Books

The History of Texas

Rationale

The history of Texas is a rich story of an area that has a multi-cultural past. Texas is far more than a state, it was the home of many different peoples before it became a state. Texas was the home of the Native Americans, the French, the Spanish, the Mexican, the Republic of Texas, then a member of the United States, the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, then back to the United States. Texas is also the home of many immigrants. Immigrants came from all over the world to work on the railroads, in the mines, as well as to farm and ranch. The diversity of Texas is probably one of the most diverse pasts of any of our states. The story of Texas is a story that must be shared with future generations.

There is not one student who cannot find some sort of personal connection to the history of Texas. With the rich background of Texas a student can do research and find someone in our past that they can connect with on an individual basis. Given the opportunity to read books other than the standard textbooks students can look back at the stories of all peoples coming together and going through differences to finally create the culture that is Texan. I have chosen books that illustrate our Texas fathers, the struggle of minorities in Texas, the importance of immigration to the Texas socio-economic system, and of course the Texas Revolution and the Civil War.

Stephen F. Austin: Empresario of Texas

Author: Gregg Cantrell

Publisher: Yale University Press

Copyright: October 1, 2001

ISBN#: 978-0300090932

Genre: Biography

Library Location: Canyon City Library

Summary:

The biography of Austin gives us a full story of the “Empressario of Texas”. From his childhood to his death, we learn the story of a Texas icon. His life was full of turmoil and political battles. In his mind he was a leader and he wanted to be that in his life. This is the story of Texas’s first great leader.

Personal Comments:

This book really gave a background view into the legend of Stephen Austin that you won’t find in your regular Texas history book. I found the background story of his family especially his father and how they had the “Austin versus the world” mentality. I also didn’t know he was in such poor health throughout his life, both physically and mentally. He played the political game as well as anyone, and used every friend he could as an advantage in getting what he needed. He would also use obstacles that fell upon him to his political advantage to further his reputation with his people.

The story of his father and his many failed business ventures laid a foundation for how Stephen would live his life. His father, Moses, always had big ideas that would have made the family live up to the great name Austin, but really it seems that the name Austin was not legendary until Stephen succeeded in his ventures. Moses actually made Stephen’s life far more difficult than it had to be, however without the mountain of misfortune that his father created Stephen may not have had the fortitude to be the man he was. It seems that Austin spent his entire early life jumping from scheme to scheme following his father in a never ending attempt to further the Austin family name and fortune. Even the Texas colonization was viewed as a way to return his family to a wealthy noble status. After many years he was able to pay back all the debts he and his family accrued in the United States. His family eventually made sure that his status of a legend was sealed.

Stephen Austin was a very smart man and he worked the Spanish and Mexican system to his advantage in making sure he was able to complete his Texas venture. As the national government went through many changes he was able to work his political magic with each group to ensure he would make the most of situations that were presented. He also carefully aligned himself with good business partners and friends. He was not afraid to play the political game, playing both sides of situations to make sure he was able to get the best result for himself, which he believed was what was best for Texas.

I actually do believe, after reading this book that it is possible that Stephen Austin may have had some mental health issues that carved who he was as a person. It was stated several times that he battled with depression, it also pointed out that when something went bad it was the enemies of the family that caused them, not the Austins themselves. He also had a disposition that he was above everyone else, he considered himself mentally superior to everyone. It is almost as if everyone were game pieces in his game of life. I may be reading way more into that then there actually was, but it is possible.

His part in Texas’s independence is obvious. He was the leader of the people; he had more control in Texas than the Mexican government it seemed. His careful, patient nature would have made him an excellent diplomat to the Mexican government, if the government had been a stable unit. The Mexican government was a mess and the tactics did not work out because they did not remain stable and carry through from one regime to the next. Revolution was the correct course of action. Texas’s government was not much better during the revolution, but they were successful even though they were far from perfect.

Something I found interesting about this book was how many enemies Austin had throughout his life. This was obvious in the election for the president of Texas when he not only lost to Sam Houston, but he actually finished 3rd in the race. He was not surprised by Sam Houston beating him, even though a promise was broken, because he had earlier in a letter told Mary Holly that a war hero is always regarded higher than an intellectual hero, which he considered himself. This however proved to be true, because it was not until well after his death and through the perseverance of his family that he was finally recognized as an icon in Texas history. Although there are less than popular moments in his life, and it is possible that some of his motives were more self-serving than he may have let on, he is still the Father of Texas.

