Welcome to Texas History as taught by Coach Shields. Texas History will consist of 11 units.

The following is an overview of the topics which will be discussed in Texas History. 

Unit 1- Natural Texas and its People 

This unit bundles student expectations that address the geography of Texas and history of the American Indian groups living in Texas before European colonization. Before the arrival of Europeans to Texas the land was home to a variety of American Indian groups. These groups interacted with the environment in Texas in various ways. Some groups formed settled farming communities where physical geography supported farming and some were nomadic groups that sustained by following herds of bison.

During this unit, students study about the physical geographic regions of Texas and compare the major physical geographic characteristics of those regions. Students also study about the American Indian groups that lived in Texas and about how those groups were influenced by the physical geography of Texas.

Unit 2- Exploration and Early Colonization of Texas

This unit bundles student expectations that address the exploration of Texas and early efforts by the Spanish to colonize Texas. Early European exploration of Texas was motivated primarily by the quest for gold. Both Spanish and French explorers made forays into Texas in the sixteenth century. Competition between France and Spain to claim land in the New World fueled Spanish desires to colonize and control Texas. The Spanish began the process of colonizing Texas by building a series of missions and presidios in the territory. The struggle to control a vast empire plagued the Spanish and eventually the missions and presidios were abandoned.

During this unit, students study about the early expeditions of Spanish and French explorers to Texas and about the mission-presidio system instituted by the Spanish government to colonize Texas.

Unit 3- Mexican Colonization and the Empresario System

This unit bundles student expectations that relate to the newly independent Mexican government’s policy of establishing an empresario system in its efforts to control territory in Texas. Early in the nineteenth century, events in Europe affected the Spanish colonies in the New World. In the course of these events, colonists in Mexico fought and gained independence from Spanish rule. Mexican officials made the control of Texas a priority and instituted a system to bring permanent settlers to the region. During the early nineteenth century Texas became the home to many settlers from the United States, who brought with them a different culture than that of the Mexicans. Eventually these cultural differences gave rise to growing tensions between colonists and Mexican officials.

During this unit, students study about the events related to Mexican independence from Spain and the implementation of the land grant system by the Mexican government as a means of colonizing Texas. Additionally students study about how the efforts of Mexican officials to control immigrants from the United States in Texas resulted in growing tensions.

Unit 4- Unrest and Revolt

This unit bundles student expectations that relate to the issues and events surrounding the fight in Texas for independence from Mexico. As tensions grew in Texas, Mexican officials attempted to impose more control over the settlers. Eventually political changes in Mexico forced settlers in Texas to pursue independence. While the movement towards independence had been growing for years, it took less than a year for Texans to gain independence. During that time, Texans met to form a new government as well as battled Mexico’s army at Gonzales, the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto. The victory at San Jacinto signified the end of Mexican rule in Texas.

During this unit, students study about the attempts by Mexican officials to control the settlers in Texas, the changes in the Mexican government that affected Texans, and the events of the Texas Revolution.

Unit 5- Republic of Texas and Early Statehood

This unit bundles student expectations that address the issues and events surrounding the Republic of Texas and the process of Texas becoming a state in the United States. After Texans gained independence from Mexico, Texas became a nation that faced many challenges. The new republic was modeled after the U.S. republic and some Texans wanted Texas to join the United States. Early leaders of the Texas republic worked to provide security for Texans, establish government services, and address financial issues. Eventually Texans decided that many of the financial problems faced by the republic could be solved by joining the United States. The annexation of Texas triggered a boundary dispute with Mexico and war broke out between Mexico and the United States. The treaties that ended the war established the borders of Texas. The vast amounts of cheap land available in Texas during the mid 1800s fueled European immigration to Texas. This immigration gave shape to the unique culture of Texas.

During this unit, students study about the issues faced by the leaders of the Republic of Texas, the events that led to annexation of Texas by the United States, the causes and consequences of the war between Mexico and the United States, and issues related to the influx of European immigrants to Texas in the mid 1800s.

Unit 6- Texas During the Civil war and Reconstruction

This unit bundles student expectations that address Texas’ participation in the U.S. Civil War and the Reconstruction of Texas. In 1861 Texans voted to secede from the United States and join the Confederate States of America. Many Texans had emigrated from the southern United States and some Texans were slaveholders, especially in East Texas where enslaved African Americans worked on plantations. Texans served in the Confederate Army and some battles of the American Civil War were fought in Texas. The Texas coast was blockaded by the Union for the entire war. After the end of the war, Texans began the process of Reconstruction, eventually writing a new constitution for Texas and reestablishing institutions in Texas.

