It's no secret that we Texans are full of state pride, and for good reason - those who came before us fought tooth and nail for our independence. If you've ever wondered exactly how Texas became a state (or forgot some of the details from history class), here is the fascinating story.

The story of Texas' statehood can be traced back to 1821, when Mexico first won independence from Spain.

In addition to present-day Mexico, the country also included the territories we now know as California, New Mexico...and Texas.

At first, Mexican Texas was home to very few people.

Residents of the state began recruiting people from the U.S. to come settle there, and by 1830, there were some 7,000 U.S. "transplants" living in Texas.

Stephen F. Austin can be largely thanked for the success of the recruiting campaign. His father received a large land grant from the Mexican government, and he began selling plots to American settlers.

Things were not all sunshine and roses, however. Many of these U.S. settlers grew unhappy with the strict regulatory laws they had to follow while living in Mexican Texas, including (but not limited to) converting to Roman Catholicism, filing legal documents in Spanish, and ending slavery (after Mexico abolished it in 1829).

Eventually, these tensions between Texas and the Mexican government reached a boiling point, and Texas called for independence.

As a result, the Mexican government sent Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his troops into the territory in an effort to take back control. U.S.-bred Texans and Tejanos (Texans of Spanish origin) banded together to fight for independence in the bloody and infamous Battle of the Alamo, which took place in March 1836.

Santa Anna's army of 5,000 killed nearly 200 Texas soldiers. The next month, former Tennessee senator Sam Houston led a counterattack, known as the Battle of San Jacinto, which finally saw Santa Anna's forces defeated.

The Mexican leader was forced to recognize Texas independence, and from 1836 to 1845, Texas was a country all its own: the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston served as the first and third president of the country.

In December 1845, Texas became a part of the U.S. when it was officially admitted as the 28th state.

Did you know how Texas became a state? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! If you want to represent Texas no matter where you are, Etsy has tons of handmade, Texas-themed gifts and trinkets for any occasion.