The first Constitutional Convention began its work by declaring Texas' independence from Mexico, writing a new constitution and electing the first leaders.

A committee of five delegates, all signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, was selected and their choice for a design for a new flag was approved by the entire convention on May 11th, 1836.

The elegant design was the work of Lorenzo de Zavala, the most accomplished statesman among the delegates. Interestingly, Zavala, a native of Spain, had served as Mexico's Secretary of the Treasury, Minister to Paris and as President of the Constituent Congress in 1824 before siding with the Texans.

Selecting a flag for the new republic had been on the minds of the delegates and the people of Texas for some time. Four months earlier, before his capture and execution by the Mexicans after the battle of Coleto, Colonel Fannin had written:

"Give us a flag to fight under, as unlike theirs as possible. We need one and have nothing [here] to make it of, and hope the Convention will furnish one in time to hoist it in defiance of Santa Anna."