Many Issues Divide the Country
In 1861, Texas and 10 other Southern states withdrew from theUnited States. They formed the Confederate States of America. Theirdecision came after many years of differences between the North andthe South. The two regions of the country disagreed on many issues.These included tariffs, distribution of public lands, and states’ rights.States’ rights was the belief that the federal government should nothave too much power over individual states. More than anythingelse, the North and the South disagreed about slavery.
The Republican Party Opposes Slavery
At one time, slavery existed in many Northern states. Over the years,steps had been taken to stop it. The abolitionists wanted slavery to endeverywhere. Even people who were not completely against slavery didnot want it to spread to new territories or states.Many Northerners who were against slavery joined the RepublicanParty. They also blamed the Southern Democrats for the poor state of theeconomy in the late 1850s. The Republicans thought high tariffs, a homesteadact, and other changes could bring back prosperity. Southernerswere against these measures. They believed the rise of the Republicanswould mean the end of slavery and the Southern way of life.
Southern States Vow to Secede
Some Southern leaders said that the Southern states would secede,or withdraw, from the Union if the Republicans won the presidentialelection of 1860. They believed that sovereignty (supreme power)belonged to the states. After Republican candidate Abraham Lincolnwon the election, six Southern states voted to secede. Many Texanswanted Governor Houston to hold a convention to decide whether
Texas also should secede.
The Convention Votes on Secession
Governor Houston was against Texas seceding from the Union. Hewould not call for a convention. Several Texans called a convention ontheir own, urging citizens to elect delegates. Many Texans who wereagainst secession thought the convention was illegal and did not takepart. As a result, most of the delegates chosen in the election favoredsecession.Houston asked the legislature to declare the convention illegal.Instead, the legislature supported the convention. It said it couldact for the people.The Texas Secession Convention met in early 1861. It adopted theOrdinance of Secession. This ordinance, or local law, said that Texaswas declaring its freedom from the United States. Then the people ofTexas voted for secession. Texas became the seventh state to secede.
The Confederacy Is Formed
The states that withdrew from the Union met to form a new nation,the Confederate States of America. The Confederacy wrote a constitution.It was similar to the United States Constitution but had someimportant differences. The Confederate constitution gave states morepower than the federal government and protected slavery. JeffersonDavis was elected president of the Confederacy. The Texas SecessionConvention met again and approved the Confederate constitution. Italso prepared the Texas Constitution of 1861.
Houston Is Removed and War Begins
The Texas Secession Convention said all Texas officials had tostate that they would be loyal to the confederacy. Governor Houstonrefused to do this, so Lieutenant governor Edward Clark became thenew governor.The United States government believed that the Southern states hadbroken the law when they seceded. Lincoln stated that the Union wasperpetual, continuing forever. Lincoln said he would do anythingnecessary to keep the Southern states in the Union.Early in 1861 the Confederate states began taking control of militarybuildings within their borders. When U.S. troops refused to leave FortSumter in Charleston, South Carolina, Confederate soldiers beganshooting. The attack on Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the
Civil War.
The Civil War: Texas Secession
Many Issues Divide the Country
1.What issues divided the North and the South?
2.Define States’ Rights.
The Republican Party Opposes Slavery
3.Why were Southerners concerned about the rise of the RepublicanParty?
Southern States Vow to Secede
4.Define Secede.
5.Define Sovereignty.
6.What happened after Abraham Lincoln was elected?
The Convention Votes on Secession
7.Define ordinance.
8.What was the Ordinance of Secession?
The Confederacy Is Formed
9.How did the Confederate constitution differ from the UnitedStates Constitution?
Houston Is Removed and War Begins
10.Define perpetual.
11.How did the Civil War start?
Complete this question last.
12.Write a paragraph (4-5 sentences) explaining why Texans and other Southerners were willing to break from the Union after wanting to be annexed for 9 years.