Chapter 19: Politics & Chapter 19: Politics & ProgressProgress

Chapter Overview:Chapter Overview: The The expansion of expansion of railroadsrailroads through West Texas helped through West Texas helped many farmers and ranchers to settle the many farmers and ranchers to settle the western half of Texas. Railroad western half of Texas. Railroad transportation transportation brought in new goodsbrought in new goods for Texans to buy and opened for Texans to buy and opened new new places where goods produced in places where goods produced in Texas could be soldTexas could be sold. Over time, . Over time, dependence on railroadsdependence on railroads caused caused economic economic problemsproblems and and frustrationfrustration for many Texans, especially farmers and for many Texans, especially farmers and ranchers.ranchers.

Reconstruction Reconstruction EndsEnds

Chapter 19 Section 1Chapter 19 Section 1

A New Era Brings New A New Era Brings New ConcernsConcerns (pages 432–433)(pages 432–433)

► During the late During the late 1800s, Texas 1800s, Texas experienced a experienced a lot of growth.lot of growth.

► Railroads Railroads expanded, expanded, farming farming boomed, and boomed, and industries and industries and populations populations grew.grew.

Main Street Waco, Texas in late 1800s

San Marcos Train Depot: 1890

Democrats Rewrite the Democrats Rewrite the ConstitutionConstitution

(page 433)(page 433) ► In 1874 Democrats returned to power in In 1874 Democrats returned to power in

Texas and a new state constitution was Texas and a new state constitution was written in 1876 – written in 1876 – this is the state’s this is the state’s current constitutioncurrent constitution (more than 400 (more than 400 amendments have been added).amendments have been added).

► The earlier state constitution of 1869 The earlier state constitution of 1869 was written by Radical Republicans. was written by Radical Republicans. Most state leaders disliked this Most state leaders disliked this constitution because they believed it constitution because they believed it gave too much power to only a few gave too much power to only a few leaders.leaders.

► The new Constitution of 1874 created a The new Constitution of 1874 created a government with government with limited powerslimited powers. .

► Provisions included:Provisions included: 1) limited the power of the governor 1) limited the power of the governor 2) made the legislature meet every 2 2) made the legislature meet every 2

yearsyears and set term limits on the legislatureand set term limits on the legislature 3) lowered state employees’ salaries3) lowered state employees’ salaries 4) guaranteed low taxes4) guaranteed low taxes 5) reduced money to be spent on 5) reduced money to be spent on

educationeducation

Democrats Rewrite the Democrats Rewrite the ConstitutionConstitution (page 433)(page 433)

Democrats Rewrite the Democrats Rewrite the ConstitutionConstitution(page 433)(page 433)

►The U.S. The U.S. Constitution’s 15Constitution’s 15thth Amendment Amendment guaranteed voting guaranteed voting rights for all men, rights for all men, but NOT women. but NOT women.

Democrats Control State Democrats Control State PoliticsPolitics (page 434)(page 434)

►Most elected leaders after Most elected leaders after Reconstruction were Reconstruction were conservativeconservative Democrats Democrats

►The Texas Republican Party, which The Texas Republican Party, which many African Americans supported, many African Americans supported, had little power.had little power.

►Sometimes African Americans were Sometimes African Americans were threatened, denied jobs, or harmed threatened, denied jobs, or harmed if they tried to take part in politics if they tried to take part in politics or vote.or vote.

Spending Cuts Reduce State Spending Cuts Reduce State DebtDebt (page 434)(page 434)

► The large public debt at the end The large public debt at the end of Reconstruction ($3 million) of Reconstruction ($3 million) continued to increase. continued to increase.

► It was $5.5 million by the spring It was $5.5 million by the spring of 1879 when Richard Hubbard of 1879 when Richard Hubbard succeeded Governor Coke.succeeded Governor Coke.

► Governor Oran M. Roberts took Governor Oran M. Roberts took office in 1879 and balanced the office in 1879 and balanced the budget by cutting pensions for budget by cutting pensions for veterans and school funding. veterans and school funding.

Lawmen Keep OrderLawmen Keep Order (pages 434–435)(pages 434–435)

►LawlessnessLawlessness was a major problem was a major problem in Texas after the Civil War as in Texas after the Civil War as many unemployed people flocked many unemployed people flocked to the Texas frontier.to the Texas frontier.

►Some turned to robbing trains, Some turned to robbing trains, stagecoaches, and banks, as well stagecoaches, and banks, as well as cattle rustling and horse theft. as cattle rustling and horse theft.

Sam Bass

John Wesley Hardin

Billy the Kid

Jesse James

Texas Outlaws of the Late Texas Outlaws of the Late 1800s1800s

Texas Needs a CapitolTexas Needs a Capitol (page 435)(page 435)

►The Constitution of 1876 included The Constitution of 1876 included a plan for a new capitol.a plan for a new capitol.

►On November 9, 1881, the On November 9, 1881, the existing capitol burned after existing capitol burned after catching fire during a rainstorm. catching fire during a rainstorm.

►Work on a new capitol began in Work on a new capitol began in 1882 and was completed in 1888. 1882 and was completed in 1888.

Historical photo of the Texas capitol on fire: 1881

►The new capitol was modeled after The new capitol was modeled after the U.S. Capitol. the U.S. Capitol.

►Texas’ capitol is the Texas’ capitol is the largestlargest capitol capitol building in the United States! building in the United States!

►It has more square footage than It has more square footage than any state capitol and is 7 feet any state capitol and is 7 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol.taller than the U.S. Capitol.

Texas Needs a CapitolTexas Needs a Capitol (page 435)(page 435)

Women Fight for Their Women Fight for Their RightsRights (pages 435–436)(pages 435–436)

► Although women in Although women in Texas accounted for Texas accounted for about half of the about half of the population by 1900, population by 1900, they did not have the they did not have the same legal rights as same legal rights as men.men.

► The The Women’s Christian Women’s Christian Temperance UnionTemperance Union was was the first Texas group to the first Texas group to endorse suffrage. endorse suffrage.

►The Texas Equal Rights The Texas Equal Rights Association had 48 charter Association had 48 charter members, including 9 men.members, including 9 men.

►Other organizations included:Other organizations included: Texas Federation of Women’s Texas Federation of Women’s

Clubs, Clubs, the Texas Farmers’ Alliancethe Texas Farmers’ Alliance Texas Federation of LaborTexas Federation of Labor

Women Fight for Their Women Fight for Their RightsRights (pages 435–436)(pages 435–436)

Women Fight for Their Women Fight for Their RightsRights (pages 435–436)(pages 435–436)

►The women The women of Texas of Texas would not would not gain the gain the right to vote right to vote until until after after World War IWorld War I..

Women at WorkWomen at Work(page 436)(page 436)

► Most Texas women at the turn of Most Texas women at the turn of the 20the 20thth century worked at home as century worked at home as wives, mothers, and homemakers.wives, mothers, and homemakers.

► TeachingTeaching was the most important was the most important profession open to women at the profession open to women at the time. Some even started schools. time. Some even started schools.

► Some women worked as maids, Some women worked as maids, secretaries, merchants, physicians, secretaries, merchants, physicians, journalists, and artists.journalists, and artists.