Reform & Railroads, Part 1Reform & Railroads, Part 1

► Essential Questions:Essential Questions:Identify and define Identify and define

characteristics of the characteristics of the Cotton, Cattle, and Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads Era of TexasRailroads Era of Texas

Explain the significance Explain the significance of 1876of 1876

►Main Idea: Main Idea: A new A new constitution changed constitution changed the political and social the political and social scene of Texas in the scene of Texas in the late 1800s.late 1800s.

A New Era Brings New Concerns A New Era Brings New Concerns

► Cotton, Cattle, and Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads EraRailroads Era

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

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

► State had a healthy State had a healthy economy along with economy along with new problems and new problems and concernsconcerns Main Street Waco, Texas in late

1800s

Democrats Rewrite the Constitution Democrats Rewrite the Constitution ► In 1874 Democrats In 1874 Democrats

returned to power in returned to power in Texas Texas

► They wrote a new state They wrote a new state constitution in 1876 – constitution in 1876 – this is the state’s current this is the state’s current constitution (400+ constitution (400+ amendments have since amendments have since been added).been added).

Reduced governor’s Reduced governor’s powerspowers

Authorized legislature to Authorized legislature to meet every 2 yearsmeet every 2 years

Limited legislators’ termsLimited legislators’ terms Lowered state employees’ Lowered state employees’

salariessalaries Guaranteed low taxesGuaranteed low taxes Reduced money spent on Reduced money spent on

educationeducation

Democrats Control State PoliticsDemocrats Control State Politics

► Most elected leaders Most elected leaders after Reconstruction after Reconstruction were conservative were conservative Democrats who cut Democrats who cut public spending, taxes, public spending, taxes, and services such as and services such as education and medical education and medical care for the mentally ill.care for the mentally ill.

► The Texas Republican The Texas Republican Party, which African Party, which African Americans supported, Americans supported, had little power. They had little power. They were continually were continually threatened for trying to threatened for trying to exercise their rights.exercise their rights.

Spending Cuts Reduce State DebtSpending Cuts Reduce State Debt

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

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

Texas Lawlessness

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

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

► Outlaws included Jesse Outlaws included Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and James, Billy the Kid, and John Wesley

Hardin

Sam Bass

Texas Needs a Capitol Texas Needs a Capitol ► The Constitution of 1876 The Constitution of 1876

included a plan for a included a plan for a new capitol.new capitol.

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

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

► Modeled after the U.S. Modeled after the U.S. CapitolCapitol

► Largest state capitol Largest state capitol building and 7ft taller building and 7ft taller than U.S. Capitolthan U.S. Capitol

Historical photo of the Texas Capitol on fire (1881)

Women Fight for Their RightsWomen Fight for Their Rights

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

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

► Texas women would not gain the Texas women would not gain the right to vote until after World right to vote until after World War 1.War 1.

Women at WorkWomen at Work► Most Texas women at Most Texas women at

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

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

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

1800s one-room schoolhouse

Elizabet NeyElizabet Ney

►Elizabet Ney made important Elizabet Ney made important contributions to Texas as a contributions to Texas as a sculptor who won national sculptor who won national praise for creating statues of praise for creating statues of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston which were erected Houston which were erected on the grounds at the Texas on the grounds at the Texas State Capitol.State Capitol.

Stephen F. Austin

Sam Houston

Reform & Railroads, Part 2Reform & Railroads, Part 2

►Power Point will be at my website Power Point will be at my website under Unit 9.under Unit 9.

►A link to a short video lecture may A link to a short video lecture may supplement the Power Point.supplement the Power Point.

►YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN NOTES AND REVIEW OF PART OWN NOTES AND REVIEW OF PART 2!!!2!!!