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William Travis’s Letter from the Alamo (1836)

Full text of the "victory or death" letter written by the Texan commander of the Alamo during the famous siege in 1836.

 
 

The Texas Revolution

Discover the real history behind the legendary 1835–1836 uprising—from “Come and Take It” to the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto.

 
 

James Throckmorton: The Texas Governor Ousted by the Military

The first elected governor of Texas after the U.S. Civil War, Throckmorton was removed by General Philip Sheridan for being too lenient toward ex-Confederates.

 
 

The Great Bison Slaughter of the 1870s

Hunters swept across the Texas Plains in the 1870s, killing bison at a shocking pace that nearly wiped them out.

 
 

The Secession Debate in Texas

As witnessed by Thomas North, a Northern-born Unionist living in Confederate Texas.

 
 

The Texas Declaration of Independence

Signed by 60 delegates from communities across Texas, the declaration severed political ties with Mexico and proclaimed the creation of a sovereign republic.

 
 

The Origin of Segregated Schools in Texas

Texas had separate "colored schools" from the 1860s until the 1960s. Read the original primary sources codifying this practice.

 
 

Santa Anna's Correspondence with Andrew Jackson

These 1836 letters—one from Mexico’s captured dictator, the other from President Andrew Jackson—offer a rare glimpse into the diplomacy that shaped Texas independence.

 
 

Cassius Clay: Lincoln’s Forgotten Pick to Govern Postwar Texas

If Lincoln had lived, this man would have ruled Texas—and history might have taken a different path.

 
 

The DeWitt Colony Charter

The De Witt colony charter, signed in Saltillo in 1825, is a foundational document for understanding Texas history and the relationship between Mexican authorities and Anglo-American settlers.

 
 

The Treaty of Velasco

After the Battle of San Jacinto, Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna signed a treaty to end the war between Mexico and the fledgling Republic of Texas.

 
 

The Forgotten Governorship of S. W. T. Lanham

Though largely forgotten today, Lanham was a leading statesman for 40 years, culminating in his governorship from 1903 to 1907.

 
 

The Wild West Era in Texas

From 1865 to 1900, Texas was gripped by violence as outlaws, rustlers, and fugitives clashed with sheriffs, settlers, and the Texas Rangers across a frontier defined by fragile law and rough justice.

 
 

History of the Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas stood alone for nine stormy years, from 1836 to 1845, before agreeing to annexation by the United States.

Welcome to Texapedia

Texapedia is your guide to becoming a more informed, confident citizen and voter. Explore articles about Texas’ laws, government institutions, and elected officials. Information in this encyclopedia is based on primary sources, including Texas laws, government publications, and data. Texapedia is the most reliable, comprehensive, up-to-date civics resource in the Lone Star State.

