Major Eras in Texas History

Historians divide the past into eras so it is easier to identify cause and effect of the great events/people in history.

To present there are 12 eras in Texas history

Why Historians Divide the Past Into Eras

 Prehistory - 1528 This era is the prehistory of Texas up to

the point of contact with Europeans in 1528.

This era includes the natural geologic history as well as Native American history.

Natural Texas and Its People

1528-1690 This era covers the interaction between

European explorers and American Indians. This era covers the establishment of permanent

Spanish mission in 1682-1690 This era includes the encounters of Cabeza de

Vaca and the numerous expeditions over the next 150 years that define what the Europeans and American Indians understood about each other and Texas.

Age of Contact

1690-1821 This era deals with the efforts of Spain to bring

Texas under Spanish control. The Spanish established missions, town,

ranches, and military posts in South Central and East Texas.

Spain’s authority in Texas was challenged by American Indians, France, the United States, and Tejanos.

Spanish Colonial

1821-1836 This era covers the efforts of Mexico to

populate and retain Texas for the Republic of Mexico. To do this Mexico developed Anglo and Mexican

settlements and local government institutions This eventually led to the Texas Revolution.

Mexican National

1835-1845 This era deals with the Texas revolt

against Mexican rule. This began with the establishment of an

independent Republic of Texas. At the end of the revolution Texas became a

state of the United States of America.

Revolution and Republic

1845-1861 This era deals with Texas annexation in 1845

and its effort to secede from the United States of America. This includes the Mexican War, resolution of the

Texas boundary, dispute of part of the Compromise of 1850, significant population growth from immigration into Texas, and the involvement of the U.S. Army in frontier defense.

Early Statehood

1861-1874 This era deals with the reason Texas

seceeded from the United States This era deals with conflict while

reshaping Texas following the war by the military, federal, and state government.

This era deals with issues brought about by the growth of slavery in Texas and the events that impacted the Civil War on Texas

This era deals with the events and actions that took place to reconstruct Texas following the Civil War.

Civil War and Reconstruction

1865-1900 This era deals with the return to cotton agriculture after

the Civil War. This era covers the rise of cattle during and after

reconstruction. This era shows the development of railroads and the

effects that the different enterprises had on each other and on life in Texas. These industries caused expansion into West Texas which

had an impact on the remaining independent Indian peoples resulting in more reservations and other interactions.

Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads

1894-1935 This era deals with the vast range of oil

discoveries beginning with Corsicana in 1894 through East Texas Field development. This includes major discoveries at Spindletop,

the growth of Texas economic and political influence due to oil, and the effects that oil revenue had on Texas society.

This era also covers the role of Texas and Texans in WWI

Age of Oil

1929-1945 This era deals with the effects of

the Great Depression on Texas. This includes the efforts to

improve the Texas economy, the impact of the Dust Bowl on Texas, and the economic and social changes.

This era also deals with changes brought on by WWII. This includes the social changes

and the role of the federal government in growing the Texas wartime economy.

Texas in the Great Depression and WWII

1945-1980 This era deals with the movements for social

change and equality that began after WWII. This includes the efforts by Hispanics and

African Americans to have equal access and treatment.

This era covers the political shift away from Texans’ long-held allegiance to the Democratic party and became more conservative in support of the Republican Party.

Civil Rights and Conservatism

1980-Present This era deals with

the events and issues facing Texans from 1980 to present. This includes the role

of Texas politically and economically, the impact of recent conflicts on Texas, and issues facing Texas in the present and future.

Contemporary Texas