Texas / Edition 1

by David G. Mccomb

Overview

To many people, even many Texans, Texas history includes little more than the battle of the Alamo and the development of a petroleum empire. In Texas: A Modern History, David McComb completes the picture, painting a fascinating portrait of a state that has changed profoundly in little more than 150 years.

Written for the general reader, Texas: A Modern History traces the full panorama of Texas history, from its earliest Indian inhabitants to the present day. McComb gives special emphasis to the twentieth century, showing how the change from a rural to an urban society has affected the "Texas mystique." He includes groups whose contributions have been overloked in standard histories, including women, blacks, Hispanics, Indians, and immigrant groups. He even treats Texas' faults honestly, exploring the ways Texans have managed and mismanaged the problems of pollution, exploitation of natural resources, the oil depression, and civil rights.

With a wealth of anecdotes, folklore, maps, and many historical photographs, Texas: A Modern History is the best general history of Texas currently available. McComb is especially adept at presenting the human side of history, showing how technological change affects the way people live.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780292746657
Publisher:	University of Texas Press
Publication date:	10/01/1989
Edition description:	1ST ED.
Pages:	212
Product dimensions:	7.05(w) x 10.08(h) x 0.53(d)

About the Author

David G. McComb taught United States history, world history, sports history, and the history of technology at Colorado State University, where he retired as a professor emeritus in 2002. He has published fourteen books, including the award-winning Galveston: A History; Texas, a Modern History; and Spare Time in Texas: Recreation and History in the Lone Star State.

Table of Contents

	Preface	vii
1	Land and Nature	1
2	The Spanish Legacy	23
3	Texas and the United States	47
4	Settlement	79
5	Texas in Transit	117
6	The Texas Mystique	147
7	Afterword: Books and Themes	185
	References	187
	Index	193
	Maps
1	The Physiographic Regions and Rivers	3
2	The Republic of Texas, 1836-1846	49
3	Major Railroads in Texas	99
4	Urban Growth, 1900-1960	127
5	Major Cities and the Interstate Highways	169

Editorial Reviews

"Contrary to popular belief, there is more to Texas history than the Alamo and oil gushers. This book takes us from the early Indians of the area through to modern times when people began to realize the exploitation of natural resources and pollution were ruining the state’s natural beauty. The author offers many stories and an ample helping of anecdotes and folklore to paint an accurate portrait of the state and the people who have made it great."

American West