Episode 4: La Salle Got Lost, Texas Got A Theme Park - Six Flags: Part 1

A roller coaster is fun. A border that won’t hold still is not. We open the gates at Six Flags Over Texas and walk past the turnstiles into three centuries of ambition, error, and reinvention. Arlington’s bid to rival Disneyland set the stage, but the park’s name reveals a bigger story: six regimes, six narratives, and a tangled web of claims that shaped a region long before the first ride tested its brakes.

We trace Spain’s early claim and mission network, the Comanche’s leverage through trade and warfare, and France’s five-year misadventure when La Salle missed the Mississippi and accidentally rewrote future maps. Mexico’s independence arrives with abolition, fragile institutions, and colonization rules that invited settlers and conflict in equal measure. As tensions rise, the Republic of Texas is born with a constitution modeled on the U.S. South, a mounting debt problem, and a president—Sam Houston—who pursues diplomacy with Native nations and recognition abroad from France and Britain.

Then the pendulum swings. Mirabeau Lamar dreams of a continental Texas, denies Native land claims, boosts the military, and burns political capital on the failed Santa Fe expedition. Raids, rivalries, and thin infrastructure expose how fragile the republic truly is. Through it all, the Comanche and Wichita are not footnotes; they are power brokers navigating trade routes, alliances, and epidemics that reshape the plains. By the time annexation looms, the flags have flown, the borders have shifted, and the myths are already hardening into memory.

If you’ve ever stared at a park map and wondered what the names really mean, this is your guided tour: clear, candid, and full of the choices people made—good and bad—that led to the marquee. Listen, learn, and share with a friend who loves Texas lore, theme parks, or both. Subscribe for more sharp, story-driven dives, and leave a review to tell us which “flag” changed your mind.

Resources: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bM-WVdk7G23llqbQo6nE8rHHwoG6rEX1_aUaD-7fkvw/edit?usp=sharing

Transcript

A Theme Park With A Past

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Hey my doodle dandies, this is Kelsey, and I'm Sarah, and we're that so macaroni. Yeah, hello my doodle dandies. I'm Kelsey. I'm Sarah. And we're that's so macaroni. Today I want you to prepare your ear holes for something new. This is Six Flags Over Texas. Um, yes, the theme park. This was requested um by my sibling that I do six flags. And I said, You mean the theme park? And they said, Yeah, but um, like where the why it's called Six Flags. And I said, sure, okay. Um anything for you because why not? Um who doesn't love theme parks? Six flags is huge. And it was like, oh, it's like the six flags that have flown over Texas in their history, and I'm like, oh, we need to torpedo. And then um we got into it. So do you know anything about Six Flags Over Texas?

SPEAKER_02 1:16

No, but I've been to the one in California.

Arlington’s Bid To Rival Disneyland

SPEAKER_00 1:18

Nice. That's a really good start. Yes. Um so let's talk about the theme park first for a tad, and then we're gonna walk it back um into the history of Tejas. So Disneyland opened in 1955 and had a major impact on tourism and development of the entirety of Southern California. The city of Arlington, Texas, which is near Dallas Fort Worth, had dollar signs in their eyes and was entertaining the idea of their own tourist revenue. And here is where local real estate developer Angus G. Wynne Jr. comes in.

SPEAKER_02 1:55

Yeah, he's from Texas.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

He sure is. Yeah. Arlington mayor Tom Vandergrift asked Disney about building a Disneyland in Texas. And Disney was like, I am not interested in that option. With revenge in his heart, Vandergrift is like, fine, who else has a good idea? And Wynne starts waving his hand in the air wildly. When and his company, the Great Southwest Corporation, originally discussed with Mayor Tom, which just makes me think of Major Tom, which is bringing me to David Bowie.

SPEAKER_02 2:23

Yes. And then it also makes me think of how I met your mother. You remember that?

unknown 2:26

No.

SPEAKER_02 2:27

It was like between Ted and Robin, they would be like Captain Obvious. Oh right. Yes. Sorry.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

It's been a long time.

SPEAKER_02 2:35

So yes.

SPEAKER_00 2:37

With Mayor Tom. Um, a large-scale family theme park he initially named Great Southwestland. That was Angus Wynne Jr.'s great idea. It's a great name. That name sucked. Who the fuck would want to go there? Then again, it was the 60s. Wynne followed the pack in theme park design and modeled it after Disneyland, even hiring some of the Disney design team. Um, so I did these notes after I did the World's Fair notes. So I don't know if I mentioned this in the World's Fair, but I mentioned it here. Uh Walt Disney's dad worked on the construction of the 1893 Chicago's World's Fair.

SPEAKER_02 3:15

You know what's interesting? I've never thought of Walt Disney like not being Walt Disney. So when you just said his dad, I was like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

He was birthed at some point. Two people coming together in love.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

So bizarre to read. Adrian, who knows? I just never, wow.

SPEAKER_00 3:33

He had a papby.

SPEAKER_02 3:34

It's kind of how I feel like about Brandon. Like I can never imagine Brandon as a small child.

SPEAKER_00 3:40

He's just he just spawned.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

He's just this old man. It's just Brandon.

SPEAKER_00 3:47

It's just this old man. I hope he listens to this.

SPEAKER_02 3:50

He probably won't.

SPEAKER_00 3:51

But if he I'm gonna say if there's no other episode you listen to, listen to Six Flags. Love you. So the park was divided into six themed areas and offered rides, food, and activities with the six areas representing Texas history. And this is where they got the name Six Flags over Texas.

unknown 4:11

Okay.

Why “Six Flags” Means Six Regimes

SPEAKER_00 4:11

Wynn stated that the design, or sorry, that quote, designating the center six flags is natural since its overall theme is based on Texas under six different regimes. It will be a high caliber family show, comparable to no other entertainment in existence. I feel like I could have done that better. It'll be a high caliber family show comparable to no other entertainment in existence. And end quote. And the park officially opened to the public in 1961. The idea of using the six flags theme to represent Texas is not at all original. In 1909, there was a President Taft's honor that held five of the six flags represented. For whatever reason, they left out France, and I'm not really sure why.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

I mean.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

I did a limited search, and this is the best I could find.

