Texas is a very large state, and before we would come to know it as the Lone Star State, it held the name "Lone Star Republic", for nearly a decade before being annexed into the United States and becoming modern-day Texas. At the time, Texas was sparsely populated, and as such, the Mexican government made the decision to Anglo-American settlers to move in. This decision was made partially because the government wanted stronger cities to fend off the Comanche raids. The first 300 families to move in were led by Stephen Austin and were called the "First 300".
Despite the clear rules laid out by the government, the settlers opted to call themselves Texans rather than Tejanos and decided not to learn the Spanish language or convert to catholicism. Because of this flagrant breaking of the rules, tensions between the Tejanos and the Texans worsened, largely thanks to the rise and fall of dictators in Mexico City. On March 2nd, 1836, the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed, granting their freedom from Mexico. That didn't mean Mexico was going to let go so easily, however.
Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led Mexico's forces against the Texans and massacred many in the process. A man named Sam Houston captured and defeated Santa Anna, leading to Texas being recognized as a state by the president, but not by the Senate. In 1836, a Constitutional Convention had been formed to declare Texan independence and write the nation's constitution. The country was led valiantly for nearly a decade before being annexed and becoming a part of the US.
Lone Star Flag:
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