A few days ago, we celebrated Texas Independence Day. How much of the following do you know?
Abbreviated State History
Native Americans lived in what is now Texas for thousands of years. Then, in 1519, the first Europeans—the Spanish—arrived. During the following years, Spain, France, and Mexico all claimed Texas—or parts of it—as their own. Settlers—many from the U.S. and Europe—moved in, and by 1835, thoughts of independence from Mexico surfaced. On March 1, 1836, a convention of delegates met at Washington-on-the Brazos. The next day, the delegates unanimously adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence, and the Republic of Texas was born. It took six months and several battles—including the fight at the Alamo—before the revolution to break free of Mexico succeeded. Texas operated as an independent nation for almost a decade, until, on December 29, 1845, it became the 28th U.S. state.
Did You Know…
- Only ten delegates participating in the March 1, 1836, convention, had been in Texas prior to 1836.
- Because it was an independent country first, Texas entered the U.S. by Treaty rather than by annexation.
- Six countries ruled over Texas at one time or another: Spain, France, The Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States.
- Texas was the only state to enter the U.S. by Treaty instead of annexation. (Meaning, not only can the Texas flag be flown at the same height as the U.S. flag, but Texas can divide into five states if it wants.)
- Texas has its own power grid, established during WWII.
- The highest speed limit in the U.S. (85 miles per hour), is on a road between Austin and San Antonio.
- Texas comes from “Tejas,” the Caddo—Native American language—word for “allies” or “friends.”
- Pecos, Texas, held the world’s first rodeo on July 4, 1883.
- In the 1800s, a simple “G.T.T.” message left behind told family and friends you’d “Gone to Texas.”
- In the 1860s, German and Czech settlers introduced Texas to BBQ.
- During WWII, the song “Deep In the Heart of Texas” was banned by the BBC during work hours. They feared factory workers would set down their tools to clap their hands.
- In the mid-1990s, when a coral snake bit this Texan, he bit off the snake’s head and used the snake’s body as a crude tourniquet.
Bugs Bunny and Texas
Texas has given the world many wonderful things, including George Straight, Blue Bell Ice Cream, and the Astrodome. What you might not know is it’s also where Bugs Bunny’s famous catchphrase, “What’s Up, Doc?”, originated.
Texan and Looney Tunes animator, Tex Avery, grew up hearing phrases like, “Hiya, doc,” and “What’s up, doc?” (Back then, “doc” was the same as “dude.”) The line, “What’s up, doc?” perfectly fit the smart-aleck but casual Bugs Bunny character they’d created.
Bugs’ calm demeanor, snacking on a carrot with Elmer Fudd’s gun pointed at him, spoofed Clark Gable’s performance in It Happened One Night, minus the gun, of course. In the film, Gable leans against a fence and eats carrots while instructing co-star Claudette Colbert’s character. Audiences of the time were familiar with the movie and so recognized the spoof.
The combination of the line and the attitude hit the mark. Bugs Bunny became famous, and his catchphrase became commonly used worldwide.