Texas During the Civil War and Reconstruction PDF

Texas During the Civil War and Reconstruction  A Divided Nation Since the founding of the United States, the American people had been divided over many issues. Three topics created the most tension: ○ Slavery ○ Tariffs ○ Sectionalism ...

Texas During the Civil War and Reconstruction  A Divided Nation Since the founding of the United States, the American people had been divided over many issues. Three topics created the most tension: ○ Slavery ○ Tariffs ○ Sectionalism  Slavery The issue of slavery greatly divided the North and the South. The economy of the South was based on plantation agriculture. The North’s economy was based on small farms and industry. At the founding of our country in 1776, slavery was everywhere. However, during the 1800’s most northern states had banned the practice.  Slavery and the Republican Party In the 1850’s, a new political party arose mainly in the North, the Republican Party. Republicans were anti slavery. Southerners feared that if Republicans took control of the government, they would try to end slavery everywhere.  Tariffs and Sectionalism Republicans supported raising tariffs (taxes on imported goods) ○ Why do you think Republicans would want to raise tariffs? Southerners hated tariffs. Why? ○ Tariffs promote American businesses. It also raised prices. States rights was another major issue for Southerners. Southern states did not want the federal government telling them what to do. (Particularly when it came to slavery)  The Compromise of 1850 Southerners were concerned about growing abolition movements in America and wanted a strong fugitive slave law. After the Mexican Cession, California in 1849 applied to become a free state. This would upset the balance of power in the Senate A compromise was made to try and appease both sides. After each part, do you think the North or South was happy? why? ○ California would become a free state ○ Washington D.C. banned the slave trade ○ New Mexico and Utah territories would have popular sovereignty. (The people vote on whether to allow slavery or not) ○ The Fugitive Slave Law was strengthened  The Kansas Nebraska Act 1854 The nation wanted to build a transcontinental railroad to California. But, should it start in the North or South? Why do you think it mattered? (Hint: slavery…) We couldn’t build a railroad through an unorganized territory (LA Purchase territory). What's the solution? Organize it! However, both the North and South would have to agree…  The Kansas Nebraska Act 1854 Stephen Douglas, a senator from Illinois proposed turning the unorganized territory into Kansas and Nebraska to build the railroad. Why would the South agree to this? What do you think they want in return?  The Kansas Nebraska Act 1854 Can we add slavery to the Louisiana territory? Technically no, but we can make a new agreement. The north agrees to allow Kansas and Nebraska to have popular sovereignty. Supporters of both sides rush to Kansas. When elections happened only 1,500 people lived in Kansas. 6,000 voted. Pro slavery won and it led to violence in the region. When slavery proponents attacked Lawrence, KS the territory was nicknamed Bleeding Kansas!  Dred Scott v Sandford 1857 Dred Scott was a slave from Missouri who traveled with his owner to live in Illinois & Wisconsin, both free areas. Later, after returning to Missouri, Scott’s master died. Scott sued his master’s widow for his freedom. He argued he had lived in a free state, so he should be considered free. Do you agree? Why or why not?  Dred Scott v Sandford 1857 NO! Dred Scott was not free because the court ruled… ○ Slaves cannot sue for their freedom because they are property ○ Slaves are not citizens of the US and have no legal rights under the Constitution ○ Congress could not stop a slave owner from moving his slaves to a new territory, even if it's free…THIS IS HUGE! ○ Slavery is now legal in all federal territory! The NORTH IS MAD!  John Brown’s Raid 1859 John Brown was a white abolitionist who believed the only way to end slavery was through violence. He was involved in the killing of 5 men in Bleeding Kansas Brown wanted to lead a slave revolt through the South and destroy slavery once and for all.  John Brown’s Raid 1859 John Brown attacked a munitions depot in Harpers Ferry, Virginia in Oct. 1859. He captured weapons and began his slave revolt. Brown’s raid ended up being a failure and he was arrested for treason. John Brown was found guilty and sentenced to death. The Election of 1860 The country was divided over the issue of slavery. Abraham Lincoln is elected President despite not winning any southern state. Southerners fear that Lincoln will try and take away there slaves. South Carolina and a contingent of southern states secede from the USA. The Confederate States of America is formed.  