6. The Civil War and Texas 2

Texans in the Civil War

• Essential Question: What is the impact of the Civil War on Texas?

Secession

• Definition: When part of a country breaks away or leaves to start a new country.

• Key Concepts Surrounding Secession:

  • Issues with secession include the fear of breakaway republics and historical precedents of secession.

  • Notable modern movements or instances that draw parallels include:

    • Texas Secession Movement: Belief that Texas' annexation by the US in 1845 was illegal; 15% of Texans supported secession according to a 2010 survey.

    • Alaskan Independence Party: Prominent figures like Sarah Palin participated.

    • Republic of Lakota: Declared unilateral withdrawal from treaties with the US in 2007.

    • Cascadia Movement: A movement spanning parts of the US and Canada based on shared ecology.

    • Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement: Claims the illegal overthrow of the Queen in 1893.

    • League of the South: A Confederate movement seeking to preserve Southern culture.

Combatants in the Civil War

• North (Union):

  • Known as Yankees or Yanks.

  • Led by President Abraham Lincoln.

• South (Confederate):

  • Known as Rebels.

  • Led by President Jefferson Davis.

Military Conscription

• April 16, 1862: The Conscription Act passed by Confederate Congress requiring men ages 18-35 to serve.

• Initially, about 25,000 Texans volunteered to fight could not meet subsequent needs; over 70,000 Texans served due to the Act.

• Despite opposition to secession, support for the Confederacy grew once the war commenced.

Texas Infantry and Cavalry

• Approximately two-thirds of Texan soldiers were in cavalry, benefiting from their horseback lifestyle.

• Hood's Brigade: Notable infantry unit, initially 3,500 strong, ended with around 600 soldiers by war's end due to casualties.

Soldier Casualties

• Of the 700,000 soldiers who died in the Civil War, two-thirds died from disease or infection.

• Benjamin Franklin Terry’s Texas Rangers: A cavalry force that fought actively throughout the war, provided own equipment and horses.

Union Support in Texas

• Over 2,000 Texan Unionists joined the Union Army, facing danger and persecution for their beliefs. Some were forced into Confederate service.

Important Battles in Texas

• Key battles included those at Galveston, Sabine Pass, and Palmito Ranch.

• Galveston was strategically important, changing hands multiple times due to Union blockades.

Union Blockade Strategy

• The Union's three-part strategy:

  1. Blockade Southern ports to cripple the economy.

  2. Capture the vital Mississippi River, cutting the Confederacy in two.

  3. Use the Mississippi River for simultaneous attacks on the Confederacy.

Economic Impact on Texas

• The war severely disrupted Texas’ cotton trade due to Union blockades.

• A temporary boom in the cattle industry occurred as beef became essential for Confederate supplies.

Social Impact on Texas

• Emancipation of slaves led to significant changes in labor relations and increased racial tension during Reconstruction.

Political Impact on Texas

• Texas was forced to reconvene under Union control with strict Reconstruction policies, causing political instability.

Environmental Impact on Texas

• Deforestation occurred due to increased timber usage for war, significantly affecting Texas's woodlands.