This timeline
highlights major events in Texas history up to the end of the Civil War.
1836
1837
The Republic of Texas is officially recognized by the United States,
and later by France, England, the Netherlands and Belgium
1845
December Texas officially becomes a state. Transfer of power does not occur until February
1846.
May
The
Battle of Palo Alto near Brownsville is the first major battle of the two-year Mexican War.
1848
February
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed, ending the War with Mexico and specifying the location of
the international boundary.
1859
July The "Cortina War" begins in the Brownsville area Indians
on the West-Central Texas reservations are moved to reservations in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).
1860
November Texas and 10 other southern states vote for John Breckenridge
1861
February Texas
votes to secede from the Union
March 2 Texas becomes the seventh state
to join the Confederate States of America
July U.S. naval forces begin blockade of port of Galveston
1862
1863
January Confederate forces regain control of Galveston
September Confederates repel
invasion by U.S. forces at mouth of Sabine River
November U.S. Forces gain victories at Brownsville, Aransas Pass, Matagorda
Island
1864
March-May U.S. forces defeated near
Laredo
1865
May
Confederate
forces win last battle of war, fought near Brownsville June Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith surrenders Trans-Mississippi Department U.S. General Gordon
Granger announces Emancipation Proclamation at Galveston. The event is later celebrated as Juneteenth
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