The conquest of Texas : ethnic cleansing in the promised land : 1820-1875

This is not your grandfather's history of Texas. Portraying nineteenth-century Texas as a cauldron of racist violence, Gary Clayton Anderson shows that the ethnic warfare dominating the Texas frontier can best be described as ethnic cleansing. The Conquest of Texas is the story of the struggle between Anglos and Indians for land. Anderson tells how Scotch-Irish settlers clashed with farming tribes and then challenged the Comanches and Kiowas for their hunting grounds. Next, the decade-long conflict with Mexico merged with war against Indians. For fifty years Texas remained in a virtual state of war. Piercing the very heart of Lone Star mythology, Anderson tells how the Texas government encouraged the Texas Rangers to annihilate Indian villages, including women and children. This policy of terror succeeded: by the 1870s, Indians had been driven from central and western Texas. By confronting head-on the romanticized version of Texas history that made heroes out of Houston, Lamar, and Baylor, Anderson helps us understand that the history of the Lone Star state is darker and more complex than the mythmakers allowed. Any Texan will tell you: they are quick to act in defense of their honor. But what most Texans won't tell you-what they may not realize-is that Texas's early years do little to uphold that honor. In fact, they can best be described today as a time of ethnic cleansing.The Conquest of Texas is not your grandfather's tale of how a courageous few made a righteous conquest of a wild land. Rather, this story explores race relations during the Mexican Republic, the Republic of Texas, and early statehood. Portraying nineteenth-century Texas as a cauldron of racist violence, Gary Clayton Anderson exposes the ethnic warfare that dominated that frontier.This is the story of the struggle between Anglos and Indians for land-and Anderson places responsibility for most of the violence squarely on the Anglos. He tells how Scotch-Irish settlers clashed with Wichitas, Caddos, and other farming tribes and then challenged the Comanches and Kiowas for their hunting grounds. Next, the decade-long conflict with Mexico merged with war against Indians. For fifty years Texas remained in a virtual state of war-the longest continuous struggle of its kind in American history.At the very heart of Texas mythology are the Texas Rangers. Until now most histories have justified their actions and vilified their opponents. But Anderson tells how the Texas government encouraged the rangers to annihilate Indian villages, including women and children, spreading terror so that the survivors and neighboring Native groups would want to leave. The policy succeeded: by the 1870s, Indians had been driven from central and western Texas.Anderson offers a new paradigm for understanding the violence dominating Texas history. By confronting head-on the romanticized version of Texas history that made heroes of Houston, Lamar, and Baylor, this account helps us understand that the history of the Lone Star state is darker and more complex than the mythmakers allowed.

This is not your grandfather’s history of Texas. Portraying nineteenth-century Texas as a cauldron of racist violence, Gary Clayton Anderson shows that the ethnic warfare dominating the Texas frontier can best be described as ethnic cleansing.

The Conquest of Texas is the story of the struggle between Anglos and Indians for land. Anderson tells how Scotch-Irish settlers clashed with farming tribes and then challenged the Comanches and Kiowas for their hunting grounds. Next, the decade-long conflict with Mexico merged with war against Indians. For fifty years Texas remained in a virtual state of war.

Piercing the very heart of Lone Star mythology, Anderson tells how the Texas government encouraged the Texas Rangers to annihilate Indian villages, including women and children. This policy of terror succeeded: by the 1870s, Indians had been driven from central and western Texas.

By confronting head-on the romanticized version of Texas history that made heroes out of Houston, Lamar, and Baylor, Anderson helps us understand that the history of the Lone Star state is darker and more complex than the mythmakers allowed.

"At the very heart of Texas mythology are the Texas Rangers. Until now most histories have justified their actions and vilified their opponents. But Anderson tells how the Texas government encouraged the rangers to annihilate Indian villages, including women and children, spreading terror so that the survivors and neighboring Native groups would want to leave. The policy succeeded: by the 1870s, Indians had been driven from central and western Texas. Anderson offers a new paradigm for understanding the violence dominating Texas history. By confronting head-on the romanticized version of Texas history that made heroes of Houston, Lamar, and Baylor, this account helps us understand that the history of the Lone Star state is darker and more complex than the mythmakers allowed."--Jacket