CLHUMHI022 - The Birth of Texas
Take a sweeping look at 300 years of Texas history from indigenous inhabitants and Spanish settlement through the American colonists, the Texas Revolution and the journey to statehood. Mike Vance, the creator and producer of the celebrated “Birth of Texas” documentary series, is your guide. Explore social, political and military history from the mid-1500s through Texas statehood in 1845. The class considers the famous events at the Alamo, Goliad and San Jacinto including recent breakthroughs in scholarship and archaeology. It also examines the roles played by Texas Indians, Tejanos, American settlers, filibusterers, enslaved African Americans, European immigrants and foreign governments in shaping Texas. In addition, we address some common Texas myths and reveal some little-known stories from this formative period in Texas history.
Course Details
Mike Vance is creator and producer of "The Birth of Texas” documentary series as well as founder of Night Heron Media, which creates video and books about Texas history, arts and culture. Mr. Vance has researched and produced more than 100 feature-length documentaries, short films and television shows on Texas and Houston history. His eighth book, “Getting Away with Bloody Murder: J. B. Brockman, the Best Criminal Lawyer in Texas,” was released in January. Mr. Vance has taught in multiple Houston history courses at the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. Currently, he is director of the Brenham Heritage Museum.
Online--Synchronous
This course will be delivered in a synchronous format online. Registered participants will receive login instructions to the course page which will provide access to the virtual classroom link and other resources. All online classes are held at Central Standard Time.
- Spanish Texas and Texas Indians
- San Felipe and American Settlement
- The Politics of Revolution
- San Antonio and the Alamo
- Goliad and the Runaway Scrape
- San Jacinto
- Forced to Form a Government
- The Tenuous Texas Republic