SPEAKER_01 4:56

I mean.

SPEAKER_00 4:56

France and the US have always had a will they won't they relationship. The French helped us in the Revolutionary War. We decided to remain neutral in European conflict shortly after, leaving France to its own revolution. Then Napoleon was hard-pressed for cash, so he sold us Louisiana territory in 1803, and we liked that. Then the US enacted the Monroe Doctrine, barring colonization in the Western Hemisphere by new parties, and France didn't like that. So that's I guess where we where we left that off.

SPEAKER_02 5:27

I mean they still gave us, you know, the Statue of Liberty.

SPEAKER_00 5:31

Yeah, I feel like they were like really trying to play nice, and the US was just like, thanks. Fuck you. So each of the six themed areas of the park were named for the entities that have ruled over Texas since 1519: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy, and the United States of America.

SPEAKER_02 5:52

Yep, that's six.

SPEAKER_00 5:53

That is six. So let's go. Okay. We'll start with Spain. Because they're number one. Spain had control over Texas. Remember that guy who crossed Panama in 21 years? Yeah. Yeah. Well, and they spread like fleas up to Texas from 1519 to 1685. And then again, from 1690 to 1821. I'll explain the gap in the resume. So the flag originally used based on the banner that Cortez carried while conquering Mexico. But what is commonly used now is the current current Spanish flag with its red bands on top and bottom of a yellow flag with the crest of Castile and Leon left of Scepter. Okay. So that's what it looks like now, and that's what we have. Um I do my best to describe them to you. Uh Texas was a part of Spain's North American Empire and was largely ignored during the first period of occupation. One website claims that it it was at the tippy top, but that just isn't quite true. The furthest reaches of the Spanish influence in North America was as far up as Alaska, according to multiple maps that I had seen.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Interesting.

Spain’s Claim And Mission Strategy

SPEAKER_00 7:01

Um so it is isn't even the furthest east because Spain claimed Florida as well. Um yeah. Um Texas was part of the Spanish North American colonial empire, so it was there. Um Spain claimed Texas, like I said, didn't really do much. Alonso Alvarez de uh how do I say his name?

SPEAKER_02 7:26

I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

Pindia? Sure. Spell it. P-I-N-E-D-A. Pindia? Sure. Alonso Alvarez de Pindia mapped the coastline, and unfortunately shipwrecked Spaniards such as Cabeza de Vaca and the explorer Coronado kinda poked around, but they didn't really do much for about a hundred years. Um, when they settled the Isleta Mission, which is now known today as El Paso. Hey, I've been there in 1681. Yep. It was called the Isleta Mission. They had a few other missions, but the Spanish mode of colonization was one of settler colonization. This means that there were large there was large-scale immigration, and this time it was for the purpose of spreading religion. So Spaniards were big on missionaries and converting native populations to Christianity. Catholicism is really what I should have said.

SPEAKER_03 8:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Uh, to establish and maintain control. So for the most part, they do settler colonization, which actually requires you to take your people and put them somewhere. But for this, they just took their uh what do you call it? What friars?

SPEAKER_02 8:38

Oh, the oh, with the yeah, the friars. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:40

The bald yeah, thank you for understanding.

SPEAKER_02 8:43

There's some I've seen them here in town, like at the Albertons, and I'm like, where the fuck did you come from? You have a monastery. Where? Up um little walnut, I think. If you just keep going up little walnut. Damn, that's crazy. Somewhere over there. Yeah. All right. Well, there you go. They make coffee. I like coffee.

SPEAKER_00 9:00

Wine too. I also like they do all of the important things, really, truly. Um they're doing God's work. They are doing God's work. Let them continue. Yes. Um, so we're going to jump to France real quick because, like I said, early Spain just kind of like says it's ours and then leaves it alone. I mean, I do that sometimes.

SPEAKER_02 9:21

That's what happened when I bought my house. I was like, bye!

SPEAKER_00 9:24

That's it.

SPEAKER_02 9:24

That was it, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:25

Yep. Okay, so here comes France. Okay. And their short sent in Texas from 18, I'm sorry, from 1685 to 1690. Okay. Every five years. So the French flag is white with little gold fleur de lee all over it. Fun fact, the fleur de lee has been associated with a region of Europe currently known as France, as far back as 466 uh CE. Common era. Common era, okay. Yeah. Um it's the more academically accepted. It's B C E before Common Era, which is can like B C and then A D is C E.

SPEAKER_02 10:01

Yeah, because isn't it originally, I'm probably gonna sound really stupid, but isn't B C before Christ. Yes, okay, and then A D is after death.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

Okay, okay, got it, got it, got it.

SPEAKER_00 10:10

Yep. Um so they still split it up that way, but they call it different things. Okay, so um the symbol itself, the flirt of the signify quote, signifies life, enlightenment, and excellence. And although it can be seen in motifs as far as India, King Louis VI is credited with its connection to France because he put that shit everywhere. So let's pop over to see what the French are doing in Texas and how Spain got it back.

SPEAKER_03 10:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 10:36

A man named Rene Robert Cavler, sur de la Salle, had the audacity to establish a French colony on the East Texas coast in 1685. He was working off of faulty information that the Mississippi Mississippi River Delta was in Texas where he ended up.

SPEAKER_02 10:56

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 10:57

Though, um, where he actually ended up was on a band of the Garcitas Creek, which is now in Victoria County. Okay. It's still really far east Texas. Um in his defense though, the pictures I looked up um of the so-called Creek look rather river delta-like.

SPEAKER_02 11:15

So I mean, it's just like how in the last episode you were saying that was it, the Portuguese said that the Pacific was a lake.