Suggested Use in Classroom:

Stephen F. Austin is a big part of Texas history, but not many people realize that he was not always that famous, he was actually not very popular during his own time. I think this is an interesting aspect to bring to the table and let students learn about. By reading the biography you get to know the person behind the icon, the problems they faced and the not so nice things they did along the way. Factual biographies are one of the best tools to teach students history. I would have students read this book then write a report, or possibly have them act out an important part of Austin’s life. You could take the book and tie it in with reading you are doing from the textbook and use it as a reference for side lessons.

Sam Houston

Author: James L. Haley

Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press

Copyright: August 30, 2004

ISBN#: 978-0806136448

Genre: Biography

Library Location: Cornette Library WTAMU

Summary:

Another Biography of a Texas icon. Sam Houston unlike Stephen Austin, was a legend in his own time. The man had connections, charisma, he was the picture of Texas. This book takes us from his childhood, through his family and personal struggles, to his political and army days, all the way to his death following the Civil War. Sam Houston’s life was very interesting for a history buff to read about.

Personal Comments:

Sam Houston, by James L. Haley is an in-depth look at the life of Sam Houston. Starting from a quick family history to his death we dive into the life of quite possibly the most famous man in Texas’s rich history. The venture through failed marriages, political ups and downs, life with Native Americans, and being a war hero brings far more to the table than what a quick blurb in a Texas history textbook would share. Sam Houston may not have been the first to make it to Texas, but I would venture to say he was the main character in the forming of Texas as a country and then as a state.

Sam Houston the boy was not content to stay at home with his family. He took off on his own and joined up with a Cherokee society under the leadership of Oolooteka. In this time with the Native Americans Sam adopted the name, the Raven.  His time with the Cherokee nation set a life-time respect for the Native Americans that followed him throughout his entire political career.  After three years of living with the Cherokees he rejoined American society and joined the Army, he did this for the quick money and a ticket out of town. In his first combat experience against the Creek Indians he was forever injured by battle, but he met the man that would mentor him into his career as a politician, Andrew Jackson. Jackson was impressed by Sam Houston and he took him under his wing. It was not uncommon for Jackson to take young men as protégés, something Sam Houston did later in life as well.

Under the direction and assistance of Jackson, Houston moved from Indian agent to governor of Tennessee. As Indian agent Houston started making his first political enemies. Houston was a man that easily made enemies with how he carried on his business, but he also earned the respect and admiration of others. Houston’s term as Governor was cut short when he resigned in the wake of his first marriage coming to an end. The facts are not confirmed, but it is believed that she was in love with another man and her family wanted her to marry Houston for his status. About this time he started his very well-known battle with alcohol. The separation and damage to his reputation that followed cost him the chance to become Andrew Jackson’s heir to the presidency. He went out to live among the Native Americans again, and even they called him a drunk. His drinking problem plagued his reputation for his entire life, even though he stopped drinking completely under the guidance of his wife, Margaret Houston. 

Houston soon became interested in Texas, it is rumored that his interest is sparked by Jackson’s interest in acquiring Texas for the United States, but this is not proven. He went to Texas and became a figure in the Texas revolution. He was the military man that Stephen Austin could not be. He was often accused of being a coward because of his military strategy, but his army did end up winning the Battle of San Jacinto capturing Santa Anna and winning the war. His strategy may have included alliances with the US military, but their presence never became necessary, since Santa Anna made a mistake and made himself vulnerable to the Texas forces.

Sam Houston became a two time president of the new republic; his wish was always to make Texas part of the United States, but because of slavery issues and political red tape it did not happen for a decade. Once again he gained many political friends, but made enemies to go along with those. Eventually Texas was admitted to the union and Houston became the Governor of the state right before the Civil War.

He did not want the Union to split and fought hard to keep the country together. He even had another chance to become president if he would have chosen to be politically aligned with a major political part.  He may have well changed the history of the nation again, but we will never know. He was forced out of office of governor because he would not declare allegiance to the Confederacy. Although he remained until his death quite vocal on politics and trying to keep the Union together, he could not fix the broken nation. He had a strange sense of premonition and this showed true that his predictions about Southern secession became true.