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Explore Texas History
The Texas Navy’s Yucatán Campaign, 1841–1843
The Texas Navy’s Yucatán Campaign, 1841–1843
The Constitutional Convention of 1875
The Constitutional Convention of 1875
Revolutionary Regime in Texas: The Consultation & General Council of 1835
Revolutionary Regime in Texas: The Consultation & General Council of 1835
folsom mexico in 1842 01
History of the Republic of Texas
History of the Republic of Texas
Yarborough vs. Bush: Liberal Triumph in the Cold War Era
Yarborough vs. Bush: Liberal Triumph in the Cold War Era
Railroad Survey Crew Poses in Wagon
The Rise of Dallas: Economic History of Its First 100 Years
The Rise of Dallas: Economic History of Its First 100 Years
The Texas Revolution: War for Independence from Mexico
The Texas Revolution: War for Independence from Mexico
Dallas and the Conservative Turn in Midcentury Texas Politics
Dallas and the Conservative Turn in Midcentury Texas Politics
Juan Seguín: Tejano Leader of the Texas Revolution
Juan Seguín: Tejano Leader of the Texas Revolution
Map of Texas Republic 1844
John Hemphill and the Foundations of Texas Jurisprudence
John Hemphill and the Foundations of Texas Jurisprudence
Bill Hobby: Texas’ Longest-Serving Lieutenant Governor
Bill Hobby: Texas’ Longest-Serving Lieutenant Governor
Powerbroker of the 1990s: Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock
Powerbroker of the 1990s: Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock
Lyndon Johnson’s Disputed 87‑Vote Victory
Lyndon Johnson’s Disputed 87‑Vote Victory
The Life and Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson
The Life and Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson
Juan “Cheno” Cortina: Caudillo of the Rio Grande
Juan “Cheno” Cortina: Caudillo of the Rio Grande
Santa Anna Texas Film Portrayal
Santa Anna: The Villain of the Texas Revolution
Santa Anna: The Villain of the Texas Revolution
stephen austin portrait
Stephen F. Austin: The Father of Texas
Stephen F. Austin: The Father of Texas
The Allen Brothers and the Founding of Houston
The Allen Brothers and the Founding of Houston
Texas Declaration of Independence
The Texas Declaration of Independence (1836)
The Texas Declaration of Independence (1836)
The Treaty of Velasco
The Treaty of Velasco
The Collapse of Mexican Federalism and the Road to Texas Independence
The Collapse of Mexican Federalism and the Road to Texas Independence
Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836)
Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836)
The Secession Debate in Texas: Five Views from 1861
The Secession Debate in Texas: Five Views from 1861
founders june19 e1749584529937
Judiciary of the Republic of Texas (1836–1845)
Judiciary of the Republic of Texas (1836–1845)
Austin Letter to Jackson pg1 Cropped
Stephen F. Austin’s 1836 Wartime Plea
Stephen F. Austin’s 1836 Wartime Plea
The Wild West Era in Texas: Outlaws, Sheriffs, and Vigilantes
The Wild West Era in Texas: Outlaws, Sheriffs, and Vigilantes
Jackson Manuscript Recognition of Texas
U.S. Diplomatic Recognition of the Republic of Texas
U.S. Diplomatic Recognition of the Republic of Texas
Juneteenth Oil Painting
The Civil War in Texas: Battles, Blockades, and Borderlands
The Civil War in Texas: Battles, Blockades, and Borderlands
Literature and Film of the Lost Cause Generation
Literature and Film of the Lost Cause Generation
painting battle glorieta pass civil war
A Frontier Etched in Blood: Texan Attempts to Invade New Mexico
A Frontier Etched in Blood: Texan Attempts to Invade New Mexico
189th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo GLO
Military Memorials and Battlefields in Texas
Military Memorials and Battlefields in Texas
Map of Texas Republic 1844
Map of the Republic of Texas (1844)
Map of the Republic of Texas (1844)
Battle of Gonzales Flag 2
Map of Battles of the Texas Revolution
Map of Battles of the Texas Revolution
Alcohol Prohibition in Texas, 1919–1935
Alcohol Prohibition in Texas, 1919–1935
Constitution of 1845: Foundations of Statehood
Constitution of 1845: Foundations of Statehood
Letter of Stephen F. Austin: ‘Texas Will Flourish as a State of Mexico’
Letter of Stephen F. Austin: ‘Texas Will Flourish as a State of Mexico’
The Road to Annexation: Why Texas Joined the United States in 1845
The Road to Annexation: Why Texas Joined the United States in 1845
Abilene in 1880s
Texas Government in the Post-Frontier Generation, 1880s–1890s
Texas Government in the Post-Frontier Generation, 1880s–1890s
Loyalty Oaths in Texas During Reconstruction
Loyalty Oaths in Texas During Reconstruction
Coahuila y Tejas: The Mexican State Before Texas Independence
Coahuila y Tejas: The Mexican State Before Texas Independence
The Goliad Declaration of Independence: Text and History
The Goliad Declaration of Independence: Text and History
Bison hunted from railroad line for sport.
The Great Bison Slaughter of the 1870s
The Great Bison Slaughter of the 1870s
The Jaybird–Woodpecker War
The Jaybird–Woodpecker War
History of the Poll Tax in Texas
History of the Poll Tax in Texas
Reporter at the Courthouse
The Sharpstown Bribery Scandal That Shook Texas Politics
The Sharpstown Bribery Scandal That Shook Texas Politics
Can Texas Secede from the United States?
Can Texas Secede from the United States?
The Impact of the ‘New Deal’ on Texas Politics and Society
The Impact of the ‘New Deal’ on Texas Politics and Society
The Nacogdoches Uprising of 1838: Mexico’s Covert War in East Texas
The Nacogdoches Uprising of 1838: Mexico’s Covert War in East Texas
reagan and george hw bush in austin
Major Political and Governance Trends in Texas in the 1980s
Major Political and Governance Trends in Texas in the 1980s
Confederate Battle Flag
The Confederate Constitution of Texas (1861)
The Confederate Constitution of Texas (1861)

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