Major Eras in
Texas History
Why Historians Divide
the Past Into Eras
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
Natural Texas and Its People
Prehistory - 1528
This era is the prehistory of Texas up to the point of
contact with Europeans in 1528.
This era includes American Indian tribes
that lived in Texas and adapted to the
environment
Age of Contact
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.
Spanish Colonial
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.
Mexican National
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.
Revolution and
Republic
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.
Early Statehood
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.
Civil War and
Reconstruction
1861-1874
This era deals with the reason Texas
succeeded 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.
Cotton, Cattle,
and Railroads
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.
Age of Oil
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
Texas in the Great
Depression and WWII
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.
Civil Rights and
Conservatism
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 liberal and support the Republican
Party.
Contemporary Texas
1980-Present
This era deals with the
events and issues facing
Texans from 1890 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.
