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Life in the State of Texas 1851–1860

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284-285_COTXSE_4_13_p 11/18/02 9:41 AM Page 284 Life in the State of Texas 1851–1860 SECTION 1 How Texans Lived SECTION 2 The Changing Face of Texas VIEW THE Texas on Tape SECTION 3 Slavery and Politics in Texas CHAPTER 13 VIDEO LESSON. William G.M. Samuel, West Side Main Plaza Texas could get along without the United States, but the United States cannot, except at great hazard, exist without Texas. Texas governor Sam Houston 1851 1854 1857 1860 1852 First Texas railroad 1854 A permanent school fund is begins operation created 1857 Hardin R. Runnels 1859 Sam Houston is elected is elected governor governor of Texas 1854 Reservations are established of Texas for Native Texans 1859 Cortina War breaks out in Brownsville 284 ✯ Chapter 13 284-285_COTXSE_4_13_p 11/18/02 9:41 AM Page 285 Before You Read When you think of the frontier, what comes to Think about mind? Do you imagine log cabins and vast • where the Texas frontier was located prairies? Or do you think of bustling Wild West • who lived on the Texas frontier towns? The frontier in the 1850s was the area between Anglo American settlements and • advantages and disadvantages of frontier life “unsettled” territory where Native Texans lived. • making a living on the frontier As You Read Organizing Information When Texas was annexed to the United States in DAILY LIFE IMMIGRATION 1846, most of its residents lived on farms along What was daily life like Where did many Texas on the frontier? residents come from? the frontier. During the 1850s the population of • • the state of Texas nearly tripled as immigrants • • • • arrived to take advantage of the opportunities the frontier had to offer. Completing this graphic organizer for Chapter 13 will help you to under- TEXAS stand what life was like on the Texas frontier IN THE 1850S during early statehood. • Copy the cluster diagram in your Texas SLAVERY POLITICS Notebook. What was life like for What were the political slaves on the frontier? conditions in Texas? • As you read, fill in each box with details that • • • • support the main idea. • • Life in the State of Texas ✯ 285 286-299TXSE_4_13_p 11/18/02 9:42 AM Page 286 Why It Matters Now 1 How Texans Lived Advances in transportation and education made during frontier days prepared Texas for the future. TERMS & NAMES OBJECTIVES MAIN IDEA cash crop, Galveston, San 1. Describe life in Texas during the years The period before the Civil War was Antonio, Houston, textile, following annexation. a time of growth in Texas. Although Richard King, Mifflin 2. Analyze how geographic factors affected most Texans still lived on farms, Kenedy, Elisha M. Pease economic development in Texas after towns developed across the state. annexation. Small advancements in transporta- tion and education helped unify the scattered communities. WHAT Would You Do? Imagine that you are required to report to the U.S. Congress in the Write your response 1850s about Texas’s progress and its transition into the United States. to Interact with History To do so, you tour Texas. On the basis of what you see, write your in your Texas Notebook. recommendations to the U.S. government for any improvements or services needed by people in Texas. Changes in Texas When Texas became the twenty-eighth state of the United States of America on February 19, 1846, Texans celebrated. Many thought of the event as a homecoming since they had moved to Texas from the United States. They were familiar with its government, customs, money system, and language. But Texas was still a frontier state. The frontier line in HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT Texas stretched several hundred miles from the Red River to the Rio RELATIONSHIPS Grande, approximately along the present-day route of Interstate 35. Life Interstate 35 runs north and along the frontier had always been challenging and dangerous, and it south across Texas, passing remained so. However, Texas experienced rapid changes in the years through Dallas/Fort Worth, following annexation as towns and industry grew. Austin, San Antonio, and La- redo. Even today, Texans talk about Interstate 35 as a sort of Rural Life in Texas frontier or dividing line. To the east the land is coastal plains. Between 1846 and 1860 nearly all Texans lived on farms or ranches. West of the highway the land During this time, the number of farms grew from 12,000 to almost is hilly and drier. In 1990 over 43,000. Since land was available and inexpensive, many Texans farmed 75 percent of Texans lived east or raised cattle on their own land rather than working for someone else. of Interstate 35. ● Why do you Many farmers in Texas focused on growing food crops. Corn think fewer people live west remained the largest food crop in Texas and was a major part of Texans’ of Interstate 35? diet. Other food crops included wheat, oats, and sweet potatoes. Few farmers, however, were able to make much of a profit from food crops. 