Texas Democrats and Reconstruction

Democrats have played key roles in Texas politics for decades, having substantial roles in Texas during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Democrats were much as they are today, supporting welfare and being critical of big business.

Like all Confederate states, Democrats had a dominant hold on Texas. However, as Texas was a “tag-a-long” Confederate, secession still received substantial opposition, characterized by Sam Houston, and his refusal to except the oath of governor under Confederate Texas. Though his efforts were futile, Houston made it more difficult for Texas to secede than other states. Houston was then replaced and Texas seceded.

Democrats, supporting slavery, controlled Texas politics throughout the Civil War. But after losing the Civil War, the governor position was occupied by Radical Republican Edmund Davis. Davis was opposed by Democrats, and inadvertently created massive public debt, as farmers refused to pay higher taxes.