The term "six flags over Texas" came not from an amusement park, but from the various nations that has ruled over the territory of Texas. Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas, which ruled most of Texas from 1519 to 1685, and then again from 1690 to 1821.
France held rule with a short-lived colony in Texas from 1685 to 1690, before Spain took it back after the murder of the French founder of Fort Saint Louis on the Gulf cost.
Next came Mexico, who got the area of Texas as a part of winning its independence from Spain. Mexico ruled over Texas from 1821 through 1836.
In 1836 Texas won its independence from Mexico and became the Republic of Texas.
In a deal that set off the Mexican-American War, Mexico agreeing to join the United States in exchange for its annexation, the Republic of Texas became the 28th State of These United States in 1845.
Texas declared its secession from the United States in early 1861, joining the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
So as recently as 1845 Texas was its own country. All during the history of Texas and the numerous flags that have flown above it, the native indigenous people traveled freely throughout the area, including back and forth across the future and present political boundaries. As recently as 75 years ago crossing the border was not much more involved than passing through a toll booth on the Ohio Turnpike. Now, to the people of Texas and northern Mexico, it's as if we suddenly need a passport to travel from Ohio to Indiana. Even today, Texas has an uneasy union with The Union.
] but didn't Texas once declare itself a sovereign republic, and announce that the rest of the United States could dam well secede from them? [An attitude that many Texans still maintain, I might add.]