France’s Brief Misadventure With La Salle

SPEAKER_00 11:24

The the Spanish, yeah. Oh, okay. That was the Spanish lake. I got it, got it. English can't come. Um so funny. So, yeah, it looked quite a bit like a fucking river. So in February 1685, La Salle, which is what we're gonna call Rene Robert Sur de La Salle. He's LaSalle. So he plopped 180 colonists down in Matagorda Bay, which was Spanish territory. Again, it all looks like a river, a marshy river delta-esque area, and it's very confusing without Google Maps. Even with Google Maps, if you're just going off a picture, I don't fucking know where that is. So, LaSalle use uses his colony as a jump-off point to explore his surroundings. On his first outing, his last ship was wrecked in the bay, and the colony is marooned. Okay. The second, he doesn't say much, and then his final trip is where he goes for help. Okay. Oh, I see. I found something on his second trip. He wrecks a ship and he thinks probably good for a little bit longer. Um, but after enough complaints, he goes for help. Oh, this is what happens. Okay. Wow. I am Jesus, figure it out. I like literally just like word vomited on this page. Francis Bain are at war in 1682 when LaSalle sets sail for the Americas to put up a fort upriver on the Mississippi to spike to fight the Spanish from. However, two weeks after he takes off, the war is over, but he doesn't know because he's on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Okay. They lose a ship to Spanish privateers, they get lost, and they accidentally sink their supply ship. These settlers are fucking over it. He started with 300 when he set off from France, and then he now has Oh, it's a child. Sorry. Is that a child? It is a child. I thought that was like a goose. I thought it was a cat. Okay, so he had 300 people, and then he just like they all died except for 180. Um, that number dwindled because of malnutrition, being overworked, and conflict with Native Americans, or just plain old, they would just get lost. They would go into the woods and just fucking handsel and gretel get lost. I get it. And they're like, God damn it, stop wandering off. Um so LaSalle's first trip out from the colony was westward, where he got to the Rio Grande and realized he was lost and was west of the Mississippi, not east like he thought he was. So he got all the way to the fucking Rio Grande before he realized he was on the wrong side of the fucking river.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

That would be me. Like, you don't I don't know my right from left, so like I'm not gonna judge him. I am.

SPEAKER_00 14:02

Um he goes and then he goes, shoot. And then he goes boop, boop, boop, boop, boop. He and then he goes east to try to find the Mississippi twice. And on the second venture, he's murdered by his own men. They were like, because they're like, fuck this guy. He's lost twice. He like got us all killed on the way over here. He's just killing off the rest of us just by like not paying attention and being so hard-headed and being like, we're staying here to fight Spanish. And they're like, there's not even a fight with the Spanish anymore, and this isn't the fucking Mississippi. But he's right. You know how they are. They're right. So he's right, yes. And so they're going and he goes, You guys, I you're gonna hate this, but I don't think this is the Mississippi. And someone just stabs that motherfucker, which I totally get at this point. Um, so a bunch of them keep going through to Canada um to get home, and some stayed and lived with the Native Americans in East Texas. They came all the way from Texas to Canada to get home?

SPEAKER_02 14:59

Why? Because Canada was French at the time.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

Uh yeah. Okay. Um they stayed with the Hassanai or Tejas tribes. Okay. The settlers left the settlers that were left behind were women, children, physically handicapped, and those LaSalle just didn't personally like.

SPEAKER_02 15:22

I'm sorry, aren't we supposed to save the women and children?

SPEAKER_00 15:25

Like, isn't that we're going to abandon them at camp instead.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

Why?

SPEAKER_00 15:29

Why not? Um Okay. So Okay. In 1688, something happened. The Kernkawas tribe killed all of the rest of the adults and took four kids hostage. That is the end of the LaSalle colony. Interesting.

SPEAKER_02 15:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 15:48

Um in 1689, the Spanish find the ruined settlement and go, well, I guess this just kind of took care of itself. Like they invaded, but not well. Um so they just went, okay. So some of the survivors of LaSalle's failed colony went on to play a vital role in exploration and settlement of the Southwest. Um, the French conquest of Texas was brief and had a minor impact. Okay. But they still get a flag. Um, because by God they were there. And five flags just doesn't sound as good as six. That's fair. The map of the park and the names of the regions have changed drastically, but what it looks like where France land, um, or whatever it was called, is now at the edge of Boomtown and into Gotham.

SPEAKER_02 16:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 16:35

Um, original attractions included LaSalle's River Adventure. Knowing what we do now about how LaSalle's own river adventure ended, it seems like a risky ride.

SPEAKER_02 16:43

Yes. Um It is a risky ride.

SPEAKER_00 16:45

I've been on it. Oh god, is it still there? I mean there is a river adventure. It's been it's been replaced by the Roaring Rapids.

SPEAKER_02 16:51

Yeah, I was like, there is a rapid ride, yes.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

Yes. Um, one website described the ride as quote, narrated by a colorful guide, complete with Indian attacks, wild animal encounters, and even hidden treasure, which LaSalle didn't uh there was no treasure.

SPEAKER_02 17:08

You have to have treasure, okay?

SPEAKER_00 17:09

Yeah, I suppose. Um so it entertained guests for 20 years, and then they were like roaring rapid suspenders. So okay, now Texas is just Spain's again. Um, as far as Spain knew, it was theirs the whole time. Um and this is their second go-around, and this is kind of where they do some more stuff. So they allowed some Anglo-Americans to settle their frontier in Texas and Florida just to help boost its production and trade and whatnot. Um, but so that little that little bit of that like French hiccup. Well, in 1803, when the US was buying Louisiana Purchase, they tried to claim that it went all the way to the Rio Grande because LaSalle had like walked there. Oh and it was shady. And they said no.

SPEAKER_02 17:54

Um makes sense to me, yep.

SPEAKER_00 17:57

But so there, but somehow they still said, Okay, white Americans, that's fine. Come on over. Um, like we won't we will not give this to you, but you can be here and work for us, basically.

SPEAKER_02 18:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 18:11

Um, but through a bunch of like subversive moves, the US took Florida over and Spain was like a little bit irritated, but it wasn't that important. Okay. What was important was Texas. On February 22nd, 1819, the Adams Onus Treaty was signed, officially creating the boundary between Louisiana and Texas.