I really enjoyed the book and the story that unfolded. The political career of Houston was amazing. Before this book I didn’t know about his relationship with Andrew Jackson or his near brushes with being the president of the US. If he could have put together a run for president when his reputation was strong in the North and would have been able to win a couple of Southern states, he could have beaten out Lincoln. This could have changed the entire history of this country. He may have been able to find a resolution before the South left the Union saving millions of lives. Sam Houston was a major part of Texas’s history, but he was also very close to becoming a bigger part of America’s history.

Suggested Use in Classroom:

Sam Houston is one of those exciting characters that you can lean on for interesting stories in Texas history. I would use this book as a constant reference of major events that unfolded during the transition from Mexican Texas to United States Texas. This time frame is where you can do projects about the revolution, the Civil War, and Texas as its own country. This book as plenty of information on Houston and the events of the time.

Peace Came in the Form of a Woman: Indians and Spaniards in the Texas Borderlands

Author: Juliana Barr

Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

Copyright: March 19, 2007

ISBN#: 978-0807857908

Genre: History Non-Fiction

Library Location: Cornette Library WTAMU

Summary:

This book shows that women symbolize many things in the early stages of Spanish Texas history. Although the title may be a little misleading, I do feel it shows the importance of women during the time period. This time is often looked as a time of conquest in history, but this shows another story. This shows how relationships between peoples can evolve from one thing to another for the purpose of survival.

Personal Comments:

Juliana Barr told a story of the Spanish and Indian relationship during the Spanish settlement of Texas that did not show the Spaniards as the unbeatable conquistadores that rode in and took over Texas, defeating the Native Americans in every battle. Instead she brought us into the daily life of both the Indian people and the Spanish settlers. She painted a picture of the struggles that Spaniards dealt with from the time they wanted to convert all the Native Americans to good, moral Christian citizens of Spain to a point where they just wanted to not live in fear of them. Confusion and misunderstanding would equal loosely agreed contracts between the people of Texas. Although Spain claimed Texas as under their control, it is very clear that they were not the leaders or rulers of this land.

The Spaniards went into Texas to settle it for the Spain and to convert its inhabitants to be upstanding Christians to strengthen the number of Spanish citizens in the New World. Instead they ran into a people that were proud and had little intention of changing to the ideals of the Spanish. The Native Americans did see the new people as possible trade partners and allies to help defend from enemies. Language barriers and misunderstandings between the parties often led to Spanish thinking they were in fact converting the heathens, when they were just taking part in ceremonies of respect of the Indian people.

The Indian people viewed wives and family as signs of peace from other groups. The Spanish confused their respect for images of the Virgin Mary as them accepting the faith when actually they were just accepting the image of a female as a sign of peace. As the Spanish would come and want to engage in further agreements the natives wanted Spanish soldiers to bring their families and wives as proof that they are peaceful and wish no harm upon them. Women showed the people that they wanted to be family or kin and settle in the land and build a life. Another way that the Spanish could show this was by intermarriage with Indian women to show kinship with the Indians by marrying if they did not have a wife from Spain. This method was especially useful to the French who had become the trade partners of choice of Indian people. The French knew that the Native Americans were in control of the land and they wanted to have a good relationship so they took these measures to show they were just as dedicated. The Spanish most often took the route of fighting alongside the Indians to gain a sense of brotherhood.

The Spanish had few successes in gaining long term brotherhood with the natives. Although they did have times when they were allies, it was always on shaky ground that the smallest thing could end the tender relationship. The Native Americans knew that the land of Texas was their land and basically used the Spanish for food and assistance when threatened by enemies. The protection of Spanish missions were inviting to Indians but only as an option for protection, almost never used for its purpose of purifying the “heathen savages”. Eventually Spaniards realized that the land was not theirs and adapted to co-existing and tried to copy the French to make allies of the natives as best they could.

