Texas History Test Texas Political History & Government 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who was the Mexican general who led forces against the Texian Army during the Battle of the Alamo in 1836?
- Porfirio Diaz
- Ignacio Zaragoza
- Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (Correct answer)
- Vicente Guerrero
Correct answer: Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
General Antonio López de Santa Anna personally commanded the Mexican forces that stormed the Alamo on March 6, 1836, killing all Texian defenders.
Question 2: The Battle of San Jacinto, which secured Texas independence, lasted approximately how long?
- 18 minutes (Correct answer)
- 3 hours
- 2 days
- 1 week
Correct answer: 18 minutes
The Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836 lasted only about 18 minutes, resulting in a decisive Texian victory over Santa Anna's forces.
Question 3: What political party dominated Texas politics for most of the period from Reconstruction through the 1970s?
- Republican Party
- Whig Party
- Democratic Party (Correct answer)
- Progressive Party
Correct answer: Democratic Party
The Democratic Party dominated Texas politics for over a century after Reconstruction, a period known as the 'Solid South,' before the state shifted toward the Republican Party.
Question 4: Lyndon B. Johnson, who became the 36th U.S. President, represented which Texas city as his political home base?
- Dallas
- Houston
- Austin (Correct answer)
- Johnson City
Correct answer: Austin
Lyndon B. Johnson's political career was based in Austin, where he served in the U.S. House and Senate, though his family ranch was in Stonewall, Texas.
Question 5: The Texas Constitution currently in use was adopted in which year?
- 1845
- 1861
- 1876 (Correct answer)
- 1901
Correct answer: 1876
The current Texas Constitution was adopted in 1876 after Reconstruction, and it remains one of the longest and most amended state constitutions in the U.S.
Question 6: What event in November 1963 in Dallas had a profound impact on both Texas and U.S. history?
- The Texas oil crisis
- The assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Correct answer)
- The founding of NASA's Houston center
- The great Texas flood
Correct answer: The assassination of President John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963, leading to Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn in as president on Air Force One.
Texas History Test Texas Political History & Government 2
Who was the Mexican general who led forces against the Texian Army during the Battle of the Alamo in 1836?