SPEAKER_02 18:29

Is it Texas more important because it's bigger?

SPEAKER_00 18:32

I d um so I kind of get into it a little bit later, but Texas is important because they want to span the continent. I see. So this is a westward, it's like a manifest destiny westward movement thing. So that's that's why they're like, Texas is totally a part of the Louisiana Purchase, and Spain's like, no, it fucking isn't. Um the Louisiana Purchase, not the Texas and Louisiana Purchase. And they just gave up Florida. And I ask a very important question here. Do you think that they knew what would become of Florida? Like, did they see the Florida man evolving right before their eyes? And they were like, you know. They're like, oh my God, take it. Um never mind.

Spain Returns, Borders, And Buffer Zones

SPEAKER_02 19:16

Yes, I think that is exactly what happened. Spain was like, I we can't with this. We cannot be associated.

SPEAKER_00 19:23

We'll never know unless we find the journal of some Spanish explorer that was like gave up Florida, thank God. Um but until then, that's what I'm going with. So, okay. Texas is important to Spain because it creates a nice little buffer insulating their more profitable provinces further south from both Europeans and Native American tribes moving into Texas from the north, such as the Comanches and the Wichita's. Um, a little bit of Native American history, best I could find. Little clippets. So um the Comanche and the Spanish regime regime.

SPEAKER_02 19:58

This is in the Texas territory.

SPEAKER_00 19:59

In Texas. Yes. I tried to limit it to them in Texas, and these two parties, the Comanches and the Wichita's, do come up again, so I figured it was pretty important. I just like to mention where they came. Got it. Okay. Comanche are from the Great Basin or Great Plains area originally. However, they share a common linguistic base and other cultural similarities with the Shoshone, who live a little further northwest into like Wyoming and Idaho, Nevada. So they're excellent horsemen and use them for big game hunting as well as warfare. Their move south into Texas and New Mexico, and sometimes further was due to a couple factors. Um they were central to trade in their area. Quote, they traded buffalo products, horses, and captives for manufactured items like weaponry and foodstuffs.

SPEAKER_02 20:49

And quote, they traded captives.

SPEAKER_00 20:51

Captives. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. They captured people and traded them. Okay. Got it. Okay. Although the name that stuck was Comanche, which is derived from a Ute word, uh Comancia, meaning anyone who wants to fight me all the time. Come and fight me, bitch! But which is what we called a young sleepy Ethan. He would just wake up swinging. Oh, poor Ethan. So what ended up sticking was Comanche. Um, what they called themselves was uh Nurmirna. Nurna, yeah. Sure. Or the people. Okay. Pretty easy. People soon. Got it, yeah. The Comanche were so formidable a force the Spanish could not defeat them with strength, so they opted for a peace policy focusing on trade and gifts with limited military intervention. It was successful for the rest of the Spanish rule. It was a good way to deal with it.

SPEAKER_03 21:55

Yeah.

Comanche And Wichita Power And Trade

SPEAKER_00 21:56

Um, there was a paper that I read that gave much more detailed information, um, in addition to um a website that I use heavily throughout this, which is um the Texas State Historical Association. Uh, really, really, really good articles, really in-depth on just about anything that you would want to know about Texas history. So cool. But this one is called, the paper is um published in History in the Making, and it's called Comanche Resistance Against Colonialism uh by Tyler Amoy from California State San Bernardino. It's available for free with a Google search on the article name. Cool. So the Wichita during the French and Spanish regimes, the Wichita were, quote, known as master traders, building an intricate network of exchange among various indigenous tribes and later European settlers. So both uh were really important for trade. Okay. Her first encounter with Europeans was in the 16th century, 1500s, when the Spanish were exploring into the Texas area. Um, but the name Wichita first appears in the early 17th century, 1600s, in the records of the French trader who called them Wichitas, uh, when they first met near the Arkansas River in what is now Oklahoma. Okay. They had called themselves Kittikitish? Sure. I hope so. I am so if I got it wrong, let me know. Um, which means raccoon eyes, referring to the designs of tattoos around the men's eyes. Wichita are also Great Plains people, but from a different linguistic and cultural group than the Comanche. They were part of a Caddo descent and shared language and ancestry with the Pawnee, who moved further north into what is now known as Indiana.

SPEAKER_02 23:36

I just want to watch Parks and Raccoon.

SPEAKER_00 23:37

I thought the same fucking thing. I was like, Pawnee. And I was like, so good. So good. Um, where the Comanche maintained a nomadic low lifestyle, the Wichita were more of an agricultural society. They would hunt, but they were more stationary. Their main crops were corn, tobacco, and pumpkins. The Wichita and Comanche were strong allies throughout their history, while the Comanche are remembered for having a formidable force and impressive resistance to colonial forces. The Wichita in Texas declined after they abandoned their main village in 1810. Uh and I don't know why. Possibly disease. They just left. Because yes. Um, but it's possible that it was disease because um white people are the smallpox killed about a third of the tribe in the late 1770s.

SPEAKER_02 24:27

Okay, then that's it.

SPEAKER_00 24:27

So like it could be that they um left that village because it was just infected.

SPEAKER_02 24:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:34

Um, so there's so much more to say about different Native American tribes. Obviously, this was just like a little brief telling. If you want me to tell you more, I'll apply myself to telling a broader and fuller story. Um, but we're going to leave it here. Also, if you if we have any indigenous listeners and you want to share stories or information or other, you know, sources, please.

SPEAKER_02 24:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:58

Please do. I'd love that.

SPEAKER_02 24:59

We appreciate all of it.

SPEAKER_00 25:00

I would love it. Um, okay, so Spain rule of Texas ends in 1821 when Mexico wins its independence, and we meet our third of six flags. In case you forgot, we're talking about the theme park.

SPEAKER_02 25:12

So now we're on Mexico.