During this unit, students learn about the reasons for Texas secession, the experiences of Texans in the Civil War, and the changes to Texas’ society following the war. Additionally, students examine the concept of federalism and other principles of the U.S. Constitution and how these principles are reflected in the Texas Constitution. Students will study these concepts in more depth in Grade 8.

Unit 7- Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads and Closing the Texas Frontier

This unit bundles student expectations which relate to economic development in Texas following the end of the Civil War. In the latter half of the twentieth century the cattle industry in Texas flourished, while the agricultural sector expanded. Many new innovations were introduced at this time, such as windmills that facilitated economic development in Texas. It was also during this time that railroads were built across Texas, facilitating further economic development and the first moves towards urbanization in the state. Eventually the railroads and the enclosure of land, brought about by the invention of barbed wire, resulted in the closing of the Texas frontier.

During this unit, students study about the conflict brought about by westward expansion in Texas, the development of the cattle industry in Texas, the expansion of railroads in Texas, and the changes in the agriculture industry in Texas.

Unit 8- Modernizing Texas in An Age of Oil

This unit bundles student expectations that address the development of the oil industry in Texas, the advance of reform movements in Texas and the effects of the First World War on society in Texas. At the beginning of the twentieth century the Texas coast was hit by an extremely devastating hurricane, which brought political and economic changes to Galveston and Texas. It is also during the early decades of the twentieth century that the oil industry in Texas began. At this time Texans were very affected by national events including the progressive reform movements taking place in the United States and the First World War.

During this unit, students learn about the devastation of the 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston, the early development of the oil industry, the participation of Texans in reform movements, and the effects of the First World War on Texans.

Unit 9- Texas during the Great Depression and World War II

This unit bundles student expectations related to the Great Depression and the Second World War. While Texas’ economy was affected by the Great Depression the devastating effects were not as bad in Texas. Many Texans did not invest in the stock market and thereby avoided the effects of the crash of the stock market. However, many Texans were affected by the severe drought and devastation that brought about the Dust Bowl, especially Texans living in the Panhandle. During the Great Depression Texans took on leadership roles at the national level, working to address the economic crisis. Texans and Texas also played a significant role in the Second World War. Texas was home to the training bases for women pilots and to internment camps during the war. Texans were part of the war effort and the Second World War contributed to economic growth in Texas during the 1940s and 1950s.

During this unit, students learn about how the Great Depression and Dust Bowl came about, how leaders from Texas contributed on the national level during the Great Depression, and how the Second World War affected Texans.

Unit 10- Civil Right and Conservatism Bring Changes

This unit bundles student expectations that relate to the Civil Rights Movement and the shift to political conservatism in Texas following the Second World War. Many African American and Hispanic Texans fought in the Second World War and yet came home to face continued inequalities and discrimination. As a part of the national Civil Rights Movement, Texans worked to bring about social changes that afforded equal access to public education for minorities, and gave political rights for minorities in Texas. After years of the Democratic Party dominating politics in Texas, the political scene shifted in the 1970s when the Republican Party began to gain power in Texas. By 1992, republicans held more than one third of the state’s legislative seats. The trend towards more representation by republican leaders continued in the 1990s along with a growing evangelical influence on republican politics in the state.

Unit 11- Contemporary Texas

This unit bundles student expectations that relate to contemporary issues in Texas. From the 1950s to the 1970s Texas cities experienced tremendous growth as Texas became an urbanized state. New industries, such as aerospace and petrochemical drew many to Texas’ urban areas and support growing prosperity for the state. Texas had long been the home to various immigrant groups and in the latter half of the twentieth century immigrants continued to come to Texas, many to Houston making it one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States. At the beginning of the twenty-first century Texas was experiencing demographic shifts and continued population growth. Texas faces challenges to provide energy, water, and public education to this growing population.

                                                                   Communication

I use Google Classroom to post many of my assignments. Students will be given a classroom code to gain access to my Google Classroom. Parents may also request access to view their student's Google Classroom site. I will also send out emails to remind parents, guardians and students of important upcoming due dates, grades, and other information. The best way to contact me for questions is by email: David.Shields@wylieisd.net. I also recommend checking the gradebook which is located in Skyward at least once a week; this will help parents, guardians and students stay on top of grades and schoolwork.

                                               Daily Schedule                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                             7th Grade History Tutorial Schedule