What did the Texans say? Texas officially declared its secession from the United States of America on February 1, 1861. They then joined the Confederate States on March 2, 1861 after replacing Sam Houston (who would not pledge his allegiance with the Confederacy) with Edward Clark as governor. The secession was decided in the Texas Secession Convention where delegates chose in a vote of 166 to 8 for secession. So why did the delegates overwhelmingly vote for secession and war? Texans voted for secession and war in the American Civil War because of their loyalty to their state, state’s rights, and slavery. Many Texans felt a strong devotion towards their state, and wished to fight for their pride in Texas. A confirmation of this is seen in
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The Bureau of Census, Washington D.C., gave a census on slave statistics in 1860. In the census, 29% of white families owned slaves in Texas, with 30% of the entire population of Texas being slaves. Additionally, in just 10 years from 1850 to 1860, Texas’ slave population increased from 58,161 to 182,566. The census also reported a healthy male field slave cost approximately $1,200 compared to an acre of land costing $6 (Doc A). More indication on Texas’ view on slavery is in the resolution of the Texas Secession Convention. “...that the African race had no (part) in their establishment; that they were rightfully held as an inferior and dependent race (Doc B)....” In the census, we are able to see Texas’ growing dependence on slaves, as the number of slaves more than tripled in just a decade. In addition, the cost of a slave is tremendous, equal to 200 acres of land. Meaning if Texas were to abolish all slavery, losing one slave would be similar to losing 200 acres of land (29% of white families owned slaves, meaning most slave owners had multiple slaves). This would deeply hurt Texas’ economy, which heavily depends on slave labor. The resolution of the Texas Secession Convention also shows that Texans viewed Africans are an inferior race, and did not consider them as equal to
The Bureau of Census, Washington D.C., gave a census on slave statistics in 1860. In the census, 29% of white families owned slaves in Texas, with 30% of the entire population of Texas being slaves. Additionally, in just 10 years from 1850 to 1860, Texas’ slave population increased from 58,161 to 182,566. The census also reported a healthy male field slave cost approximately $1,200 compared to an acre of land costing $6 (Doc A). More indication on Texas’ view on slavery is in the resolution of the Texas Secession Convention. “...that the African race had no (part) in their establishment; that they were rightfully held as an inferior and dependent race (Doc B)....” In the census, we are able to see Texas’ growing dependence on slaves, as the number of slaves more than tripled in just a decade. In addition, the cost of a slave is tremendous, equal to 200 acres of land. Meaning if Texas were to abolish all slavery, losing one slave would be similar to losing 200 acres of land (29% of white families owned slaves, meaning most slave owners had multiple slaves). This would deeply hurt Texas’ economy, which heavily depends on slave labor. The resolution of the Texas Secession Convention also shows that Texans viewed Africans are an inferior race, and did not consider them as equal to