SPEAKER_00 25:14

Now we're on Mexico. Love it. Okay. The Mexico flag is the same as it is today: green, white, and red vertical color blocks, with an eagle holding a snake in its talons in the middle. After Mexico's success in the revolution, they were fairly financially and politically devastated. The war took a toll on the people and land, and Mexico had absolutely no government without the crown. So, for example, the US was a confederation of colonies, excuse me, each having their own mini-government, even when they were ruled by England. They had a legislative, executive, and judicial branch that was elected and worked with the crown to appoint officials. Okay. Um, before 1810 in Mexico, all administrators were royal appointees besides like the bottom of the barrel, lowest or low, like a mayor.

SPEAKER_03 25:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:00

Um, there was no separation of power. The Catholic Church even had a hand in the government, but was so responsive only to the crown and not to the people. So it was really tricky to kind of like invent all this on the spot once they got their independence. They wanted to have um a people-led country, but they're working from no basis whatsoever.

SPEAKER_02 26:21

Like starting from the bottom.

SPEAKER_00 26:22

Yeah, they because they came from just a monarchy, not even a constitutional monarchy. So they're there, it's really rough. Starting from the bottom, now we're here. Yeah, woman president Mexico. Um the first attempt at a government that they tried was a monarchy. Um that's not gonna work. Headed by Augustine uh Itribide.

SPEAKER_02 26:43

Can I just say side note? Augustine is a fucking cute name. It is.

SPEAKER_00 26:47

Okay. It is adorable. And he was pressured, I'm just kidding, I've never seen. Um, and it lasted two years before a change had to be made. Um, during this time, however, during this two years, the government decided to put into place something called Imperial Colonization Law. This law, quote, invited Catholic immigrants to settle in Mexico and encouraged family m units to move in and establish farms or ranches by promising varying tracts of land.

SPEAKER_02 27:15

Okay. That's like something similar they did in the US.

SPEAKER_00 27:18

Yeah, the Homestead Act.

SPEAKER_02 27:19

Yes, yes, yep. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 27:20

Yep, it's super, super similar. Um, they specifically only wanted Catholics. Oh, rude. Okay. It's okay. Um, so they said Catholics only, Protestants need not apply. Um it was during this time that Moses and Stephen Austin signed up and moved out to Texas to settle guess where? Texas. During this time, Moses and Stephen Austin signed up and moved out to Texas to settle where.

unknown 27:52

Texas.

SPEAKER_00 27:55

Austin, Texas. Okay. So here's a fun fact. Grandpa Austin is buried in Durham, Connecticut, um, which is where my mom lives. So Matt had mentioned that there's like this really old cemetery that I might be interested in seeing, and who's right, because it was hella cool. Um, it's just this huge fucking hill uh full of old graves. And jet like just over the top of the hill is this plaque saying, This is the grave of Grandpa Austin. If you're in New England, you want to visit. The cemetery is at the intersection of Main Street and Old Cemetery Road. There you go. They named in Durham, Connecticut. It is really cool. Go all the way up to the top of the hill, and you'll see um where Grandpa Austin lived. And then Oh, okay. Austin is named after Grandpa Austin. Austin's named after the Austin family. Moses and Stephen Austin moved to Texas to settle.

SPEAKER_02 28:48

But grandpa's buried in Connecticut.

SPEAKER_00 28:50

Grandpa's buried in Connecticut because that's where they came from.

SPEAKER_02 28:52

Ah, okay.

SPEAKER_00 28:54

Yeah. Okay. So um there's a lot of switching policies and political structures for a long time in Mexico, and it affects Texas because it's part so bad at pronouncing this. Cohila? A pro the province in Mexico? Sure. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 29:08

Um, speak Spanish, I'm sorry. I can't help.

SPEAKER_00 29:11

And Texas were were once united as one state. Okay. Texas essentially being um one county, which was then called a department, because it was so sparse. There was just like nobody fucking there. So um the population of Texas grew though, um, to about 20,000 in the early 1830s, and many of those were Anglo-American settlers um whose relationship with the rest of the state was growing tense. Preferential treatment was given to Mexican nationals when it came to choice of land because it's Mexico. Um, so Mexicans got first dibs. Yeah. And newcomers had to take an oath promising to abide by state and federal laws and constitutions. Pretty standard stuff for when you move in somewhere. Um if you move to a new country, yeah. Red rum.

SPEAKER_02 30:01

No, I just went straight to uh the producers. Oh. Yaban, yaban, yum.

unknown 30:09

God.

Mexico’s Independence And Settlement Policies

SPEAKER_02 30:10

I took my meds. I don't know what's wrong with me. So it's all pretty standard stuff though. You have to take the oath.

SPEAKER_03 30:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:17

Uh to say that you will follow the rules. Um, and by 1829, Mexico had outlawed slavery. And this is just simply an affront um to these cloud-complexioned settlers. Settlers were allowed to bring their existing enslaved people with them, but any children of said enslaved were considered free when born on Mexican soil. Oh, okay. The American settlers were none too pleased with being treated like everyone else and backed Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana's rebellion against the sitting president of Mexico at the time, Anastasio Bustamante, in 1832. Uh-huh. Okay. And they won. Many claimed they were in favor of Santa Ana's Federalist policies and more autonomy for the states. Does that sound familiar? Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Sounds like another another flag they'll have coming up.

SPEAKER_02 31:09

Yeah, for real. Just side note, um, in the background, it is raining quite heavily right now. Sorry.

SPEAKER_00 31:15

I hope it's like I don't know. I hope it's like a nice background noise. I'll talk a little louder. I'll scream. So Steven Austin, the founder of Austin, Texas. Not Texas. Not Texas. Just Austin, Texas. He he comes back in the picture. He sent to Mexico City in 1833 to request administrative separation from Coahuila. Jesus Christ, I hope that's right. An extension of the tariff exemption and a repeal of the laws that prevent preventing further Anglo-American immigration. Mexico's like, fine, y'all can immigrate a little bit more, and says basically no to the rest. They're like, you guys can just keep going. Um but we're not going to give you more tariff exemptions.

