Chapter 1



Section 3

The Civil War Affects Life at Home

The Effects of War

Because no major battles of the Civil War were fought in Texas… Texas did not suffer the destruction of war like Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina…

Many Texans went to fight the war…leaving others to take care of things at home…

▪ Tensions between the supporters of the Confederacy and those loyal to the Union

▪ Blockade reduced the sale of farm products {Texas economy suffered}

▪ Shortages of basic supplies

Union Supporters in Texas

One –fourth of Texans were against secession…

1862 – Unionists who opposed the draft formed the Peace Party…

…Confederate supporters feared the Peace Party would aid the Union cause…

▪ Vigilantes {person who punishes criminals or takes control without authority to do so} took matters in their own hands, hanging 40 Peace Party members in Gainesville…

…German Texans were divided…some supported the Union and were against slavery {organized the Union Loyal League for service in the federal army}…others were slave owners and served in the Confederate army…

…Tejanos were also divided…

Wartime Economy

During the war, Texans continued raising cotton, cattle and other products

▪ Blockade and victories on the Mississippi River made it difficult to sell cotton…

▪ Farmers began to raise wheat and corn instead of cotton

While men were away fighting…the women took over…

▪ Ran post offices and stores

▪ Managed farms

▪ In charge of plantations

▪ Took over ranches and drove cattle to market

▪ Teachers

▪ Provided medical aid

▪ Sewed bandages and clothing for soldiers

Factories…

▪ Weapons (Austin, Tyler)

1863 – Texas was producing 800 guns

per month in its four factories

▪ Iron furnaces (East Texas)

▪ Clothing (state prison at Huntsville)

***Blockade kept goods from entering or leaving the state

← People who depended on cotton to make money were not making money

← Taxes continued to rise

← Value of the Confederate dollar went down

Home Front Hardships

Many items are in short supply because of the blockade…

o Clothes

o Shoes

o Medicines

o Hospital supplies

o Paper (newspapers discontinued)

Substituted…

o Roasted acorns or corn (brewed into a drink like coffee)

o Honey (sugar)

o Homespun clothes (store bought clothes)

o Herbs (medicines)

Refugees

Thousands of slaves were sent

to Texas from Louisiana,

Arkansas, and Mississippi

during the war…often

accompanied by their owners

(unhappy about being forced from their homes)

The War’s End

o April 9, 1865…Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia

o June 2, 1865 Edmund Kirby Smith surrendered the Trans-Mississippi area, including Texas

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