Page 470 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

468  TEX AS

TEXAS

By almost any standard Texas is big. Stretching nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 km)
across, and even longer north to south, it is by far the largest of the “Lower 48”
states and also among the most populous, with 25 million residents. While its
size has inspired a love of all things large, its past as an independent nation has
given Texans a sense of pride and spirit of freedom, as is evident by the state
flag that still carries the Lone Star, emblem of the former Republic.

The huge scale of Texas seems to have In December 1835, a band of rebellious
encouraged a culture of exaggeration, American settlers command eered the
and, according to residents, everything fort. Two months later, the vanquished
about the state is bigger, better, and Mexican army retaliated by attacking
brasher than anywhere else. The the fort for 13 days until all the
horns on the emblematic longhorn 189 Americans inside were
cattle, the great fortunes made killed. Despite this setback,
from the state’s supplies of oil, and the freelance Americans
even the onetime role of the Dallas under General Samuel Houston
Cowboys football team as defeated the Mexicans in 1836
“America’s Team” – almost every Dome of Texas State and declared the independent
aspect of life is imbued with a Capitol, Austin Republic of Texas. The Republic,
sense of superiority. Whether this is which included parts of what
deserved or not is a matter of opinion, but are now New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado,
contradiction is not what many Texans and Wyoming, was annexed by the US in
want to hear. As signs and songs all over 1845. This move ignited the Mexican War,
the state say: “Don’t Mess With Texas.” and after two years of sporadic fighting
Mexico was forced to accept the loss of
History Texas, and the rest of the West, in 1848.
In Texas, history begins at the Alamo, a The second half of the 19th century was
former Spanish mission and Mexican fort the heyday of the great cattle drives of the
in present day San Antonio. “Remember Wild West. Huge herds of Texas longhorn
the Alamo” was the battle cry of the Texas cattle, descendants of animals introduced
war of independence against Mexico. by the Spanish colonists centuries before,

Plaque depicting a scene from the Texas War of Independence, the Alamo complex, San Antonio
Skyscrapers towering over the city of Dallas

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