SPEAKER_02 32:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:00

And yeah, we're not separating you from this other state. Okay. Um, Austin writes a letter to Texans advising them to just ignore the government's response. Um, but some astute postman was like no-ho and turns it over, in which upon receiving this letter, Austin is in prison for 18 months.

SPEAKER_02 32:20

Oh, okay. That's nice.

SPEAKER_00 32:22

Don't be such a fucking dumbass. So in 1835, Texas was in a full-scale rebellion now against Santa Ana, the guy that they really liked. Okay. For state autonomy. Um, and that's when the Alamo battle happens. I was about to say, when does the Alamo come in? Then 1835. Got it. Um, I don't think I talk a whole lot about it just because it's not like relevant to Six Flags. I'm trying to be I get it. I'm really trying my hardest here. It's so hard. Um the area, so that's when the Alamo. Okay, cool. Look, I ended it here. The area that was Mexico Land and Spain Land are still there. Um they have shared combined rides throughout times.

SPEAKER_02 33:02

So Mexico Land and Spain Land are together. Yes. In this okay, which all right, which ones?

SPEAKER_00 33:08

Uh La Cuca Racha Roller Coaster. That's okay. Yep. Is that still its name? Uh they are no longer around. Um and the Fiesta train, the borough rider can evidently still be seen from whatever the current train is. There's like a guy with like a somebody.

SPEAKER_02 33:24

Um this is specifically the one in Texas, though.

SPEAKER_00 33:27

Yes. Specifically Arlington, Texas.

SPEAKER_02 33:30

Okay. Um I'm like imagining yeah, I'm imagining the six flags in California. So I'm like, wait, wait, wait, this is Robin.

SPEAKER_00 33:37

No, this is I I don't know how they're all quite set up, but this is um specifically when I mentioned the older rides, they're specifically the 1960s ride from Arlington. Okay. Um, so they're no longer around, but you can still ride El Sombrero, which is a spinny ride, and the Silver Star Carousel.

SPEAKER_03 33:57

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 33:57

Yep. Well, they're still available.

SPEAKER_03 33:59

All right.

SPEAKER_00 34:00

So flag four of six of six be gett of Texas. Belongs to the Republic of Texas. Thank you so much. I was so close. The the flag is the same as the state flag. It has a vertical bar of blue on the left with a white star in the middle and a horizontal bar of white on top of a horizontal bar of red. Okay. The Republic of Texas lasted from 1836 after they succeeded in ousting Santa Ana when it became the to when it became the 28th state in 1845. Okay. So backtracking a little bit, just before the end of the rebellion on February 1st, 1836, 44 delegates representing Texas municipalities got together to form a Congress of sorts and to seek aid from the United States. So this is going back to when Santa Ana and it was still part of like Mexico, so that they could like become the Republic of Texas. Yeah. Um, the US was supportive. Um, if these Anglo-Americans won Texas, it would be super easy to get them to join the Union. However, Texans were still in disagreement as to if they wanted to maintain the Mexican Constitution. So they weren't all sold quite yet on letting the Texas, or I'm sorry, the Mexican Constitution go. And that's just not gonna fly if they're gonna be Americans. So the US said, no funds or help until you figure out that you don't want to be Mexicans anymore. On March 1st of 1836, um, a delegate named George Childress offered the committee a draft for a Texan independence that mirrored the United States. Most present were in favor of this ref rough draft, and thus independent Texas was born. Okay. Now to have a constitution, while many folks worked on it, according to Texas State Historical Association, David Thomas is, quote, the father of the Texas Constitution, as he was the committee chair and spoke for the group and wrote the draft that was officially adopted. So he had a pretty, pretty heavy hand in that. So the Constitution of Texas was very similar to that of the United States and took inspiration from some of the southern states. Oh. It was to have a tripartite government. Um the executive, judicial, and legislative. But it was more reflective of the state government as it didn't break Texas into separate states or separate governments. So while it I think I think probably it would be better compared to maybe like countries in Europe. I think like you have different areas, but you're not really like split up. Like we're from New Mexico.

SPEAKER_02 36:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:40

You're from Arizona. They're just like in one of your Texas.

SPEAKER_02 36:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:43

So they kind of they didn't really like separate it much smaller than that.

SPEAKER_02 36:47

I see. Okay.

Slavery Bans, Oaths, And Rising Tensions

SPEAKER_00 36:48

Um, the presidency is gonna be three years and hold similar authority to our presidency at the time.

SPEAKER_02 36:54

They were like their own country. Yeah. Okay, I get it now.

SPEAKER_00 36:57

All right. They were their own country.

SPEAKER_02 36:58

Look, I'm stupid, but I'm getting there.

SPEAKER_00 37:00

You're you're figuring it out. So the constitution legalized the inhumane institution of slavery, but did not allow foreign slave trade, um, which followed what the United States did. We the United States outlawed the Atlantic slave trade in 1808. So that's consistent. Um God, I just I want to go on so many tangents. Okay. Um but immigrants could bring their enslaved people with them. Free black people were not allowed to live in Texas without congressional approval. Why anyone would want to request to move somewhere like that, I have no idea. Like, why would Not me. Ridiculous. So, and no ministers could hold public office. So a separation of church and state. Skimming forward now to the end of the rebellion, and on to the Texas Republic. So, um, it was almost immediately facing difficulties. Treaties were signed with Santa Ana on the 14th of May. By the 19th, Fort Parker was raided by a Comanche and Cato Native Americans who took two women and three children captive.

SPEAKER_03 37:56

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 37:57

Um, the government lacked resources to retaliate and had poor communication due to poor infrastructure and literally zero funds.

SPEAKER_02 38:04

That'll do it.