Student Activity Use the slideshow and the web to research the different causes of the Civil War that we have covered. Draw a spectrum ranging from greatest impact to least impact. Place the causes listed below along the spectrum to indicate your evaluation of their impact. Write a justification for each of your placements along the spectrum as well as an illustration for each item. ○ Texas Annexation ○ The Compromise of 1850 ○ The Kansas Nebraska Act ○ Dred Scott v Sanford ○ John Brown’s Raid ○ The Election of 1860  Texas Secession When Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, many southerners and Texans believed their way of life was in danger. Rather than waiting for Lincoln to end slavery, southern states had a decision to make. Should we stay in the USA or secede from the Union? By 1861, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana had all seceded from the union. Texas had a difficult decision to make!  Texas Secession Houston tried to stop the convention from happening, but failed. The convention declared that Texas had the right to secede from the union and organized a statewide vote. On February 23, 1861, the people of Texas approved secession from the Union by a vote of 46, 153 to 14, 747. Texas was joining the Confederacy!  Confederate States of America Texas sent 7 delegates to Montgomery, Alabama to help organize the new government. The convention created a new Constitution that gave more power to individual states rather than the federal government. The convention also made sure to protect slavery! Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis John H. Reagan John H. Reagan from Texas was elected postmaster general.  Sam Houston in Trouble After joining the Confederacy, the Texas Secession Convention ordered all state officials to pledge and oath of allegiance to the Confederate States. Governor Sam Houston refused because he had already swore an oath to the United States. The convention removed Sam Houston from office. Edward Clark, the Lt. Governor was sworn in as the new Governor of Texas. Edward Clark  The First Shots of the Civil War The first shots of the war were at Fort Sumter South Carolina Lincoln attempted to resupply the fort after South Carolina’s secession from the USA. South Carolina fired upon the fort and won the first victory of the war.  North vs South 22 states 11 states 23,000,000 population 10,000,000 ○ includes 4 million slaves Industrial economy Agricultural economy ○ Exports, not food Majority of transportation Limited manufacturing and Lincoln, a military novice. railroad lines. ○ Asks Robert E. Lee to Jefferson Davis, military command Union troops and experience. ○ Better military leaders Lee declines Belief war is about states Belief war is about slavery rights, independence and preserving their way of life. and preserving the Union.  Lincoln vs Davis Born in Kentucky Self-educated Born in Kentucky Congressman from Illinois Served as Secretary of War Senator from Mississippi Abolitionist Slave owner First President of the Republican Served as Secretary of State Party First and only President of the CSA  Confederate Strategies Delay, delay, delay! Davis wanted to fight a defensive war.(Why do you think he wanted to do this?) The hope was that the North would get tired of fighting and quit. Recruit the British or French to help because they wanted southern cotton. Jefferson Davis Robert E. Lee  The Civil War: Texas After the battle at Fort Sumter, the Civil War officially begins. About 25,000 Texans volunteered to fight at the beginning. Jefferson Davis was desperate for more soldiers. The Confederate Congress passes the Conscription Act. The law required all men between 18-35 years of age to serve in the armed forces. About 70,000 Texans would either volunteer or be drafted into the Confederate army.  Supporting the Confederacy About 25% of Texans opposed secession. However, once the war begins, most supported the Confederacy. About two-thirds of the Texan soldiers were in the cavalry. Texas lifestyles that included hours on horseback prepared them well for this. Two well-known fighting units for the Confederacy came from Texas. ○ Hood’s Brigade ○ Terry’s Texas Rangers  Union Strategies Aggressive offensive to crush rebels! War of attrition: North has more soldiers… Anaconda Plan: Control major rivers and blockade southern ports. War Goals: First, Preserve the Union. Second: Abolish Slavery  Hood’s Brigade Hood’s Brigade was considered as one of the Confederacy’s leading infantry units. Hood’s Brigade was led by Brigadier General John Bell Hood. The unit fought in most of the major battles in the East under Robert E. Lee. Hood’s Brigade had high casualties. They started the war with roughly 3,500 soldiers and even with recruits during the fighting, the Brigade only had 600 soldiers left when the war was over.  Terry’s Texas Rangers Terry’s Texas Rangers was a cavalry force. The Rangers were assembled and led by Benjamin Franklin Terry. Each soldier provided his own firearm, a Bowie knife, and blanket. Horses were provided for the fighters. Terry died in 1861 but the Rangers fought through the end of the war, mostly in Tennessee.  Support for the Union Most Texans supported the Confederacy but some supported the Union. Those supporting the North were known as Unionists. Over 2,000 Texan Unionists joined the Union army. Mexicans and African Americans generally supported the North. Milton M. Holland was an African American from Texas who was awarded the Medal of Honor for the USA, the United States highest military award.  The Battle of Galveston In 1862, the Union had successfully blockaded the ports of Texas. Texans used slave labor to build fortifications along the shoreline. However, in October of 1862, a Union fleet sailed into Galveston harbor and easily overcame the Confederates and the city surrendered. Losing Galveston was a huge blow to the people of Texas. They knew they had to retake the city.  The Battle of Galveston General John B. Magruder commanded the Confederate forces in Texas. Magruder wanted Galveston back. Magruder gathered infantry, cavalry, and gunboats in preparation. The gunboats called Bayou City and Neptune were loaded with cotton bales to absorb enemy fire. They were nicknamed cottonsides. On January 1, 1863 the Confederacy defeated the Union and reclaimed Galveston until the end of the war.  Battle of Sabine Pass Union forces hoped to gain access to Texas by capturing Sabine Pass, where the Sabine River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Union attempted to conquer Fort Griffin, built by the Confederates at Sabine Pass. During the assault on Fort Griffin, Confederate guns fired on Union gunboats. Several ships were damaged and 350 Union prisoners were taken. The Union retreated and Sabine Pass remained in Confederate control.  Texas Home Front During the Civil War After secession, Edward Clark replaced Sam Houston as Governor. Clark would later be replaced by Francis R. Lubbock. Lubbock was a lifelong Democrat and was elected in 1861 as a pro confederacy candidate. When Lubbock’s term ended in 1863, he joined the Confederate army and Francis R. Lubbock Pendleton Murrah was replaced by Pendleton Murrah who served as governor of Texas until the end of the war.  Women in the War Effort Many of the Texan men were sent off to war so the women were left behind to take care of the home. Women, children, and slaves did most of the farm work in Texas during the war. Women also looked out for each other. Rosanna Osterman turned her Galveston mansion into a hospital for wounded soldiers returning from war. Rosanna Osterman  Supplying the Army The economy of Texas changed during the war. Shortages of war supplies and foodstuffs, among other basic necessities, influenced how farmers and industries did their work. Most of the supplies the Confederacy needed had to be made by the Confederate states who did not have much industry. Small factories in Austin and Tyler were opened to help manufacture weapons and ammunition for the war. In Austin, the Ladies’ Needle Battalion sewed uniforms and other items for the soldiers.  Texans Face Shortages Cloth was a major problem. Despite having lots of cotton, cloth had primarily been manufactured in the North. Women in the South started making course loose fitting fabric called homespun. Foodstuffs such as flour were in short supply. Farmers in the South were asked to start planting corn and wheat instead of cash crops. Salt! There was no refrigeration during this time and salt was used to preserve food. With a lack of salt, lots of meat spoiled and made people sick. Newspapers stopped printing due to a shortage of paper. Medicine was in short supply and everything went to the army. Disease spread rapidly amongst the southern population.  Surrender at Appomattox Court House 1865 Overall, the Confederacy struggled throughout the Civil War. After several devastating losses for the Confederacy, General Grant (Union) asked General Lee (Confederacy) to surrender in 1865. Lee seeing his soldiers starving, divided, and surrounded by the Union, finally agreed and met General Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia.  