Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
5-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
Dr. Linda English
Second Advisor
Dr. Michael Faubion
Third Advisor
Dr. Russell Skowronek
Abstract
The history of the Rio Grande Valley and the role it played in the Civil War is a developing field for both history and archaeology. This work helps to fill the existing gap that is present in academia and shows the archaeological and historical potential of this unique coastal area. The Brazos Island was heavily used during the Civil War by both the Confederacy and the Union. This thesis shows the rich history of Brazos Island and its archaeological potential through a multi-interdisciplinary lens, although rooted in the field of history. It covers a brief overview of the road to the Civil War nationally, Texas’s unique vote for secession, entry into the Confederacy, the beginning of the Civil War along the Rio Grande river, and the Matamoros cotton trade. It also dives into the struggles the Confederacy faced, The Rio Grande Expedition is examined, and the end of the Civil War in the Rio Grande Valley. It elaborates on the function of Brazos Island and Brazos Santiago, during the war. The impact of two hurricanes and how they affected the history of Brazos Island and its archaeological record are covered. Finally, this thesis covers the evolution of the modern archaeological record produced on Brazos Island and Brazos Santiago until the late 1990s.
Recommended Citation
Galloso, Robin L., "Archaeological potential of the Rio Grande Valley: A look at Brazos Island with a historical focus on the Civil War" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 35.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/35
Comments
Copyright 2016 Robin L. Galloso. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/archaeological-potential-rio-grande-valley-look/docview/1810998766/se-2?accountid=7119