SPEAKER_00 38:05

Yeah. So not only was the new republic not faring well, many of its people were struggling with their livelihoods being demolished by the retreating Mexican army. They just like just to completely like scorched earth uh when they were going back. Um on the first Monday in September, the citizens of the Republic of Texas were asked to vote on four things. Approve the Constitution, authorize Congress to amend the Constitution as needed. Because you know, constitutions are supposed to be living documents and need to be amended over time. Yes. Okay, next one. Elect a president and other representatives, and express their views on the annexation to the United States. Okay. So it sounds like it's be like becoming a state was always kind of like a thing that they were thinking about.

SPEAKER_02 38:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:52

Um, and we can so how like we were talking earlier about uh Puerto Rico being a territory and how like a lot of places start off with like a territorial years. We can kind of think of the independent Republic of Texas as being their territorial years because they don't go through a Texas territory era, they just go republic to statehood. So we can kind of think about it like that. Makes sense. Um, and Sam Houston becomes the president of the Republic of Texas. Did they name Houston after him?

SPEAKER_02 39:21

Um, no Dallas, actually. Oh. Well, that's upsetting.

SPEAKER_00 39:28

Well, fuck. Yes, Houston, Texas is named after Sam Houston. Okay, cool. So uh it's a landslide. He earns a little over 4,000 more votes than the nearest candidate with 5,119 votes.

SPEAKER_02 39:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 39:43

So the other person earned like a thousand votes. Okay. Um, they hoped he would hasten annexation to um by the United States and ensure stability. The outgoing interim president delivered his farewell address, urging Congress to authorize land grants for veterans of the revolution. against Mexico and reminded them that their current national debt was$1,250,000 in 1836 dollars, which I did it for you is forty five million eight hundred and eighty seven thousand five hundred dollars today. Who was this? Texas Texas. Why are they in the Republic? Because they thought um they like kicked Mexico out. Jesus Christ. Okay. I know. Um anyways peace out Texas. Good luck to Mr. Houston. Godspeed. Sam Houston then gives his address stressing the need to seek peace from Native Americans. Yes. And for the constant vigilance regarding our national enemies, the Mexicans.

SPEAKER_02 40:48

I fucking hate it here.

SPEAKER_00 40:50

So he hoped that Texas would be annexed to the U.S. quickly. He had a lot of work to do being the president of a brand new republic. Texas Congress declared its boundaries but Mexico didn't recognize its independence let alone the border being the Rio Gran River. The U.S. had some qualms about what the border ought to be for the eastern side of Texas as well. Houston handles this remarkably well and came to an agreement with the U.S. about the border issue pretty easily. The western side of Texas was more of a concern though as many countries I'm sorry many counties feared Mexico would be coming back for its land and the fear of raids from local indigenous tribes. In December 1836 Texas Congress authorized um 3500 men and funding from what? I don't know. Do you have an MP bank account sir? Um they're just me and funding for forts and training posts to be built and allowed Houston to approve 4000 US volunteers to help.

Rebellion, The Alamo, And Park Tie-Ins

SPEAKER_02 41:49

It's like if we print more money that makes it real right and we're not in debt anymore. Okay, got it.

SPEAKER_00 41:54

Yeah.

unknown 41:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 41:56

Um side story. Houston was afraid that the commander of the army Felix Huston not Houston Huston Felix Huston might commit a rash act out west. So he sent Albert Sidney Johnston to replace him. When Johnston got to Camp Independence near Texana in early February 1837 Huston decided that instead of his stepping aside he would challenge his replacement to a duel. Huston shot Johnston and seriously wounded him but eventually religious command so he just wanted to like shoot him first.

SPEAKER_02 42:27

Did he smack him with a glove?

SPEAKER_00 42:29

No he shot him. Well I know but like oh before yeah oh maybe God I hope so okay um but don't worry Johnston lived until he died at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862 during the Civil War. Okay. Houston had a progressive outlook when it came to indigenous people for an American politician at the time and a little of his background is important. Briefly he ran away and lived with the Cherokees for several years as a teenager. Okay. And again after his divorce and resignation as governor of Tennessee for another three years. He had married a Cherokee woman Diana Rogers Gentry and became a member of the Cherokee Nation. He was an he was active in peacekeeping trade and other tribal affairs before he left his tribe for Texas in 1832. Okay. Houston worked through throughout his two presidencies in the Republic of Texas for peaceful agreements with all native tribes in the region and even set up guards to protect their lands against encroachment of white settlers.

SPEAKER_02 43:25

Good for him.

SPEAKER_00 43:26

Right? Um the U.S. would not recognize the Republic initially because of its weak borders and possible polar invasion by Mexico and therefore was not super keen on annexing it. Texas decided to go a different route and rescetted its request for annexation by the United States in 1838 and sought recognition by France and England instead. Okay. So it said fine we don't want to be part of your union anyways France was currently at war with Mexico in the time was like hell yeah we would love to acknowledge you. Congratulations on you know shucking off Mexico good for you they signed a treaty in recognition September 25th 1839. Not to be outdone England says yeah us too because we fucking hate France. We hate France so fucking much they can't even have the upper hand anywhere we fucking hate the French and they're like okay and so they signed three treaties with Texas.

SPEAKER_02 44:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 44:16

One for independence one for commerce and navigation and the suppression of the African safe trade oh so that's all within Sam Houston's first term. That's a very busy that is a very busy three years. Yeah that's a that is insane that man worked hard. In Texas the president could not succeed themselves so he had to step down um he there was no two terms. You had your three years and then you you go away interesting um you could come back because he has another presidency but you couldn't they could not be sequential.

SPEAKER_02 44:49

So who was the president of the US at the time he was the president of the Republic of Texas uh ooh that's a good question.

SPEAKER_00 44:57

Who was that?

SPEAKER_02 44:58

What year is this?

