In 1783, 13 states joined together to make “ a better union”. This alarmed Sam Houston because he believed that the Civil War would be a tragedy to the nation and a disaster to the South. Still, Texas became the seventh state to secede from the Union. The question is why did Texans fight in the Civil War? Why would they risk everything to protect their state? Texans fought in the Civil War because of their love for their state and family, to have state rights, and to preserve slavery. Texans fought for the love of their state and families. This was the main reason some of the 65,000 Texans fought in the war. Some boys as young as 13 fought in the war for their family and Texas. John Rabb was one of them. He was 23 years old and served in the war for 4 years to protect his family. He wrote letters to his family when he was serving as a Texas Ranger. “ Our army is still going on. We will retreat till we find a sutible plase in Ala. ( Document D) …show more content…
Texans needed state rights because they wanted to make their own decisions about stuff like slavery, and tariffs. They also wanted to have the right to leave the Union if they wanted to. O.M. Roberts, who was the president of the Texas Secession Conventions stated “ 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.” He also said “ The crisis upon us not only the right of self government, but the maintenance of a great principle in the law of notions.” ( Document C). The South needed to preserve their rights, because without them they wouldn't have as much
James K. Polk was one of many that felt extremely strong about Texas joining the Union. Silbey uses direct quotes from politicians gives a deeper outlook into Texas annexation. “That there is a large majority who would be glad to see Texas, in some way or another, united to this country, there can be no doubt.” (Silbey 81) Shortly after this widespread idea of Texas joining the country Congress was overwhelmed with bills to make Texas’s entry accomplished.
wanted to fight for what they believed in. In fact, the reasons why Confederate and Union
During the Antebellum Period, the Texas war for independence was a rebellion from the Mexican-American colonists who settled in Texas. Texas declared its independence from the republic of mexico in 1836 after Sam Houston and the Tejanos, plus the help from America defeated president Lopez De santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto. This came after the Mexican Army killed colonel James Fannin in the Goliad Massacre, and defeated Texas in the Battle of the Alamo killing American hero Jim Bowie. Texas’ Independence was a very important part to America's legacy because it allowed Texas to become to the 28th state of America. Three American heroes who led Texas to earn their independence were Jim Bowie, William Travis, and Sam Houston.
From being established as a Spanish colony to an independent nation to finally as a state within the United States, Texas, as it is named today, held its fair share of battles and conflicts on the way to how it is today. Most notably is The Texas Revolution in which the colony fought the recently independent Mexico to become its own republic. And the colony actually succeeded in doing so by issuing the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836 and later the Treaties of Velasco which on paper ended the fighting between Mexico and Texas.
Texas and California already had American influences which is a reason why America was justified in going to war with Mexico. Texas was about as American influenced as California with schools, courts, and mills (Document A). Texas was already alike United States so it was basically already apart of the country. Texas had slavery and was mostly protestant which is another reason why Mexico might have wanted it to be theirs but was not already (Document
The Texas Civil War was a major battle in Texas history. Some of the many people concerning Texas include John Reagan, Francis Lubbock, Thomas Green, John Magruder, and John Bell Hood. These significant individuals have made a huge mark in Texas history.
Texans fought in the civil war because they didn't want to lose slavery. The history of slavery in Texas began slowly, as the Spanish did not rely on it for labor during their years of control. The use of slavery expanded in the mid-nineteenth century as British-American settlers from the Southeastern United States crossed the Mississippi River and brought slaves with them. Although the Spanish colonists had held some slaves. They did not succeed in creating a sustainable agricultural economy in the entirety of New Spain, including Texas, Mexico, Central America, and other former Spanish territories in the American Southwest. Slavery was officially abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment which took effect on December 18, 1865. Slavery had been theoretically abolished by President Abraham
The Alamo, A battle in the Texas revolution. Won by the Mexicans under the control of General Antionio lòpez. This was a war in which boosted the Texans causing an overall victory at the end. Though there were many Mexicans and over 200 Texans killed, Texas saw its need to annex to the United States, Thus causing independence from Mexico, which will allow for no more wars. During the battle of the Alamo, roughly 200 men died fighting for Texas. and approximately 600 men died or wounded fighting for Mexico. In the end of the Texas Revolution, Texas got its independence from Mexico and annexed into US. Over the years (since at least 2000) much conflict has arose about wether the Mexicans should have a memorial at the scene of the Alamo, for
Even as President Anson Jones turned the leadership of Texas over to Governor James Henderson in 1846, the national issue of slavery was heating up. The ongoing debate had already split the country into North and South factions, the Southerners supporting not only slavery, but defending their established economy and way of life. The annexation of Texas as a slave state fueled the fire of abolitionists who were concerned slavery would continue west even as southerners welcomed the opportunity Texas provided to expand their “peculiar institution” (Howell 137,138). The early statehood of Texas was a one-way road paved with social, economic and political bricks forged in the institution of slavery that led inescapably
It is very clear that Texans supported slavery, were advocates for states’ rights, and were very passionate for Texas. These are probably the main reasons for Texans marching off into the Civil War. These also may have been the reasons why Texans stayed fighting the bloody battle of America. During the Civil War, the South and the North were enemies, but today, Texas can live up to it’s origins-Tejas; those who are
D. W. Griffith's film "Birth of a Nation" shows that the South fought the war not only to protect slavery, but also to preserve a whole culture, a way of life. Their wealth and identity belonged to the land they lived on. Southerners fought to protect sovereignty, pride, identity, and their decision to secede which was under attack by a despot - President Lincoln. Few of the southerners could give up their culture without a fight.
An individualistic political subculture relies on the marketplace, limited government role, and does not like the government intervening in peoples individual lifes. A traditionalistic political subculture view the role of government as maintaining traditional values. This two political subcultures truly identify Texas. A lot of the stuggles that African Texans faced can be because of the way that Texas people think. They are very traditional and like to stay true to their values and they certainly do not like change. Since back then a lot of the Texan citizens were pro slavery they weren’t very happy that African Americans were free so they did things like segregation laws to stop them from being completely free. Also the Individualistic trait of the government not being involved was a big part of why African Texans took to so long to gain their rights. White supremacy did not like the government making laws in favor of African Americans. I think also the conservative views that Texans have had to do a lot with white people not wanting any change in Texas, and they knew that if other races like African Americans were treated equally then that meant a lot of change was coming to Texas. They knew that new cultures and religions could be created and as a traditional, individualistic, and conservative state they don’t like new changed they like to stay traditional. The African Texans could also have different ideas, and they knew that if they let them get their rights easily Texas would no longer be going to be ran by their
Throughout the years people wondered why it is important to study Texas history and its events. One of the main events, people should study or have acknowledge of, is about The Texas revolution which has been the most significant event in Texas that initiated on October 2, 1835 and ended on April 21, 1836. The revolution allowed Texas to gain its independence from Mexico and its dictatorship. During the revolution they’re has been important events that mark this revolution, whether it’s the battles, the abolition of the federal constitution, and its influential leaders who led Texas to be an independent state.
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.
The American Civil War was a war of all wars, many soldiers died risking their lives in the strong pride that they had for their cause. But the real question is why would someone want to put their lives on the line and volunteer to be apart of such a gruesome war? Many people might say they did it in pride, but we might never know the true reason. Where reasons similar between the Union and the Confederate soldiers for joining e war. When signing up for war most knew that