1. SPAIN

2.  Sailing from a base in Jamaica, Alonso Alvarez de Pineda, a Spanish adventurer, was the first known European to explore and map the Texas coastline.

3. 1528 -- Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked on what is believed today to be Galveston Island.

4. FRANCE

5. 1685 -- Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle established Fort St
 Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle established Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay, and thus formed the basis for France's claim to Texas.

6. 1689 -- Mexican explorer Alonso de Leon reached Fort St
 Mexican explorer Alonso de Leon reached Fort St. Louis, and found it abandoned. Re-established Spanish presence in Texas.

7. SPAIN

8. 1716-1789 -- Throughout the 18th century, Spain established Catholic missions in Texas.

9. 1821 -- Mexico gains independence from Spain after years of fighting

10. MEXICO

11.  Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River.

12.  The Constitution of 1824 gave Mexico a republican form of government. It failed, however, to define the rights of the states within the republic, including Texas.

13. 6 April 1830 --Mexico forbid further emigration into Texas by settlers from the United States.

14. 1832 --The Battle of Velasco resulted in the first casualties in Texas' relations with Mexico.

15. 1832-1833 -- The Convention of 1832 and the Convention of 1833 in Texas were triggered.

16.  Texans repulsed a detachment of Mexican cavalry at the Battle of Gonzales. The revolution began.

17. December 1835 -- Mexicans surrendered San Antonio to the Texans following the Siege of Bexar.  

18. 2 March  The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed by members of theConvention of 1836.

19. 6 March 1836 -- Texans under Col. William B
6 March  Texans under Col. William B. Travis were overwhelmed by the Mexican army after a two-week siege at the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio.

20. 27 March  James Fannin and nearly 400 Texans were executed by the Mexicans at the Goliad Massacre, under order of Santa Anna.

21. 21 April  Texans under Sam Houston routed the Mexican forces of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Thus, independence was won in one of the most decisive battles in history.

22. TEXAS REPUBLIC

23. November 1839 -- The Texas Congress first met in Austin.

24. 29 December  U. S. President James Polk signed legislation making Texas the 28th state of the United States.

25. UNITED STATES

26. 25 April  The Mexican-American War ignited as a result of disputes over claims to Texas boundaries. The outcome of the war fixed Texas' southern boundary at the Rio Grande River.

27. 12-14 September 1847 Battle of Mexico City- General Winfield Scott and troops arrive in Mexico's capital city and fight their final battle against a wearied Mexican army

28. Jan-Feb 1848 -- Mexican and U. S
Jan-Feb  Mexican and U.S. agree upon $15 million for California & New Mexico and sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo