Points of Reference in Texas History
1. Which of the following occurred after railroads were established in Texas in the late 1800s?
Answer C
A.
B.
C.
D.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were accepted.
The Plains Indians were defeated and moved to reservations.
Oil was discovered at Spindletop Hill near Beaumont.
Cattle were driven to Sedalia, Missouri, from Texas.
2. Which of these occurred in 1845? Answer D
A.
B.
C.
D.
Texas joined the Confederacy.
Texas declared independence.
Slavery in Texas was outlawed.
The United States annexed Texas.
3. What event best completes the timeline in the blank dated 1846? Answer A
A. The Mexican War begins.
B. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed.
C. Reconstruction begins in Texas.
D. Texas secedes from the U.S.
4. What event best completes the timeline in the blank dated 1861? Answer D
A. Reconstruction begins in Texas.
B. Slavery is abolished in Texas.
C. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed.
D. Texas secedes from the Union.
5. What event best completes the timeline in the blank dated 1836? Answer C
A.
B.
C.
D.
United States recognizes Texas independence.
James K. Polk is elected president of United States.
Sam Houston is elected first president of Texas.
Slavery is abolished in Texas.
6. In 1519, the Spanish army landed near present-day Veracruz, Mexico. They marched to the
Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán and imprisoned and killed Moctezuma, the emperor. Who led the
Spanish army? Answer C
A.
B.
C.
D.
7.
Pánfilo de Narváez
Cabeza de Vaca
Hernando Cortés
Alonso Alvarez de Piñeda
• General Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
• Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby
The list above represents Texans who were important figures during Answer A
A.
B.
C.
D.
8.
World War II.
the Vietnam War.
the Cold War.
World War I.
• Moses Austin gets permission to settle 300 Catholic families in Texas.
• Moses Austin dies of pneumonia.
• Stephen F. Austin takes over his father's contract.
• First Anglo American settlers arrive in Texas.
In what year did the above events take place? Answer B
A.
B.
C.
D.
1845
1821
1836
1830
9. The Civil War began in 1861. Which of these important events in Texas also took place in
1861? Answer A
A.
B.
C.
D.
Texas joined the Confederacy.
Slavery was abolished in Texas.
Sam Houston died in Huntsville.
Natives moved to Indian Territory.
10. In 1519, Alonso Alvarez de Piñeda sailed from Florida to Mexico, becoming the first
European to explore the Texas coast. What other important event occurred in 1519? Answer C
A.
B.
C.
D.
Christopher Columbus first sighted the Caribbean Islands.
Cabeza de Vaca became shipwrecked on Galveston Island.
Hernan Cortés landed in Mexico and met the Aztecs.
Francisco Coronado explored to Cíbola and then Quivira.
11. 1865 marked the end of the Civil War. Which of these important events occurred in Texas
on June 19, 1865? Answer D
A.
B.
C.
D.
Edmund Davis was elected governor of Texas.
Voters in Texas approved a new constitution.
Reconstruction finally ended in Texas.
All enslaved Texans were declared free.
12. Which of these happened before Stephen F. Austin and the Old 300 settled in Texas?
Answer A
A.
B.
C.
D.
13.
Cabeza de Vaca explored Texas.
Reconstruction occurred in Texas.
Plains Indians were removed from Texas.
Texas revolted against Mexico.
.
According to the timeline, when did people in Texas first start to feel the effects of the Great
Depression? Answer C
A.
B.
C.
D.
14.
1937
1930
1931
1935
• Poll taxes are eliminated and Texans of all races are allowed to vote.
• Héctor P. García starts the GI Forum to help minority veterans receive benefits.
• James Farmer, Jr., establishes the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE).
The items in the list above are all important events from which of following eras of Texas
history? Answer C
A.
B.
C.
D.
Texas during Reconstruction
Texas in the Great Depression
Civil Rights and Conservatism
Contemporary Texas
15.
All of the events in the diagram above happened in 1836. Which of these was the effect of those
events? Answer B
A.
B.
C.
D.
United States annexed Texas.
Texas earned its independence.
Texas became a slave state.
Mexico waged war on Texas.
16. The end of the 1800s was a time in Texas history in which agriculture was among the
biggest industries. Which crop in particular ruled the Texas farming industry during this time?
Answer A
A.
B.
C.
D.
cotton
soybeans
wheat
corn
17. In 1718, Martín de Alarcón established a mission called San Antonio de Valero. What is the
more common name of the mission? Answer A
A.
B.
C.
D.
the Alamo
Béxar
Ysleta
La Bahía
18. Which of these explorers was the last to explore Texas? Answer B
A.
B.
C.
D.
Alonso Alvarez de Piñeda
Sieur de La Salle
Cabeza de Vaca
Francisco Coronado
19. Which of the following statements describes why 1876 was an important year in Texas
history? Answer B
A.
B.
C.
D.
Texas seceded from the Union in order to join the Confederacy in that year.
The current Texas state constitution was adopted in that year.
Texas won its independence and formed the Republic of Texas in that year.
The United States admitted Texas into the Union in that year.