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Election of Lincoln
The Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, wins the 1860 U.S. Presidential election. He was elected by beating the Democratic candidate, Stephen Douglas. Lincoln had widespread support in the North, but his anti-slavery positions made him very unpopular in the South. Opposition to Lincoln's anti-slavery ideology led to the South's organization of the Confederate States of America. -
Texas Secedes from the Union
Over the objections of Governor Sam Houston, Texas votes to leave the Union. Sam Houston's earlier election seemed to indicate that the Texans' desires to remain in the Union. However, growing fears of slave insurrections, the election of anti-slavery President Abraham Lincoln and the rise of the Republican Party made many Texans uneasy about continuing in the Union. Therefore, Texans decide to secede from the Union and ultimately join the Confederacy, leading to the U.S. Civil War. -
Sam Houston kicked out of Office
Sam Houston was removed as the Governor of Texas after refusing to take an Oath of Allegiance to the Confederate States of America. Although Sam Houston was not an abolitionist and was a slave owner, he was a Unionist and was very opposed to Texas' secession from the Union. The removal of the proud Texas hero showed how strongly Texans felt about joining the Confederacy. This was another step for Texas and our nation toward a Civil War. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Widely regarded as the start of the Civil War. Confederate forces in Charleston Harbor, led by General P.G.T. Beauregard, opened fire on the Union Army at Fort Sumter. Fearing the annihilation of his troops, Major Robert Anderson, the Union commander, surrendered the fort and was evacuated. This was a victory for the Confederacy 500 troops and a loss for the Union's 80. Miraculously, no sides suffered any casualties. -
Battle of Galveston
The Confederacy lost Galveston to the Union in 1862. Mounting a counter-offensive the Confederacy recaptured Galveston in a land and sea action. This Coonfederate vicotory effectively prevented a successful blockade of Galveston Harbor, a major Texas shipping port. This allowed the Confederacy and Texas to continue to ship and recieve goods neccarry to their war efforts. The first battles was won by the Union, and the second battle was a victory for the Confederacy. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg lasted 3 days. The Confederate troops led by Genereal Robert E. Lee saw early gains, but in the end the Union managed to repel the attack and maintain it's ground. This was one of the bloodiest battles for both sides and resulted in many Americans killed. The Union lost 93,921 troops, while the Confederacy lost 71,699. Although the Confederates lost less troops this battle was considered a victory for the Union and a huge morale boost for the North. -
Battle of Sabine Pass
46 Confederate troops stopped a Union flotilla of four gunboats trying to take Fort Griffin. This was an overwhelming victory resulting in 46 Confedrates holding off a large Union force of over 5,000 troops. Only the Union sustained casualties of 230 trrops. This Confederate victory inspired the South. -
Red River Campaign
This was the Union's month long campaign to push it's troops into Texas via the Red River. Texas was a mojor source fo food, materials and weapons for the Conferearcy. Therefore, the Union mission was to seperate the Texas supply lines from the other Confederate States. The campaign was a Union failure resulting in the ending of the Military and political careers of several Union Officers. -
End of Civil War
Although the Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia had previously fallen. The surrender of 28,000 Confereate troops in Appomattox, Virginia, by General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant is widely considered the end of the Civil War. Because communicatios were so poor in 1865, remaining Conferedarte troops had to be surrendered or subdued individually in the following months. The end fo the Civil War marked to end of the Confederacy and the presevation of our Union. -
Battle of Palmito Ranch
These were a series of skirmishes between troops of the North & South along the Rio Grande River. This was considered the last battle of the U.S. Civil war. Although the Confederacy won the battle, they had already lost the war. If communications had been better these battles should have never occurred. -
Juneteenth
Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. On June 18, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston Island with 2,000 federal troops. Having established a presence, on June 19th, General Granger announced the freedom of all slaves in the State of Texas. This day is still commemorated by Texans annually. -
Reconstruction Ends
Reconstruction ends in Texas as the Democrats regain control of the Texas Legislature and Governorship. The Republicans' Unionist stance would hurt their political position in the state of Texas for almost 100 years. Many Texans dispised Reconstruction and considered it a period in which they were bullied by the North and taken advantage of by Northern Carpetbaggers. The end of Reconstruction leads to a period of racial segregation and oppression in the South.
