June 2025 | Texapedia

Geography & Demographics

1891 Railway Map of Texas

The late 19th century was a transformative period for Texas, as the state shifted from its frontier roots into an increasingly industrial and interconnected economy. Railroads played a central role in this transition, knitting together distant farming communities, cattle ranges, and emerging urban centers. By the 1880s, Texas had one…

editorJune 15, 2025

Political History

The Collapse of Mexican Federalism and the Road to Texas Independence

Texan independence had its roots not only in cultural differences or settler ambitions, but also in a broader constitutional crisis that reshaped the Mexican republic.

editorJune 14, 2025

Political History

Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836)

Read the full text of the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas, adopted during the Texas Revolution, with historical context and drafting details.

editorJune 13, 2025

Political History

Santa Anna: The Villain of the Texas Revolution

In Texas, Mexican ruler Antonio López de Santa Anna is remembered as an archetypal enemy of freedom, a cautionary symbol of tyranny.

editorJune 12, 2025

Political History

Judiciary of the Republic of Texas (1836–1845)

History of the structure and traditions of the judiciary during the years that Texas was an independent nation.

editorJune 10, 2025

Political History

The Texas Declaration of Independence (1836)

Signed by sixty delegates representing communities across Texas—including three native-born Hispanics and 57 U.S.-born Anglo settlers—the declaration formally severed political ties with Mexico and proclaimed the creation of a sovereign republic.

editorJune 13, 2025

Political History

A Frontier Etched in Blood: Texan Attempts to Invade New Mexico

Texans invaded New Mexico in 1841, 1843, and 1862. Read about these attempts, why they failed, and view maps of the invasion routes.

editorJune 14, 2025

Texas Heritage

Military Memorials and Battlefields in Texas

Learn about the battlefields of San Jacinto, the Alamo, and Sabine Pass, as well as monuments to overseas wars.

editorJune 9, 2025

Political History Texas Law and Statutes

The 10th Amendment in Texas Politics and Federal Jurisprudence

The Tenth Amendment is a foundational principle of American government that shapes how power is distributed between the national and state levels.

editorJune 7, 2025

Geography & Demographics Political History

Map of the Republic of Texas (1844)

Map showing the borders, rivers, and major towns of Texas in 1844 during its time as an independent republic.

editorJune 2, 2025

Judiciary Texas Law and Statutes

Texas Civil Procedure: Core Doctrines Explained

An overview of the core civil procedure doctrines that shape how lawsuits unfold in Texas. Rooted in English common law but shaped by local priorities, Texas's procedural rules reflect a distinctive legal culture.

editorJune 13, 2025

Texas Law and Statutes

Deceptive Trade Practices Act

Learn how the DTPA protects consumers against fraud, misrepresentation, and unfair business practices. This article explains the law’s history, scope, procedures, and real-world impact.

editorJune 2, 2025

Political History

Coahuila y Tejas: The Mexican State Before Texas Independence

Coahuila y Tejas was a short-lived Mexican state that joined the sparsely settled territory of Texas with the more established interior province of Coahuila. Created under the Federal Constitution of 1824, it represented a new administrative structure following Mexico’s independence from Spain. Under Spanish colonial rule, Texas and Coahuila had…

editorJune 15, 2025

Political History

Major Political and Governance Trends in Texas in the 1980s

A closer look at how Texas overhauled its political institutions in the 1980s, responding to economic pressure, social change, and a rising conservative movement.

editorJune 1, 2025

Elections

Voting Machines and Election Security in Texas

Texas election law imposes multiple layers of election security. Learn how voting machines in Texas actually work.

editorJune 13, 2025

Political History

The Civil War in Texas: Battles, Blockades, and Borderlands

Though not a primary theater, Texas played a crucial role in the Civil War—supplying troops, blockade running, and shaping the war’s westernmost frontier.

editorJune 7, 2025

Political History

Stephen F. Austin: The Father of Texas

Leader of the earliest American settlers in Texas, Austin guided his colony under Mexican rule until his imprisonment in Mexico City during the Texas Revolution.

editorJune 13, 2025

Political History

Slavery in the Texas Republic and Early Statehood

Understanding the social, legal, and economic history of slavery in Texas, and the impact it had on Texas' independence struggle and the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War.

editorJune 11, 2025

Education

Compulsory Attendance and Truancy Laws in Texas

Texas law requires children to attend school, but the state’s enforcement system is designed to support families and respect parental decision-making.

editorJune 4, 2025

Texas Law and Statutes

Texas Citizens Participation Act

The Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) is the state’s anti-SLAPP statute, allowing early dismissal of lawsuits filed to silence free speech or public advocacy. This article covers the law’s origins, reforms, and how it works in practice.

editorJune 3, 2025