Mountain and Basins
Great Plains
North Central Plains
Landscape: Deserts, mountains,
plateaus and canyons
Landscape: Flat, level and
treeless – “Sea of Grass”
Landmarks: Guadalupe peak –
tallest peak, Pecos River, Rio
Grande
Landmarks: Llano Basin,
Permian Basin, Edward’s Plateau, Landmarks: Balcones Escarpment
Canadian River
and Caprock Escarpment
Cities: Sarasota and El Paso
Cities: Midland, Odessa,
Lubbock and Amarillo
Population: Smallest and least
populated of all regions; 2/3 of
all people live in El Paso
Elevation: Highest elevation
(max is 8,978ft.)
Climate: hot and driest of all
regions
Natural Resources: Cotton,
Cantaloupe, cotton, and
vegetables
Limestone, shale, copper,
sulphur, salt and talc
Landscape: Rolling hills, valleys
and grassland; Elevation 1,000 –
2,000 feet
Cities: Fort Worth, Abilene, San
Angelo, Killeen, Wichita Falls
Coastal Plains
Landforms: Flat to gently
rolling land; Elevation 2-1000
feet
Landmarks: Gulf of Mexico ,
NASA, the Alamo
Cities: Houston, Corpus
Christi, Dallas, Austin, San
Antonio, Laredo, and
Nacogdoches
Population: Small population due Population: Made up of mainly
to ranching
ranchers and farmers, but has
largest concentration of white-tailed Population: Most populated
Elevation: 2000 – 5000 ft.
deer in the world
due to the oil industry and sea
ports
Climate: Cooler summers and
Elevation: 1000 - 2000 ft.
cold winters
Climate: Colder winters, hotter
Elevation: lowest; 2 – 1000 ft.
Natural Resources: Cotton,
summers, good rainfall
wheat, grain sorghum,
Climate: Mild, highest amount
cottonseed, cattle ranching, wool Natural Resources: Cotton, grain,
of precipitation, ideal for
production
peanuts, fruits, vegetables, large
farming and ranching
Oil and gas
cattle ranches, wool
Oil and gas
Natural Resources: Cotton,
grain, rice, cattle and farming
Lumber, oil, iron and
petrochemicals
Chapter 3-5 Test Review
Regions, Natives and Explorers
1. Know the location and the characteristics of the four regions of Texas.
a. Coastal Plains: most rain, largest population, Houston located here
b. North Central Plains: mostly rural; Fort Worth largest city
c. Great Plains: “sea of grass”, mostly farming and ranching
d. Mountains and Basins: least rain, lowest population, highest elevation
2. Define the following terms.
a. Archeologist- A scientist who studies the material remains of past human
life
b. Artifact- An object made or altered by humans; such as tools, artwork,
pottery
c. Culture- The way of life developed by a group of people to satisfy its
needs
d. Nomad- A member or a group that wanders around from place to place
e. Hunter-gatherer- A person who lives by hunting and gathering food,
rather than growing it
f. Matrilineal- Referring to a group that traces kinship through the mother’s
line
g. Patrilineal- Referring to a group that traces kinship through the father’s
line
h. Atlatl- A notched throwing stick
i.
Confederacy- A union of different groups
j.
Shaman- A person who is believed to have the power to cure the sick and
forecast and control the future
k. Tepee- A shelter made of tanned hides fastened to a framework of poles
l.
Adobe- Building material made of sun-dried earth and straw
3. What were the houses of the Jornado people made of?
a. Adobe Houses
4. What did the Karankawa tribe rely on for most of its food?
a. Got most of their food from the sea
5. The lifestyle of the Comanche people centered around what two things?
a. Warfare and hunting
6. Which Texas Native American tribe was the least advanced?
a. Least advanced- Coahuiltecans
b. Most advanced- Caddo
8. What was the name of the only tribe that the Comanche were friendly with?
a. Kiowas
9. The Hasani word “Tejas” means what in English? (It is also our state motto!)
a. Friend
10. Identify the following European Explorers:
a. Hernan Cortes- conquered the Aztecs in Tenochtitlan
b. Francisco Coronado- searched for gold in Cibola and Quivira; was
unsuccessful
c. Juan de Onate- established El Paso and Santa Fe; known for harsh
treatment of Native Americans
d. La Salle- French explorer; established Fort St. Louis
e. Cabeza de Vaca- shipwrecked on Galveston; spent years with the
Karankawa; performed the first surgery in Texas and provided journals
about Texas.
