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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Portraits of Texas Governors

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the lives of Texas' governors. This site organizes the governors into six eras: Early Statehood (1846-1861); War, Ruin, and Reconstruction (1861-1874); The Wild West (1874-1887); Texas Rising (1887-1915); The Politics of...
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Giants of Texas History

For Students 9th - 10th
From the state of Texas, this page discusses notable Texans who were instrumental in the development of the state, along with links to their biographies.
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Article
Other

Office of the State Historian: 1841 Texan Santa Fe Expedition

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed look at the motivation behind the Santa Fe expedition in 1841, the organization and members of the group, the Mexican response to it, and the aftermath.
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Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson 1814? 1883

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explore this site to read the life history of Susanna Dickerson, one of only 12 survivors of the Alamo. She provided an eyewitness account of what happened during the battle. Be sure to view the photos of the battles.
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Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Samuel Houston

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about one of the great founders of the state of Texas. Sam Houston led Texans through many difficult years and is rightfully remembered for his role in Texas' independence and statehood. (In Spanish)
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: America's Manifest Destiny [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
After a brief discussion of Manifest Destiny in other parts of country, read about the Texas rebellion against Mexico, the battles against Santa Anna, and the treaties that made Texas an independent country. [pdf]
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Texas Question in American Politics

For Students 9th - 10th
A very interesting explanation of how Texas was annexed to the United States despite much opposition. Read about the false conspiracy put forth by pro-slavery Southerners concerning Great Britain's plan for Texas.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Texas Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Why would American citizens emigrate to Spanish-held, and later Mexican-held Texas? Read about the reasons, their grievances against their Mexican rulers, and the eventual revolution that brought independence to Texas.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Sam Houston's Hunting Knife

For Students 9th - 10th
View a photo and read a brief description of Sam Houston's Hunting Knife.
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Handout
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna, Mexican Leader

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of a larger website on the American West, this page provides a biography of Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (1794-1876).
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Primary
Texas A&M University

Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas: Battle of San Jacinto

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive website from the Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas provides first hand accounts of the Battle of San Jacinto, and the eventual surrender of Santa Anna. Site complimented by battlefield map and the reports of the opposing commanders.
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Handout
Texas A&M University

Sons of De Witt: Susannah Wilkerson Dickinson, Alamo Widow and Survivor

For Students 9th - 10th
This webpage on the life of Susannah Dickinson (1814-1883) includes the text of an interesting letter from Mexican General Santa Anna to the people of Texas, written after the Alamo.
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Primary
Other

Texas Escapes: A Survivor's Account of the Goliad Massacre

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site read a vivid account from a survivor of the Goliad Massacre.
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Article
Other

Texas Escapes: The San Antonio Council House Fight

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the policy of Mirabeau B. Lamar of expelling and attacking the native tribes in order to remove them from the Republic of Texas. While this was relatively easy to implement with some of the tribes, the Comanches were a...
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Houston Keeps His Options Open

For Students 9th - 10th
What obstacles did Texas face in the 1830s during its request to become part of the U.S.? This article explores the setbacks Sam Houston and Texas faced due to the political climate of the times. Also, there are primary texts that...
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Santa Anna Strikes Back

For Students 9th - 10th
Texas was "teetering on the edge of total disintegration" when Sam Houston returned to the presidency. The population was down, money was down, and Texas was defenseless against "a resurgent Mexico." Read more about this period in Texas'...
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: International Matter: Britain Makes Its Move

For Students 9th - 10th
Why didn't Mexico recognize Texas independence? What was Mexico's proposal for Texas president Sam Houston in 1843? Read about this period in Texas history and check out primary texts that will help you explore this stage in Texas'...
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: After San Jacinto

For Students 9th - 10th
What role did the Texas Navy play in the aftermath of San Jacinto? This site provides the answer while offering a look into this time in Texas' history and the Texas fleet through primary texts: "Commodore Henry Thompson details his...
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The San Felipe Incident: Opening Shot of the Texas Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the victory that allowed volunteers from the U.S. to move into Texas, thus beginning the Texas revolution in 1835. Explore the San Felipe incident and the man behind it, merchant Thomas F. McKinney, and check out related...
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: Blood Feud

For Students 9th - 10th
Read details about a feud between President Sam Houston and Commodore Edwin Moore, which stemmed from Houston's refusal to send Moore funds needed in order to repair the naval fleet. Includes several primary texts: "Houston orders a...
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Sam Houston to Edmund P Gaines Aug 1836

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this letter by Sam Houston through which he "asks for American help in preventing uprising in Nacogdoches, 1836." This site includes images of the original letter, as well as line-by-line transcription of the handwritten text.
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Sam Houston to John Linney, Sept 1836

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a letter through which Sam Houston recruits Indian tribes "to act in the policing of" Texas. This site includes images of the original letter, as well as line-by-line transcription of the handwritten text.
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Bowl to Sam Houston, August 16, 1836

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a letter through which Chief Bowl of the Cherokees writes to Sam Houston, hoping to have a face-to-face meeting with him concerning Native American relations. Includes an image of the original letter as well as line-by-line...
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Indians and the Texas Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the importance of the support of various Indian tribes in the success of the Texas Revolution. See primary sources that explore this topic.