico in 1829 but which the Texians refused to end.

Revolution and Independence

Convention of 1832 held

1832

Angered at the interference of the Mexican government, the Empresarios held the Convention of 1832, which was the first formal step in what became the Texas Revolution.

Image source: Convention of 1832

Convention of 1832 held

American immigrants outnumber Mexicans

1834

By 1834, American immigrants in the area greatly outnumbered Mexicans. Following a series of minor skirmishes between Mexican authorities and the immigrants, the Mexican government increased its military presence in Texas throughout 1834 and early 1835.

Image source: Texas Revolution

American immigrants outnumber Mexicans

Coahuila y Tejas split into two departments

1835

In 1835, the central government split Coahuila y Tejas into two separate departments, escalating tensions between Texas settlers and the centralist Mexican regime.

Texas Revolution begins at Battle of Gonzales

Oct 2, 1835

Hostilities broke out on October 2, 1835, shortly before Santa Anna's Siete Leyes abolished state authority under the federal republic. The Texian leadership under Austin organized its own military, and the Battle of Gonzales became the first engagement of the Texas Revolution.

Image source: Battle of Gonzales

Texas Revolution begins at Battle of Gonzales

Provisional Consultation government established

Nov 1835

In November 1835, a provisional government known as the Consultation was established to oppose the Santa Anna regime, though it stopped short of declaring independence from Mexico.

Image source: Consultation (Texas)

Provisional Consultation government established

Texas Declaration of Independence proclaimed

Mar 2, 1836

Delegates in convention proclaimed the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, formally establishing the Republic of Texas. The Convention of 1836 had come to order on March 1, and declared independence from Mexico the next day.

Image source: Texas Declaration of Independence

Texas Declaration of Independence proclaimed

Treaties of Velasco end major fighting

Apr 21, 1836

Major fighting ended on April 21, 1836, with the Treaties of Velasco that ended the fighting and secured Texas' independence from Mexico.

Image source: Treaties of Velasco

Treaties of Velasco end major fighting

Republic Governance

Sam Houston elected president

Sep 5, 1836

After interim President David G. Burnet declined to run for reelection, Sam Houston was elected as the new President of the Republic of Texas on September 5, 1836, with Burnet resigning. In September 1836 Texas also elected a Congress of 14 senators and 29 representatives.

Image source: Sam Houston

Sam Houston elected president

First Congress convenes at Columbia

Oct 1836

The first Congress of the Republic of Texas convened in October 1836 at Columbia (now West Columbia), one of five temporary capitals that year alongside Washington-on-the-Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston and Velasco.

Image source: Congress of the Republic of Texas

First Congress convenes at Columbia

Stephen F. Austin dies

Dec 27, 1836

Austin, known as the Father of Texas, died December 27, 1836, after serving just two months as Secretary of State for the new Republic.

Image source: Stephen F. Austin

Stephen F. Austin dies

Capital moved to Houston

1837

After serving as capitals in 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston, Velasco and Columbia, President Sam Houston moved the capital to the new city of Houston in 1837.

Image source: History of Houston

Capital moved to Houston

Capital moves to Austin

1839

President Mirabeau B. Lamar moved the capital to the new town of Austin in 1839, a small pioneer settlement on the Colorado River chosen as the republic's seventh and final capital.

Image source: Austin, Texas

Capital moves to Austin

Lone Star Flag officially adopted

1839

The first flag of the republic was the Burnet Flag, a single gold star on an azure field, followed in 1839 by official adoption of the Lone Star Flag, which remains the flag of Texas today.

Image source: Flag of Texas

Lone Star Flag officially adopted

Homestead exemption enacted

1839

In 1839, Texas became the first nation in the world to enact a homestead exemption, under which creditors cannot seize a person's primary residence.

Image source: Republic of Texas

Homestead exemption enacted

Regulator–Moderator War ends

1839 - 1844

The Regulator–Moderator War involved a land feud in Harrison and Shelby Counties in East Texas from 1839 to 1844, a violent internal conflict that ended only with intervention by the Republic's authorities.

