Posted on 03/02/2005 4:40:06 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
"March 2, 1836 dawned, frigid and gray; cutting winds blew through glassless windows. Texians - as they styled themselves - huddled close, pulled blankets tight, and gave birth to a dream." -- Dr. Stephen L. Hardin, professor of history, The Victoria College
That dream of which Dr. Hardin recently spoke so eloquently was that of a free Texas, a shining Republic answering to no one but its own elected representatives, and formed from the ground up by the blood, sweat and tears of a rough-hewn bunch of frontiersmen who would die willingly to stake claim to the Texas clay beneath their feet.
And that cold, gray dawn 169 years ago today was down in the Brazos River bottoms, where a makeshift, ramshackle "courthouse" served as the cradle of the new Republic. There, these Texians signed their statement of independence from Mexico.
The Republic of Texas would stand proud until statehood came about 10 years later, standing for all time, Dr. Hardin said, as "a decade of independence singular in the annals of American history."
So, as proud Texans, it's always fun to test ourselves on our general knowledge of the state we revere so much. Therefore, here are 10 questions. They're varied, and they don't follow any particular time line. They're also not that difficult. If you can answer seven or more correctly, you're a good Texan. Less than that ... well, back to school. Here goes:
(1): The first shot of the Texas Revolution was fired at Gonzales, when Mexican troops came to take a cannon away from Texian settlers in the town. "Here it is," the Texians said, and then they said, "___________________."
a.) "You know where you can put it."
b.) "Come and take it."
c.) "It's yours. We don't want no trouble."
d.) "If you're man enough to take it."
(2): Fulfilling a campaign promise, this U.S. president signed the papers that made Texas the 28th state in the Union.
a.) Franklin Pierce
b.) Zachary Taylor
c.) William Henry Harrison
c.) James K. Polk
(3): The Alamo is located on what river?
a.) San Antonio
b.) Guadalupe
c.) Comal
d.) Pedernales
(4): The Battle of Plum Creek in 1840 ended this Indian tribe's threat to the Texas Republic.
a.) Comanche
b.) Tejas
c.) Karankawa
d.) Apache
(5): In February 1861, Gov. Sam Houston, one of Texas' greatest heroes, fell from grace when he spoke out against what decision?
a.) Invading Mexico City
b.) Secession from the Union
c.) Moving the state capital to Austin
d.) Annexing Oklahoma
(6): In October 1876, Texas opened its first public institution of higher learning. What is it called today?
a.) The University of Texas
b.) Texas Tech University
c.) Texas A&M University
d.) The University of Houston
(7): What did they call the oilfield where black gold was discovered in 1901 and set Texas on the road to decades of riches.
a.) Black Gold Mountain
b.) Spindletop
c.) Enco Lease
c.) Eureka Fields
(8): Name the famous pirate who ran his smuggling and privateering operations out of Galveston around 1817-20.
a.) Blackbeard
b.) Lafayette
c.) Jean Lafitte
d.) Billy Kidd
(9): This "Father of Texas" got a grant from Mexico to bring settlers to an area along the Brazos River in 1823.
a.) Stephen F. Austin
b.) Ben Milam
c.) Mirabeau Lamar
d.) Sam Houston
(10): This man wrote a letter from the walls of the Alamo that said, "The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls."
a.) Davy Crockett
b.) Jim Bowie
c.) William Travis
d.) Jim Dickinson
OK, those are the 10 questions. Here are the answers. I hope you did well, you Texan, you.
(1) B (2) C (3) A (4) A (5) B (6) C (7) B (8) C (9) A (10) C
Jim Bishop is executive editor of the Advocate. Contact him at 361-574-1210 or jbishop@vicad.com.
T.C. Baker/Advocate Staff Photographer
A Texas flag waves in the breeze over the Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria on Tuesday. It was 169 years ago today that delegates at Washington-on-the-Brazos signed the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico.
ping
Texas History Ping!
"Tarheel by birth - Texan by choice"
50% Not bad for a yankee. :)
I left Texas in 1921, twelve years before I was born. Do I have to take the test...
With freedom fries, Texas toast, and cream gravy!
Just print out the test, with your answers, and take it to your nearest cafe.
Got 8 right. Missed 2 and 6.
Not bad for an old Okie
The same ones I missed...
During Desert Storm I saw almost as many Texas flags on vehicles as US flags (including my own).
Texas History Ping!
Please let me know if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
Several people have missed question # 2. It is flawed in that it has 2 answer choices labeled "c". Anyway, James K. Polk is the correct answer. LOL!
This one got me!
Question 2 is a bust. The answer is D. Harrison died without accomplishing a thing as President.
The sad thing is today in Texas public schools Cinco De Mayo is more celebrated than Texas Independence Day. Seriously.
I missed one #9. I thought it was Sam Houston.
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