Unionism In Texas

Words: 967
Pages: 4
Open Document
Continuing with the study of East Texas and secessionism, Richard B. MaCaslin’s article, “Voices of Reason: Opposition to secession in Angelina County,” clarifies Ashcraft problem of how Angelina County “defies explanation.” McCaslin provides a detailed analysis of Angelina County, “a slaveholding, cotton-growing area lying within a prosperous plantation region that strongly supported the Democratic push for secession,” but where Angelina’s voters opposed secession. According to McCaslin by “analysis of the secessionist defeat in Angelina County provides a compelling insight into the failure of a planter elite to translate economic preeminence into political dominance.” He supports this claim by including Christopher Waldrep assertion …show more content…
Smyrl argues that other than the 1859 Gubernatorial election, the Unionist never gained dominance from the electorate in Texas. He contributes the success in the 1859 election to “Houston’s personal popularity and Runnels’ poor record of frontier defense.” However, immediately following the election of Houston, Unionist lost supporters as news of John Brown’s raid reached Texas, where throughout the South, Southerners linked abolitionism to Unionism. Smyrl argues that support for Unionism shifted throughout Texas counties in the 1850s elections and the secession referendum. Supporting his assertions by presenting election returns for eighty-three counties and charts “the centers of true Unionist sentiment.” He outlines forty-three Southern counties that gave a higher percentage of votes to Fillmore in 1856, but lower percentage to Bell in 1860, and they “strongly favored secession in 1861.” Also, presenting twenty-nine counties giving a higher percentage of votes to Fillmore and Bell’s election, and voted a higher percentage against secession. Finally, he presents eleven counties that gave lower percentages of votes to Fillmore and Bell, but a higher percentage opposing secession. Smyrl cites the reason for not voting earlier for secession revolves around the German immigrants who disliked the Unionist early attachment to the Know Nothing Party, which possessed an anti-Catholic platform during the 1856 election. The shifting of allegiance throughout this voting cycle provides at least one answer as to why Unionist failed to achieve dominance in Texas that resulted in a three to one vote for
Show More

Related Documents: Unionism In Texas

Samuel Gompers: The American Federation Of Labor

achieve this, he advocated three principles. First, he wanted craft and trade unionism, this restricted union membership to wage earners and grouped workers into locals based on their trade or craft identification. This clashed strongly with the Knights of Labor philosophy, which favors a community-based union where members consist of wage earners and employers. Gomper's second principle stated that pure-and-simple unionism focused on economic reform, rather than political reform, was the best way to…

Words 919 - Pages 4

William Pitt Ballinger Character Analysis

people have played an essential role in Texas history, and William Pitt Ballinger is not an exception. He was born in Kentucky. As a lone star he was able to make some important contributions on the state’s legal affairs and its politics during the second half period of the nineteenth century. His confident personalities get attributed to his upbringing and typical setting of his life encounters and as a result, he becomes one of the respected citizens of Texas. The book by John Moretta offers a vivid…

Words 1196 - Pages 5

Stephen Arnold Douglas Argumentative Essay

Stephen Arnold Douglas was a Union Hero who had a good heart. He had debates with Lincoln, which were a series of debates. He hated slavery, he thought everyone should be equal. He had political history which has mostly positive information. Stephen Douglas’ actions led to the Civil War and helped shift America the way it is now. Stephen Douglas was born Brandon, Vermont in April 23, 1813 which means he was born after the War of 1812 just started and his father died three months after Douglas…

Words 1267 - Pages 6

Samuel Gompers Research Paper

strike as laborers most effective weapon. (Samuel Gompers biography 1). Gompers was an early labor leader, first in his own union and later as president of the AFL. He served as its president nearly continuously between 1866 and 1924 because of him unionism became more mature less outbursts and more bargaining or attribution (Samuel Gompers 1). "Samuel Gompers was a hard working man who joined many organizations in the bustling immigrant world of New York City, but from the start of noting was so important…

Words 1553 - Pages 7

The Pros And Cons Of The Tariff Of Abominations

civil insurrection in American history.[3] * Compromise of 1850- Texas surrendered its claim to New Mexico, which it had threatened war over, as well as its claims north of the Missouri Compromise Line, transferred its crushing public debt to the federal government, and retained the control over El Paso that it had established earlier in 1850, with the Texas Panhandle (which earlier compromise proposals had detached from Texas) thrown in at the last moment. * California's application for…

Words 5106 - Pages 21

Slater Collective Bargaining Essay

The Assault on Public Sector Collective Bargaining: Real Harms and Imaginary Benefits By Joseph E. Slater June 2011 All expressions of opinion are those of the author or authors. The American Constitution Society (ACS) takes no position on specific legal or policy initiatives. The Assault on Public Sector Collective Bargaining: Real Harms and Imaginary Benefits Joseph E. Slater Perhaps the most striking political development in 2011 is the widespread and aggressive assault on public sector collective…

Words 9026 - Pages 37