Texas History: Postbellum Society and Early 20th Century

Industrialization in Texas

• Emergence of Big Business
  • Railroads as first big businesses
  • Connection to national markets vital for industry and commercial agriculture

Immigration Patterns

• Shift from Northern and Western Europe to Southern and Eastern Europe
• New immigrants: Italians, Polish, Chinese, etc.
• Early unions form but remain largely unsuccessful

Urbanization

• Rapid growth of Texas cities
• Key Cities:
  • San Antonio: Fastest growing, military installations
  • Houston: Railroad HQ, commercial and international trade
  • Galveston: Important port, commercial center
• Population growth, but cities lag behind industrial U.S.

Demographic Changes

• Population boom from 600K in 1860 to over 3 million by 1900
• Predominantly male, youthful population
• Continued influx due to cheap land policies
• Rise of tenant farming and sharecropping
• Decline of "yeoman" farmers due to commercialization

Social Life and Culture

• Rise of commercial farming and urban isolation
• Rural Social Hubs:
  • General Stores, churches, community events
• Urban Entertainment:
  • Theaters, music, dance halls, circuses
  • Emergence of sports like horse racing, boxing, baseball

Women's Roles and Legal Changes

• Shift from Spanish to more Southern cultural norms
• Restrictions on property selling, jury service
• Roles influenced by Victorian ideals but Texas women work alongside men
• Rise of feminist activism, temperance movement

Literature and Arts

• Frontier memoirs and early Texas histories emerge
• Prominent artists like Elizabeth Ney and AJ McArdle
• Development of arts reflecting Texas culture and historical figures

Health Concerns

• Epidemics common: cholera, typhoid, smallpox, etc.
• Establishment of medical school in Galveston

Conclusion

• Frontier receding; cities and cultural organizations emerging
• Sports and arts become community rallying points
• Texas still deeply rooted in agriculture but progressing towards urbanization