f. Pineda- 1st to explore the Texas coast
11. What was Tenochtitlan?
a. The Aztec capital
12. What was the name of the village that Coronado discovered while searching for
Cibola?
a. Native American settlement; Zuni village
13. What was the name of the powerful empire of natives in Mexico in the 1500s?
a. Aztec empire
14. What was the name of the city that the Spaniards built on the ruins of
Tenochtitlan?
a. Mexico City
15. What did Spanish explorers find at Quivira?
a. A native American settlement
16. What did La Salle name the land around the Mississippi?
a. Louisiana
17. What was the name of the outpost in Texas that was built by La Salle?
a. Fort St. Louis
18. What were the Spanish soldiers who sought riches and glory called?
a. conquistadors
19. Which explorer was shipwrecked off the coast of Texas and taken in by the
Karankawa?
a. Cabeza de Vaca
20. Which explorer observed and mapped the coastline of Texas?
a. Pineda
21. Which explorer was murdered by his own crew?
a. La Salle
Chapter 6-7 Test Review
Colonial Spanish Texas
Directions: Answer the questions below:
1. Why did the Spanish resettle Texas after the 1700s?
Because they were fearful of French settlement taking over Texas lands
2. How did the Spanish respond when they heard of La Salle’s fort in Texas?
They sent Alonso de Leon to destroy it
3. What were the three (3) purposes of the Spanish mission system?
To hold land for Spain
To convert the Native Americans
To civilize the Native Americans
4. What groups of people lived in the missions?
Missionaries, Native American, and sodiers
5. List the responsibilities of the Spanish soldiers in the missions.
Protect the mission, carry the mail, lead supply trains, escort people
6. Describe mission life for a Native American:
Strict and structured
7. List 5 reasons why the mission system failed in Texas:
Jealousy of the Shaman, Spanish soldiers created problems; Native Americans
did not want to change their lifestyle, not enough financial support (money)
from Spain, Crop Failure, and diseases.
8. What was the first Spanish mission in EAST Texas?
San Francisco de los Tejas
9. What is the mission chapel at San Antonio de Valero known as?
The Alamo
10. What was the mission built on the Rio Grande, known as “the Gateway to
Spanish Texas?”
San Juan Bautista
11. Which river did the French and Spanish decide upon to be the boundary
between their settlements in East Texas?
Arroyo Hondo
12. What was the largest settlement in Texas in 1821, when Mexico became
independent from Spanish rule?
San Antonio
13. What road is known as the Royal Highway and connected Mexico with the East
Texas Missions?
El Camino Real
14. What was the French Trading post in Louisiana established by St. Denis?
Natchitoches
15. What was the first unofficial capital of Texas and is located in present-day
Louisiana?
Los Adaes
16. How did the Louisiana Purchase change the size of the United States?
It doubled the size of the US
17. What was the result of the Adams-Onis Treaty?
Spain gave up Florida, and agreed the Sabine River would be the boundary
between Texas and Louisiana.
18. Which filibuster led two unsuccessful expeditions into Texas and was killed in
Mexico City?
James Long
19. Who led a revolt against Spanish rule, and became known as the Father of
Mexican Independence?
Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
20. Who was a mustanger, but was killed by the Spanish because he was suspected
of being a spy for the French?
Phillip Nolan
21. What happened to the Republican Army of the North on the Gutierrez – Magee
Expedition when they faced General Arredondo?
Almost all were killed
22. Jean Laffite was in control of what island? (town still exists today!)
Galveston
23. List 5 different examples of the Spanish legacy in Texas.
a. City Names
i. Amarillo, El Paso
ii. Del Rio, Laredo
b. Rivers
i. Rio Grande R.
ii. Guadalupe R.
c. Roads
i. El Camino Real, or “the Royal Highway”
ii. Atascocita Rd.
d. Spanish Ranching
i. Lariats and chaps
ii. Vaquero and Rodeo
e. Spanish Names and Language
Chapter 8-9 Test Review
Chapter 8 – Age of Empresarios
1. Know the definitions for the following vocabulary terms:
 Centralists - Political group who believed that power should be
concentrated in the national, or central, government.
 Federalists- Political group who believed in sharing power between the
states and the national government
 Empresario- A land agent whose job it was to bring new settlers to an
area
 Survey- To measure land in order to determine boundaries
 Depression- A time period in which people lose jobs and money
2. Know these Key People
 Moses Austin- The first Anglo American to secure permission from Spain
to American settlers to Texas
 Stephen F. Austin- The most successful empresario; often referred to as
the “Father of Texas”.
