Kay Laraine Swancyp, age l0, of Weaterford, Texas, for her question:

How did Texas get its name?

The friendly state of Texas got its name from Indians who treasured friendship. The various tribes in the vast area which is now Texas were allied in confederacies. The Indian word for these confederacies was Texiap, meaning allies or friends.

The Spanish took this word and changed it to Teas to name these territories. First under Spanish, then Mexican rules the settlers in 1836 declared their freedom as an independent nation. The Lone Star flag flew over the Republic of Texas. Santa Anna, the brutal dictator of Mexico, retaliated with the massacres of the Alamo and Goliado. He was defeated by General Sam Houston and for nine years Texas was recognized as a nation.

In 1845 the people of Texas decided to unite their wide lands with the United States. The Lone Star became the state flag the only flag of an American state that ever flew over a nation.