286 ✯ Chapter 13 286-299TXSE_4_13_p 11/18/02 9:42 AM Page 287 ▲ Camels were used in Texas by the U.S. army in the 1850s. ● Why do you think the army tried using camels in West Texas? CAMELS In 1856 some unusual immi- grants landed at Indianola. Thirty-two camels, plus one born at sea, came from Africa Cotton was the primary cash crop in Texas, as it was in the other to Texas as a U.S. army exper- iment. These camels, plus 41 Southern states. Cotton could be shipped to Northern states and Europe, who arrived later, were taken where it was made into cloth. Because of the rich soil in the area, cotton to Camp Verde in the Texas was grown mostly in East Texas and along the Gulf Coast but also in hill country. They proved ex- some parts of Central Texas. Sugar cane was another Texas cash crop. tremely useful in carrying sup- Raising livestock continued to be an important aspect of farming in plies across the arid Southwest. Texas. Most farmers raised milk cows, hogs, and chickens to provide Some were even used during the Civil War. However, their food. In addition, during the 1850s many Texans began raising livestock odor and bad tempers proved for profit. They started ranches where they raised herds of cattle. They too much for the army, and also raised sheep for wool. Ranches had existed in Texas since the period after the Civil War they were of Spanish rule, but the importance of ranching to the Texas economy sold off. grew in the 1850s. The Growth of Towns cash crop a crop produced for Although most Texans lived on farms and ranches, many began profit moving to towns. In 1850 fewer than 13,000 people lived in Texas towns. By 1860 the number had jumped to over 26,000. Galveston, with about 5,000 residents in 1850, was by far the largest town in Texas at the beginning of statehood. It was also the state’s most developed port POPULATIONS OF SOME TEXAS and trade center. However, by 1860 San Antonio had become the TOWNS, 1850 & 1860 largest town, with a population of more than 8,000 people. 10 German immigrants made up a large part of the population of San 9 1850 Antonio at this time. San Felipe, once one of the three most impor- 8 7 1860 tant towns in Texas, was rebuilt after it was burned during the 6 Texas Revolution but never returned to its former glory. This was 5 due in part to the growth of Houston, which had become the third 4 3 largest town in Texas and an important rail center. Other notable 2 towns included New Braunfels, a center for German immigrants opulation (thousands) 1 during the 1840s and 1850s; Marshall, a center for trade; and P 0 New Austin, the state’s political center and capital. Austin Houston None of these communities could be called cities. Each had a Galveston Braunfels San Antonio Towns few homes, general stores, blacksmith shops, offices for lawyers and doctors, and trade shops. Some even supported newspapers. None ▲ Texas towns grew rapidly during frontier days. ● Which town had the largest increase in of the towns had paved streets. Law enforcement was provided by population? county sheriffs and town marshals. Nearly all buildings were Life in the State of Texas ✯ 287 286-299TXSE_4_13_p 11/18/02 9:42 AM Page 288 constructed of logs or lumber. One exception was San Antonio’s two- story Menger Hotel, which was built of stone in 1859. It was the tallest building in the state except for the three-story capitol building in Austin. Texas had two manufacturing facilities, one in Houston that made hats and a textile factory in Henderson. Most towns in East Texas had small sawmills. Nearly all settled areas were served by gristmills where corn and other grains were ground into meal for baking. Areas where cotton was grown also had gins for separating seeds and hulls from useful cotton. Mills ▲ Texans found other ways besides for grinding sugar and grains were common in parts of Texas where sugar farming to provide for themselves, and the new businesses spurred the cane was grown. rapid growth of towns. ● What was the function of the gristmill industry? Transportation textile cloth During the 1850s most Texans continued to ride horseback or in wagons pulled by horses, mules, or oxen. Those who raised cattle rode horses while they worked. However, Texans did see improvements in transportation. Sandbars and rafts, or floating masses of natural debris, made steam- boat travel impossible on most Texas rivers.
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