Top 5 Texas History Essay Writing Topics

There is plenty of history in Texas to create exciting essays about! Selecting a topic can be difficult due to so many wonderful options. There are 5 of the top ones that have plenty of information to offer. They are all relevant to the history of Texas and part of the overall background of this part of the United States.

While many of these topics you have heard about, the research is going to provide you with facts and details you didn’t know. Writing such a research paper can be fun because you are so engrossed in the details you find. It can give you a new appreciation for the background and the decisions made that have shaped Texas history too!

COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORTATION

Technology and developments around Texas resulted in advances both for communication and transportation. An essay exploring them and how they changed history is a great topic for an essay. Texas was the first location for the telegraph system to be used. This was extremely fast for sending communication compared to the Pony Express.

The establishment of the telegraph system in Texas began in 1854. This paved the way for the telephone to eventually take over that service. It was successfully used to communicate with areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. By 1870 over 1,500 miles were covered with the telegraphy system located in Texas.

The first railways were established through Texas, forever changing the way goods and materials were transported. This mode of transportation was very fast and helped to develop the industry and more. It also allowed people to eventually use this form of transportation for travel. The first railways were used in 1852 to connect between The Rio Grande and Fort Smith.

EQUALITY IN TEXAS

The quest for equality for race and gender have a long history in Texas. The emancipation of slaves in this area was controversial and it also changed history forever. There are many events that lead to changes in voting rights for women too. Exploring this part of history can be very informative.

The results weren’t without sacrifice. There is plenty of documentation of the struggles and sacrifices made along the way to fight for equality. The change was slow and often met with opposition. Texas had to fight for independence, to abolish slavery, and even harder for women to gain their right to vote.

EXPLORATION FROM 1517 TO 1519

Texas was discovered in 1517 by Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda. He sailed from Florida to Texas and was the first to explore this area. He and his men mapped the entire coastline on this route. Those early maps are the first details of the area that is now known as Texas. Their expedition also confirmed this could be a waterway for trade to take place.

Between 1517 and 1519, he explored the best routes to get to Texas. The decision was made the Alabama River was the best opportunity to reach it. He also explored the route to and from Texas through the Yucatan Peninsula. This route involved using the Panuco River around the area of Veracruz, Mexico.

THE ALAMO

The Alamo is a huge part of the powerful history and heritage of Texas. The story shares courage, strategy, and a desire to do what is right. Research the events that led up to the battle at the Alamo too, not just what occurred there. This information is enlightening and it also explains why various important people in the battle made the decisions they did.

There is a long history of the Alamo and what it stands for. The focus in essays is usually on that final battle. Conducting research that explores the early times of the Alamo and the driving forces that put the dynamics for the final battle in motion can be an eye-opening experience.

THE U.S. AND MEXICAN WAR OF 1846

The outcome of the U.S. and Mexican War in 1846 was the result of the role Texas played in it. This war lasted until 1848. Texas was at the heart of this dispute. Did it belong to the U.S. or did it belong to Mexico? Prior to the war, the U.S. tried to make offers to buy Texas from Mexico but those offers were declined repeatedly.

Those residing in Texas wanted to become part of the U.S. and break away from Mexico. This played a very important part of that eventually taking place. If the residents of Texas had wanted to stay part of Mexico, the outcome of the way likely would have been very different.