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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_Texas
Republic
As the Texas Revolution began in 1835, some slaves sided with Mexico,
which provided for freedom. In the fall of 1835, a group of almost 100
slaves staged an uprising along the Brazos River after they heard rumors
of approaching Mexican troops. Whites in the area defeated and severely
punished them. Several slaves ran away to serve with Mexican forces.
Texan forces executed one runaway slave taken prisoner and resold
another into slavery.[27] Other slaves joined the Texan forces, with
some killed while fighting Mexican soldiers. Three slaves were known to
be at the Battle of the Alamo; a boy named John was killed, while
William B. Travis's slave Joe and James Bowie's slave Sam survived to be
freed by the Mexican Army.[28]
After the Republic of Texas was created in 1836, Anglo-American views on
slavery and race began to predominate. They passed laws reducing the
rights of free blacks as citizens.[29] The 1836 Constitution of the
Republic of Texas required free blacks to petition the Texas Congress
for permission to continue living in the country. The following year all
those who had been living in Texas at the time of independence were
allowed to remain. On the other hand, the legislature created political
segregation; it classified free residents with at least 1/8 African
heritage (the equivalent to one great-grandparent) as a separate
category, and abrogated their citizens' rights, prohibiting them from
voting, owning property, testifying against whites in court, or
intermarrying with whites.[30] As planters increased cotton production,
they rapidly increased the purchase and transport of slaves. By 1840
there were 11,323 slaves in Texas.[24]
Statehood
Slave population in Texas
Year Population
1825 443
1836 5,000
1840 11,323
1850 58,161
1860 182,566
1865 250,000
In 1845 the United States annexed Texas as a state. The state
legislature passed legislation further restricting the rights of free
blacks. For example, it subjected them to punishments, such as working
on road gangs if convicted of crimes, similar to those of slaves rather
than free men.[31]
By 1850, the slave population in Texas had increased to 58,161; in 1860
there were 182,566 slaves, 30 percent of the total population. In 1860
almost 25 percent of all white families in Texas owned at least one
slave. Texas ranked 10th in total slave population and 9th in percentage
of slave population (30 percent of all residents).[24]
Forty percent of Texas slaves lived on plantations along the Gulf Coast
and in the East Texas river valleys, where they cultivated cotton, corn,
and some sugar.[24] Fifty percent of the slaves worked either alone or
in groups of fewer than 20 on small farms ranging from the Nueces River
to the Red River, and from the Louisiana border to the edge of the
western settlements of San Antonio, Austin, Waco, and Fort Worth.[32]
Some slaves lived among the cattlemen along the southern Gulf Coast and
helped herd sheep and cattle. Rarely, a slave also broke horses, but
generally only white men were used for that dangerous task. If they
died, the boss did not suffer a monetary loss.[33] Slaves were not held
between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. A large supply of cheap
Mexican labor in the area made the purchase and care of a slave too
expensive.[33]
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