The Civil War

Issues that Divide the Country For years (1850s), the North and South disagreed on issues such as tariffs; distribution of public lands; states’ rights and above all slavery.

Issues that Divide the Country Abolitionists wanted to end slavery. Not all of the Northern whites shared this view and many were prejudice to African Americans: both free and enslaved. Most did not want slavery to spread to new territories.

Republican Party vs. Southern Democrats Northerners who were against slavery joined the Republican Party. They also believed that the Southern Democrats were responsible for the economic depression of the late 1850s. The Republican Party thought that prosperity could be brought back by a high tariff, a homestead act, and internal improvement.

Republican Party vs. Southern Democrats Southerners were against the Republican Party because they thought it would end slavery and their way of life.

Southern States Vow to Secede During the 1860 presidential campaign, Southern leaders threatened to secede from the Union if a Republican won the election. They said that sovereign states had entered the Union voluntarily, and they should leave it voluntarily.

Southern States Vow to Secede The Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 presidential election, six states (South Carolina, Miss., Fl., Ala., Geo., and Lou.) withdrew from the Union.

The Convention Votes on Secession Governor Sam Houston opposed seceding and wanted to stay in the Union. A convention was called illegally without his knowledge to see about withdrawing.

The Convention Votes on Secession Houston found out and called a special session, but the legislature voted for secession. In February 1861, Texas became the 7th state to leave the Union.

The Confederacy is Formed The 7 states met in Montgomery, Alabama. This is known as the Montgomery Convention.

The Confederacy is Formed There they created a new nation, the Confederate States of America. (11 states total)

The Confederacy is Formed They also drew up a new constitution that gave the states much more power than the federal government. Jefferson Davis was elected President.

The Confederacy is Formed All members of the Confederacy were supposed to take an oath. Sam Houston refused and was removed from office.

The Confederacy is Formed On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces opened fire on U.S. troops at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, starting the Civil War.

Fort Sumter

Texans Become Soldiers Thousands of Texans joined the army. When there was a shortage of soldiers, the Confederate Congress passed the Conscription Act. This forced enrollment of people into military service between the ages of 18 to 35. Later this number was 17 to 50.

Texans Become Soldiers About 60,000 Texans joined the armed forces of the Confederacy

Texans Become Soldiers Those Texans who were Unionists, meaning favored the Union, left Texas. Some that tried to leave were killed. If they stayed, they ran the risk of being executed.

Comparison of Union and CSA[120] Total population 22,000,000 (71%) 9,000,000 (29%) Free population 21,567,414 5,500,000 1860 Border state slaves 432,586 NA 1860 Southern slaves 3,500,000 Soldiers 2,200,000 (67%) 1,064,000 (33%) Railroad miles 21,788 (71%) 8,838 (29%) Manufactured items 90% 10% Firearm production 97% 3% Bales of cotton in 1860 Negligible 4,500,000 Bales of cotton in 1864 300,000 Pre-war U.S. exports 30% 70%

Union Strategy

Galveston and Brownville Union ships created a blockade around Texas ports to prevent supplies from getting in or out. Cotton was transported through Mexico and sent to Europe for war materials.

Galveston and Brownville The Union forces took Galveston because it was so weakly defended since all guns had been removed. The Confederates new how important this port was and retook Galveston.

Galveston and Brownville The Union also took Brownsville to try to block the trade of cotton through Mexico. The Confederates retook Brownville much like Galveston.

Other Battles In 1863, the Union tried to invade Texas. The Confederates defeated them at the Battle of Sabine. This battle was important because it ended the North’s campaign to invade Texas. The Confederates also defeated the Union in Louisiana, near the Texas border.

The Economy Farmers and factories made things for the war causing shortages in Texas. This caused women to pick up the slack and do jobs that men had done in the past.

The Economy Prices on goods increased because goods were scarce due to the blockade.

The Civil War Ends In April of 1865, the South surrendered to the more powerful North. The North had more soldiers, more money, and more factories.

Civil War Graphs                                                                                                                by Wayne                                                                                                                     by Darrielle                                                                                                                  by George                                                                                                               

The Civil War Ends General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia.

The Civil War Ends The last battle of the Civil War took place in May 1865, at Palmito Ranch, near Brownsville. The Confederate forces defeated the Union forces. The Confederate soldiers then learned that Lee had surrendered a month earlier and the war was over.

The Civil War Ends Nearly 600,000 Northerners and Southerners died.

The Civil War Ends The North’s victory meant the Union was preserved and an end to slavery. President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all the slaves in confederate states. (13th Amendment abolished slavery and was ratified in late 1865)

The Civil War Ends President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth five days after Lee’s surrender.

The Civil War Ends Texas government officials fled to Mexico leaving Texas lawless for some weeks. Eventually, President Andrew Johnson put in a provisional governor. Now Texas faced the problem of rejoining the Union.