Unit 8 Chapter 15 Section 1 Texas Secession

Objective: What are the five causes of the Civil War Objective: What are the five causes of the Civil War? What was the new Southern nation called? How did Texas get involved? Where did the war start?

Cause #1: Sectionalism Prior to the Civil War, the United States was not really united. Our country was more like two separate countries sharing the same land. The North had industry (manufacturing), large cities, a diverse population, and favored the politics of the Republican party which supported the abolition of slavery. The South had an economy based on agriculture (farming), a plantation lifestyle, the views of the Democratic party, and supported the institution of slavery.

Cause #1: Sectionalism Southerners were especially loyal to their state, and their section of the country (i.e., the South). This idea is called sectionalism. The intense feelings of sectionalism further divided the country into two separate sections – the North and the South.

Sectionalism The two sections disagreed about Economics and Protective tariffs Slavery Nature of “Union” of States; States Rights vs. Perpetual Union

Issue 1: economics Industry Shipping Small farmers North Industry Shipping Small farmers Make own finished goods Want tariffs to protect industry

Issue 1: economics South Large plantations King cotton Many small farms Industry underdeveloped Import finished goods Dislike tariffs they hurt imports/exports

Cause #2: Slavery Slavery was concentrated in the South on large cotton plantations. There were 182,000 slaves in Texas in 1860. Only 5% of Texans owned slaves, because most people were poor. Slavery was a cause of the Civil War for two reasons: #1 – The South viewed slavery as a necessity to maintaining their economic wealth. Slaves had no rights and were considered property. However, many people in the North viewed slavery as evil and unconstitutional. #2 – Slavery was not just a moral issue but a political issue as well. The North feared the spread of slavery to new territories, which could cause an imbalance of power. If there were more slave states in the U.S., then the South would have more power in Congress. If there were more free states in the U.S., the North would have more power in Congress.

Issue 2: Slavery the "peculiar institution" North States outlawed by early 19th century. enslaved labor is competition Slaves might replace laborers South State laws protected slavery Economy depended on slave labor.

Cause #2: Slavery There was a growing movement of abolitionists, or people who wanted to end slavery. Many Northerners who were against slavery joined the new Republican Party. They were opposed by Southerners in the Democratic Party that supported slavery.

Cause #3: States’ Rights States’ rights is the idea that each state had the right to determine whether or not to follow federal laws. Southerners supported states’ rights, as opposed to federal control. They believed they had the right to own slaves and even secede, or withdraw, from the Union if they desired it. They argued that sovereignty, or supreme power, rested in the states. They also felt that any federal tax restricted the rights of the individual states.

South: States’ Rights Beliefs States had freely joined USA Union like a contract States could leave at will Rights of states supersede rights Federal Government Sorry USA State first! Hey, no fair

Cause #3: States’ Rights Northerners did not support states’ rights. They believed the national government had final power. The federal government had the power to make laws that applied to all states, including imposing tariffs (a tax on trade).

North: Perpetual Union Beliefs States made promise when joined USA Impossible to leave rights of Federal Government supersede rights of individual states Me first

Cause #4: Election of 1860 There were two main candidates for president of the United States in 1860. Republican Party – Abraham Lincoln Democratic Party – Stephen Douglas

No expansion of slavery! Lincoln’s 1860 election Southern perspective Republican unacceptable for Southern Democrats, stood against expansion of slavery This would ruin South’s economy. No expansion of slavery!

Cause #4: Election of 1860 When Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860, Southerners believed that their rights would no longer be respected. Southern leaders believed it was time to secede, or withdraw, from the Union. As a result, 6 states immediately voted to withdraw from the Union. Many Texans urged Governor Sam Houston to issue a call for a convention to consider the secession of Texas.

Cause #5: Secession On January 28, 1861, Texas leaders met in Austin at the Texas Secession Convention. The delegates quickly adopted a decree called the Ordinance of Secession. This ordinance, or local law, declared that the U.S. government had abused its power and Texas had the right to secede. On February 23, 1861, the people of Texas voted and approved secession. Texas became the 7th state to withdraw from the Union.

Cause #5: Secession At the Montgomery Convention, delegates from seceded states formed a new nation called the Confederate States of America. Under the Confederate Constitution, the states were given more power, and the federal government was given less. They selected Jefferson Davis as president of the CSA. A Texan, John H. Reagan, became postmaster general.

Cause #5: Secession Governor Sam Houston was opposed to secession. He was removed from his position because he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. Overall, 11 southern states seceded from the Union and joined the CSA. Abraham Lincoln viewed Southern secession as an unconstitutional act. He believed the Union was perpetual, or continuing forever. On April 12, 1861, Southern troops attacked Fort Sumter, a Union garrison off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. This was the first battle of the Civil War. No one was killed; as this was a “bloodless opening to the bloodiest war in American history.”

Secession Considered actions legal South Carolina seceded 1860. I'm outta here! Considered actions legal South Carolina seceded 1860. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas soon followed Wait we’re leaving, too!

April 12, 1861 Confederate troops open fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina

And attack fellow Southerners? To Arms!!!! Lincoln calls out militias Subdue uprising in South Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee seceded instead Volunteers To preserve the UNION!! And attack fellow Southerners? NEVER!!!!