Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Date of Award
8-2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
Dr. Anthony K. Knopp
Second Advisor
Dr. William Adams
Third Advisor
Dr. Thomas Britten
Abstract
Texas was a log cabin frontier in 1860; nomadic Indian tribes still occupied half of the state and frequently raided settlements. Additional fear sprang from rumors that Kansas Jayhawkers planned to devastate Texas the way they already had wreaked havoc on the people of Kansas. During the Civil War, fear-inspired hysteria caused vigilantes to commit numerous atrocities across the State of Texas. During Reconstruction, hatred from past traumas carried forward generating more barbarity between Texans of different loyalties.
The diversity of the Texas population resulted in similarly divergent political beliefs and economic interests. The population of Texas exploded as Gotterdammerung approached. The census of 1860 counted almost triple the numbers of residents tallied in the census of 1850. Texans of 1860 originated from five sources with different traditional beliefs: immigrants from the Lower South, immigrants from the Upper South and the Ohio River Valley, indigenous Mexicans, immigrants from Europe, and the native born second generation. In addition, Indian tribes occupied the vast western territory beyond the frontier.
In the summer of 1860, the ''Texas Troubles" brought rumor into reality. A series of arson fires in Northeast Texas seemed to confirm rumors of planned slave insurrections. While the economic damage was severe--the magnitude of the fear generated was beyond measure.
The previously dominant Democratic Party split during the 1860 presidential nomination process, which doomed the two Democratic parties to defeat in the election. The United States of America began to disintegrate on November 6, 1860 as news of Abraham Lincoln's election spread across the country. After a state convention voted for secession, Governor Sam Houston ordered a referendum of the people. To Houston's sorrow secession carried by a vote ratio of three to one. Texas fought for and lost with the Confederacy.
After the war ended, due to hatred generated by vigilante lynchings and murder within the state based on political differences, Texans took another twenty-five years to wind down their mutual animosity resulting when Secessionists waged an uncivil war against Unionists in Texas during the years 1860 to 1890.
Granting Institution
University of Texas at Brownsville
Comments
Copyright 2010 Randall Adrian. All Rights Reserved.