We will learn the political, economic, and social effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction on Texas.

1. Political Effects (Government)

• New Laws: Texas had to write a new constitution and adopt the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which ended slavery and gave African American men the right to vote. Women were still not allowed to vote, own land, or serve in the military.

• Federal Control: The U.S. military remained in Texas during Reconstruction to rebuild the territory and to ensure that these new laws were enforced, leading to tension between local leaders and the federal government.

2. Economic Effects (Money & Resources)

• Labor Shift: The Southern economy transitioned from a system based on enslaved labor to one of sharecropping, where farmers worked the land in exchange for a portion of the crops.
  
  In the Northern United States, the focus was on manufacturing and textile industries.

• Financial Struggle: Texas was "land rich but money poor." The Union blockade of Galveston during the war had already hurt trade, leaving the state struggling to recover from the devastation of the Civil War.

3. Social Effects (People)

• Juneteenth: On June 19, 1865, enslaved Texans finally learned they were free from the institution of slavery; a moment that is still celebrated as a major milestone today. 

• It's celebrated every June 19th with parades, lectures, BBQs, and other events. 

• New Communities: Formerly enslaved people began building their own schools, churches, and businesses, though they faced significant resistance and continued struggle for equality.

IB Key Concept: Change — This era represents a total transformation of how Texas was governed, how other states viewed us, how its people worked, and how they lived together.