Texas History
Fort Burrows, B&B Ranch
15.5 - Daily Life
Read - pgs 369 – 372
Vocabulary:
trolley – a streetcar powered by overhead electric cables
segregation – the separation of racial groups
lynching – the murder of a person by mob action and without a fair trial
coeducational – having both male and female students
In the late 1800s, many people came to
Texas to live. By 1900, it had the 6th highest
number of people of all states. The growth
of Texas brought many benefits and some
problems.
Many of the newcomers came to live in
towns and cities. In the past, people in the
country would trade ( barter ) with others
for goods and services they needed. They
usually did not use $$money$$. As more
people moved to the cities, money became
more important part of Texas economy.
Also, the cities became crowded. They were
often unhealthy. Water was not clean, and
cities did not have good sewage systems.
Crime was on the rise in every city.
City government took steps to solve these
problems.
Cities also offered other benefits. They
were centers of EDUCATION. Some cities
built trolleys or streetcars powered by
electrical power-lines. People also enjoyed
different kinds of entertainment in cities.
In 1900, about 80% of Texans lived in
rural areas. Many faced difficult lives.
Many farmers were in debt and lost their
farms. Many other people became tenant
farmers. Others moved away from the
farms to the big city looking for jobs,
spouses, education, pot-of-gold.
Population Growth and Cities
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Between 1870-1900 Texas population grew from 800,000 to 3 million
One out of every five Texans lived in the cities ( urban ), therefore 4 out of 5 still
lived in the country ( rural )
Problems and Benefits with City Life
Benefits of City Living
Newspapers and telegraph connections helped
cities become information centers
Cities developed into economic and cultural
centers
Trolleys improved transportation, made it easier
for city-folk to get around, to get to city jobs, and
enabled cities to spread over a larger area
Better schools
Entertainment: theaters, opera houses, and
professional baseball
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City Problems
Unhealthy conditions:
Diseases spread quickly
Water was often impure
The lack of a sewage system
left terrible odors and
helped spread disease
Crime - a major problem increased as cities grew
Needed Cash , Could no
longer barter for trade
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Texas History
Fort Burrows, B&B Ranch
Rural Communities In 1900, Texas was still a mostly rural state
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West Texas had little ‘rainfall’ and ‘trees’ for timber
Farmers in West Texas struggled with droughts; many gave up and left the area
Ranchers had more success during these years, because cattle adapted better to
the dry conditions
Farmers were getting low prices for products and charged high prices from
Railroads
Many farmers were forced to sell their farms and take other jobs
Tenant farmers in deep debt
African Americans and Tejanos endured segregation in schools and the
workplace. Lawlessness and biased viewpoints often resulted in violence against
African Americans and Mexican Americans
Railroads in Polk County boosted the lumber industry
The Native American tribe, ( only one Indian reservation remained in Texas )
Alabama-Coushatta, become mill worker
This greatly improved their economic life
Civil Rights
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Following the Civil War few white Texans accepted racial equality
In the 1890s, the state passed Jim Crow Laws
Forbade African Americans from riding in the same train cars and attending the
same schools as whites
Supreme Court Case: 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson
Said segregation was legal as long as facilities were “separate but equal”
They were always separated , but rarely equal
Group
Difficulties
White Texans fought for legal segregation of racial
groups. Jim Crow laws enforced the segregation of
African
African Americans. They could not ride in the
Americans same train cars or attend the same schools as
white Texans. Between 1870 and 1900, more than
500 African Americans were lynched in Texas
,murdered by mob action without a fair trial
Native
Lived on Reservation in East Texas and struggled
Americans to survive for many years
Successes
African Americans
took advantage of
what schooling they
had; rate of people
who could not read
was cut in half
When Railroads
came to the area in
the 1800s, lumber
industry there
grew, creating jobs
for them
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Texas History
Fort Burrows, B&B Ranch
Some ran
Mexican Mexican Americans also experienced segregation. businesses and
Americans Many were restricted to low-paying, unskilled
ranches; many
jobs. Most were prevented from voting
helped preserve
their culture
Married women could not buy or sell property
Entered teaching
Women without their husband’s permission. Women could profession; were
not sue in court, serve on juries, or vote. Few had able to attend and
jobs outside of the home. Most ‘working’ women earn degrees from
became school teachers.
some universities
Gains by Women
 In 1865 Baylor University became the 1st college to allow women (coeducational)
 1898, DBU – Dallas Baptist University – Go Patriots!!!!!
 By 1900, female teachers outnumbered male teachers
 Women began to study to become nurses, doctors and lawyers
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Texas History
Fort Burrows, B&B Ranch
4 Types of Land Grants in Texas
Internal Improvement Grants - grants given to companies to develop transportation
or industry within the state.
Loan Grants - Grants given to people to raise money or to pay-back loans made to
the state.
Military Grants - Grants given to people who fought for Texas.
School Grants - Grants used to raise money for public schools.
1.
2.
In the 1800s, most white Texans believed in…
A.
racial equality
B.
C.
women’s suffrage
D.
legal segregation
civil rights for all
One of the first professions available to Texas women was…
A.
meatpacking
B.
the legal profession
C.
railroad work
D.
teaching
3.
What were some of the advantages and disadvantages of city life ?
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4.
What problems confronted Texas farmers ?
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5.
What hardships did African Americans, Tejanos, and women in Texas face ?
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