The book covered a long span of history in the state, but it was not exactly what I expected from the title. When I read the title I suspected that it would show how women were the peacekeepers in meetings between parties and the calm voice when warriors would want to go to war. Although the image of the Virgin Mary and the sign of peace by having women and children accompanying the men when they invited Spanish into their villages or be present for ceremonies and the act of intermarriage was a way to gain kinship to the native people, what I read was how women were used and violated by men to gain political balance in an uncertain world. Civilized French and Spanish would capture women in battles and raid just as the natives to the land. They would then sell these women or use them as bargaining chips in ransoms to gain favor of another group. This story is filled with violence against women, but it was a violent time in history. It seems that women although they were held in high regard by both Spanish and Indians could easily be viewed as objects of war and politics. The Spanish viewed women almost as property to be hidden and their honor was an extension of them men themselves. The Indian people held the women even higher as they had a maternal hierarchy that placed women in very high standing as they were responsible for basically everything but defense and hunting. However even held in these high esteems they would buy, sell, trade, and steal women as if they were horses.

Suggested Use in Classroom:

From what I remember in school was that the Spanish rule of Texas was a story of conquest and harsh rule. The truth is that the Spanish were very cruel to the Native Americans, but they did not just lay down and take it. The Native Americans fought back and used the Spanish to better themselves. The Native Americans never gave the rule of Texas to the Spanish and the Spanish were never strong enough to take it from them. I would use this book to show the strength and intelligence of the Native Americans during this era.

Smeltertown: Making and Remembering a Southwest Border Community

Author: Monica Perales

Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

Copyright: September 13, 2010

ASIN#: B0042x9058

Genre: History Non-Fiction

Library Location: Amarillo Public Library

Summary:

Smeltertown takes us to the heart of what life was like for Mexican Americans in a border town in the late 1800s until the late 1900s. Monica Perales takes us into the lives of real people who lived their lives in Smeltertown. Smeltertown was a community created by ASARCO as a place to house the employees of their smelting plant in El Paso. What Smeltertown became was a close knit community of a people who shared the same dreams and the same struggles. What outsiders viewed as a slum, Mexican Americans called it home for over a hundred years. And it took the city of El Paso destroying Smeltertown to make the people leave their beloved community.

Personal Comments:

Perales gives us a clear background of what the world was like during the late 1800s when ASARCO opened its smelter in El Paso. Migrant workers would come into the United States to work during the seasons, or to temporarily escape the revolutions taking place in Mexico. There were also those people who came to El Paso to set down roots and make a home for them and their families. These people were starting on a voyage that would take generations to take place, Americanization. The people and the smelter depended on each other to survive, ASARCO gave the people an affordable place to live and the people worked hard and loyally for ASARCO. ASARCO had a paternal position in respect to the Mexican Americans who lived in Smeltertown. Mexican Americans were not treated well in society at this time in history, they were thought of second class citizens who were easily replaceable with the next train of immigrants arriving daily. The smelter even moved the workers around so it would be more difficult for them to become skilled in any specific area. The workers however took this as them being more important because they would know even more areas. As the paternal unit in this relationship the smelter provided schools to help transition the permanent residents from nomadic migrant workers to Americanized citizens. The attitude towards Mexican Americans began to change after World War II and Mexican Americans started to gain supervisory positions in the smelter and teaching positions at the school.

The community itself started as cheap housing for the workers and their families. The town turned into a community where everyone knew everyone and generations of families grew up together and became Americans together. There were different sections of the community and churches and stores owned by the residents making it to where the little community outside the smelter was all the people of Smeltertown needed. Perales’s family was one of those families that lived in Smeltertown. Her grandfather was a smelter worker and her mother was a woman of the time. She was an American made in the community. She was the picture of the changing identity of the Mexican American in the mid-1900s. Her grandmother’s story was the story of Smeltertown, it showed how close the community was and how it was far more than just a company town.

With the coming of more technology and the growing of the city of El Paso, also came the end of Smeltertown and ASARCO. The air pollution became a problem to other parts of the city and all of a sudden the city decided to take notice of the conditions in Smeltertown, even though they had showed little concern for the community before. Using the cause of lead poisoning the city removed the citizens from Smeltertown to housing projects throughout the city and then destroyed Smeltertown. The community lived on however, even after ASARCO closed down the smelter the people of Smeltertown meet every year to celebrate the way life was and to remember who they are and where they came from. Smeltertown may have been a company town, but it became a community that helped transition the people to their own hybrid mix of Mexican and American way of life.

