1. Slavery and State’s Rights
Two Main Causes for the Civil War
Ch. 17 Sect Ch. 18 Sect. 1

2. Brought during the exploration and colonial eras in History.
Arrival of Slaves in U.S.
Brought during the exploration and colonial eras in History.

3. Slave Labor
Many families were split up due to the slave trade, and in the South slaves were given NO human rights
On large plantations vs. Towns
Plantations- everyone worked in the fields, picked an average of 150 to 200 lbs of cotton a DAY!
Towns- helped to build the state’s transportation system (roads, rails, docks, etc.)
Men v. Women
Men did heaviest work. Examples: plowing, built and repaired the farm, dug and cleaned ditches, and hauled wood
Women worked as cooks, laundresses, seamstresses
Slaves made up 20% of Texas’s population by 1850

4. Day in the Life of a Slave
Worked 6 days a week
Most had Sundays off but had to have 2nd jobs for food, clothing, etc.
Meals
Breakfast: corn bread, coffee, bacon
Lunch and Dinner: corn, bacon, and pork
Housing and Clothes
Small cabins/huts
Made of rough, cheap fabrics, never fit properly
Leisure Time
Very rare!
Held dances, hung with family, sang church songs
Music and Religion were VERY IMPORTANT!

5. Abolitionist--Someone Who OPPOSED Slavery
There were SOME abolitionists in Texas (mainly Mexican and European Americans)
They opposed slavery for many reasons:
Mainly moral and religious reasons
Disapproved of owning other humans
Against cruel treatment of slaves
Some believed slavery was bad for the economy (didn’t want to focus only on agriculture and as agriculture grew so did slavery!)
Abolitionists were NOT popular in Texas since the majority of the state wanted to keep slavery (mainly Anglo Texans)

6. State’s Rights
Cause #2
States argued that conflicts should be resolved by STATE’S choice not FEDERAL choice.
Sectionalism (1 side vs. the other) was growing over tariffs (taxes wanted by the North, hated by the South), slavery and the addition of territory and people to the U.S.

7. Kansas Nebraska Act Passed in 1854
Allowed citizens in Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide whether to be free or slave
Many people were angry because this violated the Missouri Compromise which said that there would be no slavery north of the longitude line
Houston was one of the only Southern senators to vote against this act. (Texans didn’t agree with his vote!!)

8. KS/NE Act says that citizens can vote on slavery above line that was drawn in Missouri Compromise

9. Dred Scott Decision 1857 ruling from the Supreme Court
Said African Americans were NOT citizens and couldn’t sue in federal court
Ruled Congress couldn’t ban slavery in any federal territory
**Sectional tensions (North v. South, Free v. Slave) are very high! War is close!**

10. Confederates v. Unionists
Confederates (The South)
Started when South Carolina seceded from the Union after Lincoln was elected
Group of 11 states. Texas was the 7th state to join on March 2, 1861.
Was a great example of sovereignty--the people elected a president, wrote a constitution, etc.
Economy: dominated by slave-based cotton production
Unionists (The North)
People who wanted to stay in the union and work out the differences over slavery
Only about 25% of people in the south supported the Union
Sam Houston was a Unionist
Economy: industry and factories

12. 1861’s First 100 Days
The delegates at the Convention vote to adopt an ordinance (executive order) for secession 166 to 8.
Texas becomes the 7th state to secede and join the Confederate States of America.
Jan. 28, 1861
Feb. 23, 1861
Feb. 1, 1861
TX hold another Convention. They discuss secession (leaving the Union)
The Texas people vote to secede 46,153 to 14,747.
Mar. 2, 1861
1st conflict will happen at Fort Sumter (South Carolina) in April 1861.