In Civil War in Texas (1861-1865), students in grades 6-8 will explore Texas's role in the American Civil War and the conflict's impact on the state. This book highlights the experiences of Texas soldiers on the home front and how the war transformed Texas's economy, society, and population during this turbulent period.

When Texas joined the Confederacy in 1861, thousands of Anglo-Texans enlisted in the Confederate army. While some Texans fought on the eastern front, most served in battles along the Mississippi River or the home guard, protecting settlements from Native American attacks. However, not all Texans supported the Confederacy; resistance came from groups like German communities, who opposed the secessionist cause.

Texas did not see significant battles during the Civil War, but it played a vital role in supporting the Confederate war effort. Because its farms and resources were untouched by Union forces, Texas became a major supplier of food and clothing for Confederate troops. The state also used its border with Mexico to bypass the Union blockade, allowing Confederate cotton to be shipped overseas. Texas further became a refuge for fleeing Confederates, particularly slaveholders trying to prevent enslaved people from escaping to Union lines.

As a result, approximately 50,000 enslaved people were brought into Texas during the war, swelling the enslaved population to 230,000 by 1865. The war ended in 1865 with the defeat of the Confederacy and, with it, the institution of slavery in Texas. On June 19, 1865, the U.S. Army arrived in Galveston and declared all enslaved people in Texas free, a day now commemorated as "Juneteenth." This event marked a turning point in Texas's history, as nearly a quarter of a million people were freed, and the state began to rebuild its economic, political, and social systems.

Aligned with U.S. History curriculum standards for grades 6-8, this book provides an engaging look at Texas's involvement in the Civil War, how the state supported the Confederacy and the lasting impact of emancipation. Through rich narratives, maps, and illustrations, students will better understand how the Civil War reshaped Texas's history.