Do you ever wonder why the Texans actually fought in the Civil War? In 1861,the Civil war took place. It was against the North and the South of the United States. Texans fought in the Civil War because they wanted to keep slavery, they wanted to keep their state’s rights, and because they loved Texas. One reason why Texans fought in the Civil War is because they wanted to keep slavery. On November 23, 1962, John Wesley Rabb, a Texan who fought in the Civil War, wrote in his letter, “If the Yanks come, maybe you had better send the negros up in the mountains….” (Doc D.) Rabb was trying to explain to his mother that if the Yanks came, she should send the slaves up the mountain to some place safe. This shows that the South wanted to keep their …show more content…
On January 28, 1861, O.M. Roberts, president of the Texas Secession Convention, said in a speech that, “The true theory of our (national) government as an association of sovereignties (independent states), and not a blended mass of people in one social compact.” (Doc C.) Roberts was trying to explain to the audience that states should be able to have rights, and not be a big bundle of people in one social compact. This shows that Texans fought in the Civil War to preserve states’ rights. Finally, Texans fought in the Civil War because they loved Texas. John Wesley Rabb, a Texan who fought in the Civil War for Texas, wrote in one of his excerpts, “Tell Lissy not to talk to me about marrying up here, for if I ever do marry it will be in Texas, i think.” (Doc D.) Rabb was trying to explain that if he ever did marry, he would want it to be in the sweet land of Texas. This shows that he loved Texas and I’m sure many other volunteers that fought in the Civil War loved Texas as well. If the Texans didn’t like Texas, why would they even bother to fight. There were many different reasons as to why the Texans fought in the Civil War. Just a few of them is that they wanted to preserve states rights, keep slavery, and because they loved Texas. This was why the Texans fought in the Civil War. Not all agreed, and not all got along, but together they managed to make
In the book, Apostles of Disunion, author Charles B. Dew opens the first chapter with a question the Immigration and Naturalization service has on an exam they administer to prospective new American citizens: “The Civil War was fought over what important issue”(4). Dew respond by noting that “according to the INS, you are correct if you offer either of the following answers: ‘slavery or states’ rights’” (4). Although this book provides more evidence and documentation that slavery was the cause of the Civil War, there are a few places where states’ rights are specifically noted. In presenting the findings of his extensive research, Dew provides compelling documentation that would allow the reader to conclude that slavery was indeed the cause for both secession and the Civil War.
In The article “Slavery, the Constitutional, and the Origins of the Civil War”, Paul Finkelman discusses some of the events that he believes lead the United States to have a Civil War. He discusses how both the North and the South territories of the Untied States did not see eye to eye when it came to ab...
A numerous amount of generals and soldiers of the south had a predisposed idea regarding what every person was fighting for, and from the looks of it, they were more so on the same page. When referring to what the war was being fought over, Englishmen Pickett used an analogy that gives reference to a “gentlemen’s club”, and not being able to maneuver out of it (Shaara 88). The men believed that the war conceived out of the misinterpretation of the constitution in regards to what or what not they had the right to do. In all, a large number of those fighting believed that the confederate army fought to protect the southern society, and slavery as an integral part of
The Union Army was able to match the intensity of the Confederacy, with the similar practice of dedication until death and patriotism, but for different reasons. The Union soldiers’s lifestyles and families did not surround the war to the extent of the Confederates; yet, their heritage and prosperity relied heavily on it. Union soldiers had to save what their ancestors fought for, democracy. “Our (Union soldiers) Fathers made this country, we, their children are to save it” (McPherson, 29). These soldiers understood that a depleted group of countries rather than one unified one could not flourish; “it is essential that but one Government shall exercise authority from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific” (Ledger, 1861).
wanted to fight for what they believed in. In fact, the reasons why Confederate and Union
The South was fighting against a government that they thought was treating them unfairly. They believed the Federal Government was overtaxing them, with tariffs and property taxes making their life styles even more expensive than they already had been. The North was fighting the Civil War for two reasons, first to keep the Nation unified, and second to abolish slavery. Abraham Lincoln, the commander and chief of the Union or Northern forces along with many other Northerners believed that slavery was not only completely wrong, but it was a great humiliation to America. Once can see that with these differences a conflict would surely occur, but not many had predicted that a full-blown war would breakout. One did and after three bloody and costly years for both sides we come to the date of July 1, 1863.
They knew slavery was illegal, but they brought them anyway. Texas welcomed them in if the Americans followed the laws(alamo, Background). They broke most of the laws. This evidence shows the U.S. was not justified in going to war because they disrespected the authority of Mexico. America was allowed to settle in Texas and they ignored everything they
Well before the beginning of the Civil War, Texas and some. of its surrounding territories were property of Spain just like its southern neighbor, Mexico. Soon after realizing their particular suppression by Spain, Mexico fought for, and won. independence from its mother country. Mexico now had control of their country and the territory of Texas.
The South argued that protecting the integrity of “States’ Rights” served as the primary justification for the Civil War. However, the idea of states rights is rooted in greed – in the effort to maintain or grow economic power. “States Rights” is defined as rights...
With Santa Anna moving to control Mexico, and taxes increasing, Texans grew restless and rowdy. A Texan, William B. Travis, and a small group of Texans attacked a squad of Mexican troops in Anahuac with the motive that “taxes should not thus be collected from them to support a standing army in their own country” (SOS 1) and soon drove them back. Travis retreated to San Felipe and was assisted by Bexar. Skirmishes and the threat of war with Mexico soon followed. Come 1835, the idea of independence was extremely popular within the territory of Texas.
The Annexation of Texas was one of the most debatable events in the history of the United States. This paper argues the different opinions about doing the annexation of Texas or not. In this case Henry Clay and John L. O’Sullivan had completely opposite opinions about this issue. The reasons of why not do it was because of the desire to prevent war, for division over slavery, and for constitutional rights. On the other hand, John L. O’ Sullivan wanted to do this because of his idea of Manifest Destiny. By 1845, the annexation of Texas went into effect.
The secession movement in Texas becomes a hotly debated topic as historians of the past and present, determine how the secessionists obtain enough power to overcome the government controlled Unionists? By researching primary and secondary sources, it becomes evident that following the 1859 Gubernatorial election the secessionists sought political and social power in Texas over the pro-Unionist. Evidence demonstrates that following the 1860 Presidential election; the secessionist achieved their goal of dominance over the Unionist. There exist several factors for secessionist success in defeating the Unionist in Texas. Following the annexation of Texas to the Union in 1845, the population tripled, with most of the population migrating
Before the Civil War, most Texans felt a strong attachment to the union they had joined in 1845. Concern arose because of attacks on southern lifestyles by Northern politicians would be detrimental to their prosperity. Although only five percent of Texans owned slaves, Texas citizens opposed interference with slavery because the success of Texas was dependent on it. Cotton production was the main source of the economy, and Texans would do anything to protect it and their way of life. Texas voted to secede from the union in February 1861 and joined the Confederate States of America. Governor Sam Houston declined to take an oath of allegiance to the new government; President Lincoln wanted to send troops to help support Houston
The third reason is that by entering Texas into the Union by a Joint Resolution the United States was able to gain not only land to add to its borders but the entire armament of the Texas Republic, added trade of cotton and other crops, and other economic ventures. The US did this without having to take in the national debt of Texas to add to the already large national debt of the United States. And Texas entered into the union so large that later down the road the United States could pay Texas to break apart into four other states. Thus creating four sovereign states out of one. Texas would use that money to pay off its national debt and set up an educational fund.
After the U.S. defeated Mexico they realized that Texas is free and that they shouldn't fight them anymore.