The Republic Of Texas Is Formed

SPEAKER_00 44:59

Um 1838. 1838 okay Van Buren he served from 1837 to 1841 he is a preposterously silly looking man. He is goddamn holy he looked like a Scrooge that's what I imagined Lord okay so um Van Buren was the president of the US don't go down that street in in Phoenix don't I mean unless you need to you know I did it by accident once and I was terrified. Um so uh in eight December 1838 he has to step down and a man named Mirabeau Lamar decides to run next Mirabeau B Lamar how do you spell that M-I-R-A-B-A-U Mirabeau interesting you know what that's kind of cute like I don't hate it you will oh shit okay so he said his supporters were like this will not go well someone please help so they ask for it's like they're trying to find someone in his party who can possibly like stand up to this um they ask a man named Thomas Rusk the chief of justice for the Texas Supreme Court but he said oh no thank you I'm not interested and they're like good God so then they move on to a man named Peter W. Grayson a veteran of the War of 1812 and um recruiter for US volunteers during the Texas Revolution and a commissioner to the U.S. for recognition and annexation um really good candidate yeah tragically trigger warning he committed suicide on the way back to Texas at Bean Station Tennessee okay so just a little fun fact for you it's not um what did you say committed suicide that's not the PC way to say it anymore did you say died by suicide oh okay yeah that's my fun fact but yes trigger warning okay okay he died by suicide um he suffered mental health issues and was subjectified and subjected to falsified charges in his presidential campaign by the opposition and was rebuffed at the same time in a marriage proposal so he was going through like a really fucking tough time yeah and um all of this just kind of came together for this really tragic end. Yes. Grayson County in Texas is named after him in 18 was named after him in 1846. Well that's nice that's nice so following this unfortunate event Houston supporters select Chief Justice James Collinsworth who finally accepted. However he tragically drowned in Galveston Bay in July of 1839.

SPEAKER_02 47:31

Why? How? I don't know does he not know how to swim?

SPEAKER_00 47:34

Probably a lot of people didn't know how to swim I James Cook, an ocean going man, didn't know how to fucking swim God so Mirabeau B Lamar it is he didn't have all bad policy ideas but his presidency was overall not great for Texas. Oh no he thought Texas should remain independent and could stretch to the Pacific someday. He wanted to establish a national bank free public education and establishment of a university.

SPEAKER_02 48:03

Okay I mean I'm not mad at it.

SPEAKER_00 48:05

Under Lamar each county in Texas set aside three square leagues to support primary schools or act or academies and 50 leagues for two universities. Okay. While some private schools popped up Texas was never able to establish a public school system like Lamar had wanted okay um he was set back by some um petty ideas that he prioritized over these really great ideas that he had so for example he declared that quote neither native nor immigrant tribes had a cause of complaint and denied the Cherokees or others had legal claims to the land.

SPEAKER_02 48:42

Only the people you see my face right now fine fine everything's fine.

SPEAKER_00 48:49

So just so we're aware um immigr an immigrant tribe is one such as the Cherokees who the United States at the time called quote unquote civilized tribes because they moved west as dictated by treaties with the United States. Okay they did what they were told okay by treaty um because because honestly there were things promised in those treaties that probably made it sound really good.

SPEAKER_02 49:15

Yeah that's yeah okay like how are you supposed to know that these people are not gonna hold up their word so this is not to this is not to shit on tribes who participated or anything they're doing what they think is beneficial for them and then white people fucking stuff and then just sometimes they just goddamn white people fucking eh.

SPEAKER_00 49:35

So we can't have nice things so that's what um an immigrant quote unquote tribe is I see yeah um dumbest shit I've ever heard okay Lamar boosted the military and placed them on the western border this backfired when Texan units under colonels Ruben Ross and Juan N. Seguin and William S. Fisher crossed the Rio Grande and joined the Mexican Federalists against France ignoring Lamar's recall instructions. Okay oops um then he tries to take over New Mexico in 1840. He thinks New Mexicans aren't happy with Governor Manuel Armijo and they may not have been but becoming Texas was also not what they wanted to do.

Debt, Diplomacy, And Native Relations

SPEAKER_02 50:25

Sorry I feel like someone's trying to chime in because I keep hearing tapping over here no me too okay so someone's like me no no no I also hear it.

SPEAKER_00 50:33

Okay is he trying to interrupt you and correct something try to correct me motherfucker I've done more research I will fight you so and by the way New Mexico is still a part of Mexico until 1848 when it becomes a US territory so which so funny to me because like Joey has met so many people like in his job like traveling like you know over the road who still think that it's Mexico?

SPEAKER_02 51:09

Yeah he'll be like oh yeah we live in New Mexico and they're like oh so you live in Mexico and he's like no I live in New Mexico and they're like yeah Mexico and he's like oh my god you know what yes that's correct sure indeed um so Lamar starts his journey into New Mexico with a letter to the citizens of Santa Fe that's like hey bud we're worried about you we're our own country now you can come with us and Santa Fe's like we don't want to go live with dad um and they decline.

SPEAKER_00 51:40

So Lamar launches a military expedition which New Mexicans repulse easily and he is forced to give up okay they just like put a palm to the face of this expedition and like they're like please sir I need you to step the fuck back. Get out of here so it turns out that Lamar's dedication to his military might overshadowed any good he might hope to do. The increase of arms at the Rio Ground proved only to inflame hostilities as with this outright aggression towards Native Americans in Texas who would have thought that just being an aggro asshole would really come back to bite you never never um so even though Lamar tried to establish settlements further west in Texas few ever actually materialized and none of them were super successful. Okay. Houston comes back into the presidency and tries to continue what Lamar did enticing people to move west and settle like in that way. Okay. However he doesn't have much more success in the Republic excuse me of Texas is just floundering.

SPEAKER_03 52:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:42

In October 1842 Santa Ana wiggles himself back into the presidency of Mexico and renews hostilities with Texas. He's not over it. The west side of Texas and even San Antonio is being pretty consistently harassed and there are no funds for an organized military so it's just a bunch of individuals with a phone to pick. There's also internal issues. So not only is this coming from the outside it's coming from the inside for example a fugitive from Louisiana Charles Jackson ran for Congress and lost. He blamed it on land sharks and counterfeits and threatened to run his opponent Joseph Goodbread out of the country. A fugitive ran that's correct okay that's correct God I love um and in but instead of running him out of the country he just shot him. There you go Texas Texas