Why is Texas called the "lonestar" state?

Hope this helps

“The Lone Star State: Perhaps one of the most recognized nicknames of any state, “The Lone Star State” comes from the symbolism of the star on the 1836 flag of the republic, the “National Standard of Texas.” The single golden star on a blue background signified Texas as an independent republic and was a reminder of the state’s struggle for independence from Mexico. The “Lone Star” can be found on the Texas State Flag and on the Texas State Seal today.”

Wow. I’ve lived in Texas my whole life and I never bothered to find that out. I’m sure we must have covered it in Texas History class, but I never paid attention. It was Texas History class. Plus, I found out later that the guys who died at the Alamo were piled up in front of the mission and Santa Anna forbade their friends or family to touch the bodies for a year. What a douche. Who wants to walk around knowing such horrible things?

All you have to do is look at the Texas flag to know where the term “Lone Star” comes from.

Because they brew Lone Star beer there, duh!
http://beer.fishtownbriefcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/lone-star-2.jpg

Whenever I see the Texas flag and that 1 star it makes me feel like they don’t wanna recognize any of the rest of the states. I would have never guess the nickname came AFTER the flag, always thought it was the other way around.

I’m not sure why someone would assume that the single star means they don’t want to recognize other states. I’m not aware of any other state flags that were designed to recognize other states. Odd… And on a related note, the flags in the south that are similar to the confederate flag are not an attempt to hang on to the confederacy. Those states had their flags before the Civil War, and I don’t understand people thinking they should dump their flags because they lost the war. Strange the false assumptions people can make about states based on the designs of their flags.

Various states have interesting mottos that they use to define themselves, but I really doubt that any of them are trying to put down other states with their nickname, motto or flag. Mostly they are just trying to build their own sense of pride.

Some interesting nicknames include Inland Empire (Illinois), Lizard State (Alabama), Cowboy State (Wyoming, not Texas), Plantation State (Rhode Island, which is trying to change its name to drop the word Plantation), Native America (Oklahoma), A vale of humility between two mountains of conceit (North Carolina – now isn’t that a bit rude to Virginia and South Carolina?), and Empire State of the South (Georgia).

In terms of mottos, there is Alabama (We dare defend our rights) which a paranoid person could interpret as being willing to attack other states, Massachusetts (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty), and Virginia (Thus always to tyrants). OTOH Texas’ motto is “Friendship.”

Texas had its flag when it was an independent republic. Why can’t it keep it?

I was taught that Texas is the only state that was at one time its own country.

@marcosthecuban – Then unfortunately you were taught incorrectly. Texas, California, Vermont and Hawaii were all independent countries before becoming states (although California was only independent for a few days).

yeah, but to a texan those other states don’t count:)

I am a Texan.

@Darwin ok, i meant a texan that went to public school.

What makes you think I didn’t go to public school?

Isn’t it because we fought for our own freedom and earned our own star?

All 50 of the United States are like small independent countries. It’s why we’re called “The United States of America.” And we’re all united under a single banner that has 50 stars, one for each state. Texas, the “Lone Star State”, has a single star on it’s flag.
Before the Civil War, one could hear the diversity in people’s speech. One saying he was a Texan, another saying he was a New Yorker, and another saying he was a Floridian, and so on with each state being an independent body. After the war is when we all truly became “Americans.”