Geography of Texas Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Know how many European countries completely within Europe's boundaries are bigger than Texas. -
CORRECT ANSWER No country completely in Europe is bigger than Texas.
Know approximately how many degrees of latitude and longitude Texas spans. - CORRECT
ANSWER Latitude: nearly 11 degrees.
Longitude: over 13 degrees.
Be able to explain the importance of Texas's size in the context of the resource lottery concept. -
CORRECT ANSWER The bigger the size (aka the more lottery tickets) the better chances you
have at winning the resource lottery in Texas. Aka, the bigger the state, the chances of having a large
and diverse resource base are greater). The size matters because it gives Texas a bigger area that ends
up "winning" the resource lottery.
Briefly explain how Texas's size often impacts the relative distance between places by people who
live here and visit here. - CORRECT ANSWER What constitutes a "long road trip" is quite
different for Texans than for people from smaller places.
Know which treaty established Texas's Eastern border; know the nature of Louisiana's challenge to
that boundary in 1941, as well as how that challenge was settled by SCOTUS in 1973. - CORRECT
ANSWER Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.
- Louisiana Dispute in 1941: claimed the boundary was the west bank of the Sabine.
- SCOTUS determined the boundary was the middle of the river.
Which county is home to the geographic center of Texas, helping reinforce its roughly compact
shape? - CORRECT ANSWER McCulloch County.
Generally describe how the symmetry of Texas's borders with all its neighbors changes as we move
from the state level to the local level. - CORRECT ANSWER Asymmetrical (physical shape) at
the state level with all its neighbors.
At a local scale, much more symmetrical in terms of culture and economy with its neighbors.
, Which Spanish explorer overland travels across Texas before journeying back to Mexico would
provide the Spanish with lots of basic geographic information about the area? - CORRECT
ANSWER Cabeza de vaca.
What is the first European settlement in Texas? What is the event that led to its founding? -
CORRECT ANSWER Ysleta; The Pueblo Revolt led to its founding.
Which French Explorer established the failed settlement of Fort St. Louis on Lavaca Bay in 1685?
What ultimately happened to him? - CORRECT ANSWER La Salle; He was killed by French
Colony survivors.
Define a forward capital. Know the forward capital established by the Spanish for Texas, the present-
day state in which it was located, and the major reason why the Spanish placed this forward capital
where they did. - CORRECT ANSWER Forward capital: A capital placed at a forward
position/location.
- Los Adaes (Modern Louisiana)
- The Spanish placed their forward capital at Los Adaes to reinforce their claim.
Missions - CORRECT ANSWER Religious conversion of natives to catholicism.
Presidios - CORRECT ANSWER Military outposts used to maintain territorial control and
protect settlers.
Explain how San Antonio first developed as a major settlement for the Spanish; know the name of the
road along which it was located. - CORRECT ANSWER San Antonio was about halfway
between Los Adaes and Mexico, and had 5 missions and presidios.
- Road: El Camino Real.
Explain the Empresario system. Who was the first authorized empresario in Texas (hint: it was the
father, not the son). - CORRECT ANSWER Contractors who are granted land (named after
them) onto which the empresario encourages families to settle. Meeting settlement benchmarks
resulted in large lands being awarded to the empresario.
- Moses Austin (Father) was the first.
- His son, Stephen F. Austin was one of the only successful empresarios.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Know how many European countries completely within Europe's boundaries are bigger than Texas. -
CORRECT ANSWER No country completely in Europe is bigger than Texas.
Know approximately how many degrees of latitude and longitude Texas spans. - CORRECT
ANSWER Latitude: nearly 11 degrees.
Longitude: over 13 degrees.
Be able to explain the importance of Texas's size in the context of the resource lottery concept. -
CORRECT ANSWER The bigger the size (aka the more lottery tickets) the better chances you
have at winning the resource lottery in Texas. Aka, the bigger the state, the chances of having a large
and diverse resource base are greater). The size matters because it gives Texas a bigger area that ends
up "winning" the resource lottery.
Briefly explain how Texas's size often impacts the relative distance between places by people who
live here and visit here. - CORRECT ANSWER What constitutes a "long road trip" is quite
different for Texans than for people from smaller places.
Know which treaty established Texas's Eastern border; know the nature of Louisiana's challenge to
that boundary in 1941, as well as how that challenge was settled by SCOTUS in 1973. - CORRECT
ANSWER Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.
- Louisiana Dispute in 1941: claimed the boundary was the west bank of the Sabine.
- SCOTUS determined the boundary was the middle of the river.
Which county is home to the geographic center of Texas, helping reinforce its roughly compact
shape? - CORRECT ANSWER McCulloch County.
Generally describe how the symmetry of Texas's borders with all its neighbors changes as we move
from the state level to the local level. - CORRECT ANSWER Asymmetrical (physical shape) at
the state level with all its neighbors.
At a local scale, much more symmetrical in terms of culture and economy with its neighbors.
, Which Spanish explorer overland travels across Texas before journeying back to Mexico would
provide the Spanish with lots of basic geographic information about the area? - CORRECT
ANSWER Cabeza de vaca.
What is the first European settlement in Texas? What is the event that led to its founding? -
CORRECT ANSWER Ysleta; The Pueblo Revolt led to its founding.
Which French Explorer established the failed settlement of Fort St. Louis on Lavaca Bay in 1685?
What ultimately happened to him? - CORRECT ANSWER La Salle; He was killed by French
Colony survivors.
Define a forward capital. Know the forward capital established by the Spanish for Texas, the present-
day state in which it was located, and the major reason why the Spanish placed this forward capital
where they did. - CORRECT ANSWER Forward capital: A capital placed at a forward
position/location.
- Los Adaes (Modern Louisiana)
- The Spanish placed their forward capital at Los Adaes to reinforce their claim.
Missions - CORRECT ANSWER Religious conversion of natives to catholicism.
Presidios - CORRECT ANSWER Military outposts used to maintain territorial control and
protect settlers.
Explain how San Antonio first developed as a major settlement for the Spanish; know the name of the
road along which it was located. - CORRECT ANSWER San Antonio was about halfway
between Los Adaes and Mexico, and had 5 missions and presidios.
- Road: El Camino Real.
Explain the Empresario system. Who was the first authorized empresario in Texas (hint: it was the
father, not the son). - CORRECT ANSWER Contractors who are granted land (named after
them) onto which the empresario encourages families to settle. Meeting settlement benchmarks
resulted in large lands being awarded to the empresario.
- Moses Austin (Father) was the first.
- His son, Stephen F. Austin was one of the only successful empresarios.
