The Texas rebellion was a conflict led by the Territory of Texas against the federal government of the United States following the abolition of slavery in the Kingdom. The rebellion was the largest and deadliest of the pro-slavery rebellions of the southern states. The conflict subsequently nearly completely eliminated the
Republican Party from major American politics.
The Conflict
Prelude
The United States had been in a process of gradual emancipation for decades. Led by the Libertarian Party, the abolition movement had been hard pressed all the way up to the federal government. The King of America was surrounded by many Dukes and Earls who were sympathetic to the concept of abolition.
Before the admission of the Mexican Cession into the United States, legislation had outlawed the admission of further slave states into the Union. The territory of Freeman had been established to distribute settlements of freed slaves.
In 1833, an amendment proposed by Earl Henry Clay, Speaker of the House, abolished slavery. It is immediately challenged in the courts and many states refuse to ratify it. These states were in the hopes that the election of 1833 would allow for the blockage of the Amendment. However, the election of Clay as Chancellor of America cemented federal support.
Texas was the main state to rebel, though the states of South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and the territory of Comanche rose in support either partially or in full.
Deployment of federal troops into southern states was immediate after the initial attacks. Chancellor Clay had hoped a peaceful compromise might be found, but the situation quickly spiraled out of hand.
The battles of the rebellion took place entirely in the southern states. All major attempts to invade the north were repelled or failed to be implemented.
The weather of the southern states became a hindrance in the summer time as the northern troops were largely unconditioned for the heat. However, the lack of substantial winter conditions allowed for campaigns were south.
The rebel militia in Tennessee became the first to fall in the Battle of Memphis. The federal troops proved effective against the smaller militia forces.
Texas rebel leaders were tried and executed. The governor of the state fled into exile to unknown parts of the world. The rest of the rebels were mostly pardoned, as Chancellor Clay believed it would bring them back into the nation more easily.
The Abolition Amendment became uncontested. The provisional governors of rebelling states voted in favor of ratification.
Historical Significance
Chancellor Clay won a second term, and was subsequently named a
Duke for his leadership.
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