1. Texas ponders which side to enter the Civil War on.

2. Federalism/ Popular Sovereignty
Federalism- a system of government where the power is shared among the Central Government and the states.
Texans debated the issues of Sectionalism and State’s Rights as reasons for either staying with the Union, or leaving with the other Southern States.
Popular Sovereignty- Letting the people of a country or a state vote to decide what’s best.

3. Sectionalism Meeting the needs of one’s own state.
Consists of agriculture, politics, population, Slavery and location.
Texas identified with the South because they were Agrarian, voted for Democrats, had a small population and supported Slavery.
Sectionalism- was a reason for Texas to join the South in the Civil War.

4. State’s Rights
The belief that the federal government should not interfere with a state’s constitutional powers.
Texas is affected by the State’s Rights issue concerning Slavery.
Texas will be forced to take a stand after the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
State’s Rights became a reason for Texas to join the South in the Civil War.

5. Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854 Senator Douglas enters a bill stating that this territory will use Popular Sovereignty (the people will decide), whether or not slavery will exist here.
The problem: Slavery was outlawed in this territory!!
The people of Kansas vote against slavery;
Slave owners revolted and 200 people will be killed in what’s known as, “Bleeding Kansas.”

6. Should Texas Secede from the Union?
In 1860 Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States, forcing 12 Southern states to secede from the the Union.
Sam Houston was fired as Governor of Texas for refusing to accept Texas seceding from the Union.
Texans felt they should secede because they were not receiving protection from the Union on the western front, and the Union did not support Slavery.
A Secession Convention convened and Texans used Popular Sovereignty (people voted) to leave the Union in 1861.

7. The States in Black Secede from the Union in 1861.