Suggested Use in Classroom:

This book is an excellent source of showing the importance of immigration on economics during the time period. It also shows the story of Americanization with real life examples. Many students in our diverse area will be able to relate with this situation, because many of them had grandparents or great grandparents who immigrated here to find work and a new life in America. This could be a good introduction to projects such as looking up family histories or other similar

War Along the Border: The Mexican Revolution and Tejano Communities

Multiple Authors, Edited by: Arnold De Leon

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Copyright: January 13, 2012

ASIN#: B007MSI8MA

Genre: History Non-Fiction

Library Location: Amarillo Public Library

Summary:

This is a collection of scholarly essays from studies on the effect of the Mexican Revolutions on the border towns of Texas. They essays show the span in history from many different view-points and opinions.

Personal Comments:

The Mexican Revolution between 1910 and 1920 had a profound effect on Mexico and on the bordering United States towns. This book was a collection of essays that gave both broad looks at the era and some up close personal stories of people that lived during the time. As with any person who stays in power too long Porfirio Diaz had over stayed his welcome as President of Mexico. He had open the borders to other countries to come into Mexico and buy property and run businesses, although this helped the country of Mexico it did not help the common Mexican citizen. In 1906 two brothers Ricardo and Enrique Flores Magon make plans in El Paso for a movement, known as Magonistas, to overthrow Diaz’s government this however fails. This is one of the first actions of the revolution era that took place on the northern side of the border. Two years later the Magonista movements now known as the Partido Liberal Mexicano (PLM) make up another plan at revolution, this also fails. When Diaz runs for election again in 1910 Franscisco Madero runs against him, but Diaz has Madero arrested and wins the election.

San Antonio, Texas becomes the new hotbed for Mexican revolution when Madero escapes there and drafts revolt plans of his own; this is called the Plan of San Luis Potosi. Under Madero, Pancho Villa and Pascual Orozco commanded his revolutionary troops. The fighting in Ciudad Juarez was so close to the border that many Americans watched the fighting from their rooftops. This fight led to Diaz resigning and fleeing the country to France. Madero goes on to become the next president of Mexico. Unfortunately revolution was not over in Mexico as one of Madero’s troop leaders Orozco becomes another revolution leader after Emiliano Zapata writes another plan for revolution because Madero did not address the land ownership issues between the Hacendados and the pueblos. Pancho Villa and Huerta aligned with Madero as Zapata and Orozco led another revolution in the north.

Huerta leaves Madero’s forces to join with Porifirio’s nephew and Bernardo Reyes in the planning of another movement against Madero. This led to Madero and his vice president being killed and Huerta himself takes over as president. This brings on the Constitutionalists, who have gained the assistance of Pancho Villa; this group is led by Venustiano Carranza. Carranza wished to return the country to following the Constitution of 1857. This leads to Carranza declaring himself president, but he did not become the official president until 1915. Villa broke off from Carranza and joined with Zapata against Carranza. Villa goes to El Paso where he plans his military action against the new government. Carranza’s army is led by Obregon and they defeat Villas followers, and the United States recognizes Carranza as the Mexican president.

Pancho Villa took action against Anglos when him and his followers attacked a train and executed American citizens who were returning to their mining company in Mexico. This led to riots in the streets of El Paso and American troops were sent into Mexico to find Villa. This also may have been a turning point in how Mexicans and Mexican Americans are treated by Anglo Americans. Villa and Zapata’s movements were finally stopped in the last Battle of Juarez. In 1920 Obregon was elected president of Mexico.

The essays brought to life how the towns on the American side of the border were affected by the revolution. They were the homes of many of the revolutionary plans as leaders were in the United States because they were not safe in Mexico. The people of the border towns were active in being recruited to fight or support the revolutionaries; they also became involved in gunrunning to keep the revolutionaries armed with American weapons. Even food was smuggled into Mexico during this time. The most profound change because of the revolution is probably how Mexicans and Mexican Americans were lumped together and treated so poorly by Anglos in response to actions taken in Mexico. With the already present feeling of white supremacy this gave way to Texas Rangers gunning down people for just not being white, and led to riots in the streets of El Paso. It did not matter if the people were peaceful Americans those that had the feelings of racism used the excuse of the revolution to carry out unthinkable acts against Tejanos.

Suggested Use in Classroom:

This book could be used a reference material for further study of the effects of the unstable government in Mexico on the towns north of the border. Texas was effected by what was going on in Mexico and still is today. This book could also be a starting point to discuss current issues in Mexico and how they affect today’s Texans.