The Battle of Palmito Ranch Despite the surrender of the Confederacy, some Southern soldiers wished to keep fighting. Nearly a month after Lee’s surrender, General Edmund Kirby Smith declared his intention to keep fighting. Smith commanded all Confederate troops west of the Mississippi River including in Texas. As a result of Smith continuing the fight, the last battle of the Civil War took place in Texas. General Edmund Kirby Smith  The Battle of Palmito Ranch Union forces in Brazos Island believed the Confederacy was pulling out of Brownsville and sent soldiers to investigate. They were wrong. A small skirmish ensued while reinforcements headed to the area for both sides. The Battle of Palmito Ranch happened on May 13, 1865. The battle was a draw until the Confederate cavalry arrived to swing it in favor of the Southerners. More than 100 Union soldiers were taken prisoner. A few days after the battle Confederate governors advised General Smith to stop fighting. He complied and the last battle of the war was at Palmito Ranch.  Texas and Reconstruction After the war, the South was devastated with damage and needed to be rebuilt or reconstructed. Texas did not host any major battles during the war and had not been invaded so they did not need to rebuild like many states. The biggest issue for Texas was the debt accrued and hurt feelings amongst the people who either supported or did not support the Confederacy.  Two Presidential Plans for Reconstruction President Lincoln created the “10% Plan” to readmit southern states back into the Union. When 10% of a state’s voters had taken an oath of loyalty, the state could form a new government and return to the Union. However, Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 and President Johnson would institute a similar but softer plan for Reconstruction. States could rejoin the Union after doing three things: ○ Each state had to nullify its act of secession. Andrew Johnson ○ Acknowledge that the U.S. government would not pay southern debt. ○ Ratify the 13th amendment abolishing slavery.  Slavery Ends in Texas Reconstruction began in Texas in June 1865. General Gordon Granger from the Union arrived in Galveston to take control of the state and begin the process of General Gordon readmitting Texas back to the Union. Granger Granger’s first order was to announce that all enslaved Texans were free. By the end of 1865, 250,000 slaves had been set free in Texas.  The Freedmen's Bureau The purpose of the Freedmen’s Bureau was to help freed slaves start a new life. It opened schools for black people, provided clothes, medicine, food and housing. By 1870 there were more than 100 African American schools in Texas.  Texas Government Restored Rather than write a whole new Constitution, the Constitutional Convention of Texas decided to amend their old Constitution. These amendments were important. They did several things. ○ Nullified secession ○ Abolished slavery However, the Constitution of 1866 did not grant African Americans Texans equal rights. African Americans were free and could own property but they could not ○ Vote ○ Hold public office ○ Serve on juries ○ Testify in court  Radical Reconstruction President Johnson and Congress wanted to maintain control of reconstruction in the South by creating military districts. These military districts would rule over the states until they met certain requirements. ○ Ratify the 14th amendment (Equal Rights and due process of law) ○ Ratify the 15th amendment (Guaranteed African American men the right to vote) General Charles Griffin was in charge of Texas during this time. He had control of the entire state including Governor Throckmorton. Governor Throckmorton complained to President Johnson about this arrangement and he was removed from office. Throckmorton was replaced by Governor Elisha Pease.  African Americans Out to Vote! Freedmen across the state worked to register as many African Americans as they could to vote. By 1868, 50,000 freedmen had been registered. Some white Texans tried to stop African Americans from voting and many joined a new organization called the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan was a group to fight back against African American equality. Most Klan violence in Texas was in the northeast. People were beaten, shot, and murdered. Homes, schools, and crops were burned.  Writing a New Constitution…Again In 1868, Texans elected delegates to a new constitutional convention. In February 1869, the convention released the new Constitution of 1869. The Constitution stated: ○ No one could be prevented from voting because of race or color. ○ Allowed freedmen to hold office and attend public schools. ○ Strengthened public education. Edmund J. Davis won the Governor seat in 1869. The state legislator quickly ratified the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments and had now met all requirements to rejoin the Union! Governor Edmund J. Davis