 Martin de Leon- A successful Mexican empresario who received a grant
to settle 41 Mexican families
 The Old 300- The name given to the original families and settlers in
Stephen F. Austin’s colony
3. Why did Anglo Americans come to Texas?
 Cheap land
 New opportunity
 Escaping debt and depression
4. What were the Mexican requirements to settle in Texas? (3 requirements)
 become a citizen of Mexico
 to be Catholic
 to be “of good moral character”
5. Austin’s colony was located between which two Texas rivers?
 The Colorado and Brazos Rivers
6. Why would Austin want his colony along the coast?
 To have a port for ships to bring people and supplies
7. Where did a majority of settlers in Texas come from?
 The United States
Chapter 9 – Road to Revolution
8. Know the definitions for the following vocabulary terms:
 Delegate- A representative of a group attending formal meeting
 Dictator- A leader who controls an area through absolute power
 Skirmish- A small fight, usually during a wartime

 Decree- An order with the force of law
9. Know these Key People
 Sam Houston- Delegate for Nacogdoches at the Convention of 1833
 Santa Anna- Mexican leader who stated he was a Federalist, but became
a dictator
 General Martin de Cos- Santa Anna’s brother-in-law and commander of
the Mexican forces in Coahuila
 Lorenzo de Zavala- Mexican political leader who helped write the
Constitution of 1824, then had to flee to Texas
10. Which political party did the Texans support - Centralist or Federalists?
 Federalists
11. How did the Mexican government respond to the Fredonian Revolt? (Hint: it’s the
event that happened next!)
 Mexico sent Mier y Teran to investigate
12. What concerns did Mier y Teran express in his report to the Mexican
government? (2 things)
 There was a strong American influence
 Mexicans were outnumbered 5 to 1
13. What were the 6 provisions of the Law of April 6, 1830?
 Stopped all immigration from the UNITED STATES
 Issued a decree (law) abolishing slavery in Mexico
 Suspended empresario contracts
 Encouraged immigration from MEXICO AND EUROPE
 Placed customs duties (taxes) on imported goods
 Built forts
14. How did Anglo settlers feel about this law?
 They were unnecessary and unfair
15. Why were the people in Anahuac protesting?
 Protesting the custom duties (taxes)
16. What was the result of the Battle of Velasco? (Who won, and why?)
 The Mexican army ran out of ammunition and surrendered
17. In addition to asking for protections, and other improvements, the Convention of
1832 proposed that Texas should be what?
 Texas should be a separate Mexican state
18. Why did Austin approve the Consultation?
 He felt Santa Anna had become a dictator
19. Who is credited with saying, “War is our only recourse.”?
 Stephen F. Austin
Chapters 10-12 – Texas Revolution
1. What is the significance of the Battle of Gonzales?
Start of the revolution; first battle
2. Why is the Battle of Gonzales known as the Lexington of Texas?
Similarities in circumstances surrounding the start of the American Revolution and the
Texas Revolution
3. When is Texas Independence Day?
March 2
4. Where was the Texas Declaration of Independence 1836 Constitution written?
Washington-on-the-Brazos
5. The Texas Declaration of Independence was similar to which other country’s
constitution?
The United States
6. Who is given credit for writing the Texas Declaration of Independence?
George C. Childress
7. What were the provisions of the Constitution of 1836?
Bill of Rights, Slavery made legal, and three branches of government
8. Who was named President and Vice President of the Ad Interim government?
Prez – David G. Burnett
VP – Lorenzo de Zavala
9. What was the blood red flag raised by Santa Anna mean to those in the Alamo?
He would take no prisoners
10. Who signed the famous line, “Victory or Death!”?
William B. Travis
11. What effect did the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre have on Texans?
To fight harder for freedom
12. Who was commander of both the volunteer and regular armies in Texas?
Sam Houston
13. Where did Sam Houston stop to train his troops in the fundamentals of war?
Groce’s Plantation
14. What is the significance of the battle of San Jacinto?
Texas won its independence
15. What 3 reasons does Sam Houston have for retreating from Santa Anna from the
Colorado River?
It stretched Santa Anna’s supply lines, he was able to recruit more volunteer soldiers
and it allowed him to select the battlefield to face Santa Anna
16. What were the famous battle cries at the Battle of San Jacinto?
“Remember Goliad” “Remember the Alamo!”
17. What is the order of the major battles of the Texas Revolution?
G-onzales
A-lamo
G-oliad
S-an Jacinto