Image source: Regulator–Moderator War

Regulator–Moderator War ends

Houston returns as president; peace reestablished

1841

Houston became president again in 1841 and, with both Texians and Comanches exhausted by war, a new peace was established with Native American tribes.

Presidential election splits electorate

1844

The 1844 Republic of Texas presidential election split the electorate dramatically: the newer western regions preferred nationalist Edward Burleson, while the cotton country east of the Trinity River went for Anson Jones, who won.

Image source: Anson Jones

Presidential election splits electorate

Baylor University chartered

1845

President Anson Jones signed the charter for Baylor University in the fall of 1845. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor was also chartered by the Republic in 1845, receiving lands in Belton, Texas.

Image source: Baylor University

Baylor University chartered

Conflicts and Diplomacy

United States recognizes Texas

Mar 3, 1837

On March 3, 1837, the United States granted official recognition to the Republic of Texas, an important diplomatic milestone for the young nation.

Image source: Texas annexation

United States recognizes Texas

Lamar reverses Native American policy

1838

When Mirabeau Lamar ascended to the presidency in 1838, he reversed the Houston administration's policy towards the Native Americans, pursuing a more hostile stance toward the Comanches and other tribes.

Image source: Mirabeau B. Lamar

Lamar reverses Native American policy

Great Raid of 1840

1840

After peace talks in 1840 ended with the massacre of 34 Comanche leaders in San Antonio, the Comanches launched a major attack deep into Texas, known as the Great Raid of 1840.

Image source: Great Raid of 1840

Great Raid of 1840

Santa Fe Expedition launched

1841

In 1841, President Lamar unofficially supported the Santa Fe Expedition, seeking to extend Texian influence and trade into New Mexico.

Vásquez invades San Antonio

Mar 5, 1842

On March 5, 1842, a Mexican force of over 500 men, led by Ráfael Vásquez, invaded Texas for the first time since the revolution, briefly occupying San Antonio.

Woll captures San Antonio

Sep 11, 1842

About 1,400 Mexican troops, led by the French mercenary general Adrián Woll, launched a second attack and captured San Antonio on September 11, 1842.

Image source: Adrián Woll

Woll captures San Antonio

Raids on New Mexico and Santa Fe Trail

1843

In 1843, Texans, with the support of their government, conducted two large raids on New Mexico and commercial traffic on the Santa Fe Trail.

Image source: Texan Santa Fe Expedition

Raids on New Mexico and Santa Fe Trail

Naval Battle of Campeche

Apr 30, 1843 - May 16, 1843

The Naval Battle of Campeche took place in two engagements on April 30, 1843, and May 16, 1843. A scene from this battle is engraved on the cylinder of every Colt 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, and 1861 Navy revolver.

Image source: Naval Battle of Campeche

Naval Battle of Campeche

Treaty of Tehuacana Creek signed

1844

The negotiated treaty with the Comanches, known as the Treaty of Tehuacana Creek, was signed in 1844, cementing peace between Texans and the Comanche people.

Annexation and Statehood

U.S. offers annexation

Feb 28, 1845

On February 28, 1845, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution offering annexation to Texas, setting the stage for the republic to join the Union.

Voters approve annexation and constitution

Oct 13, 1845

On October 13, 1845, a large majority of voters in the republic approved both the American offer and the proposed constitution that specifically endorsed slavery and emigrants bringing slaves to Texas.

Texas annexed and admitted as 28th state

Dec 29, 1845

Texas was annexed by the United States on December 29, 1845, and admitted to the Union as the 28th state on that same day, thereby bypassing a territorial phase.

Transfer of power completes statehood

Feb 19, 1846

The transfer of power from the Republic of Texas to the new U.S. state formally took place on February 19, 1846, ending the Republic's existence that had begun on March 2, 1836.

Key Facts

  1. Texas declared independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836, creating the Republic of Texas.
  2. The Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, led by Sam Houston, secured Texas independence with the capture of Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
  3. The Battle of the Alamo (February–March 1836) became a symbol of heroic resistance despite being a defeat for Texian forces.
  4. Sam Houston served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas.
  5. The Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845, becoming the 28th state and contributing to tensions leading to the Mexican-American War.

Source

This Republic of Texas timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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