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Texas Divided: Loyalty and Dissent in the Lone Star State, 1856-1874
The Civil War hardly scratched the Confederate state of Texas. Thousands of Texans died on battlefields hundreds of miles to the east, of course, but the war did not destroy Texas's farms or plantations or her few miles of railroads. Although unchallenged from without, Confederate Texans faced challenges from within―from fellow Texans who opposed their cause. Dissension sprang from a multitude of seeds. It emerged from prewar political and ethnic differences; it surfaced after wartime hardships and potential danger wore down the resistance of less-than-enthusiastic rebels; it flourished, as some reaped huge profits from the bizarre war economy of Texas.
Texas Divided is neither the history of the Civil War in Texas, nor of secession or Reconstruction. Rather, it is the history of men dealing with the sometimes fragmented southern society in which they lived―some fighting to change it, others to preserve it―and an examination of the lines that divided Texas and Texans during the sectional conflict of the nineteenth century.
Texas Divided is neither the history of the Civil War in Texas, nor of secession or Reconstruction. Rather, it is the history of men dealing with the sometimes fragmented southern society in which they lived―some fighting to change it, others to preserve it―and an examination of the lines that divided Texas and Texans during the sectional conflict of the nineteenth century.
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 9, 2018
The title is the book. Pragmatism at its finest. Texas Divided tells the history of Texas from just before the Civil War and into Reconstruction. It serves as a great reminder just how the North and the Radical Reconstructionists thoroughly failed to “win the peace” of the Civil War.
In the spirit of that pragmatism, this book a hard, dry, tedious read. The research is there. Mr. Marten clearly put in the work for this book and it shows in the detailed notes and in numerous passages throughout but the narrative style is inconsistent and mostly dull. Frequently falling back to a comfort zone of organized facts, TD struggles to create a through line of consistent ideas and themes beyond what the subtitle gives you. There is no Big Idea here beyond groups in power demanded loyalty and would not accept dissension, either from Unionists, political rivals, immigrants, or ultimately, newly freed slaves.
There is a rich story here and a compelling reminder that Texas has a long and entrenched history of violence, racial supremacy, and loyalty through intimidation and political dominance. However, one of the great ironies is the book‘s main theme points to the constant conflict which resides in Texas. Texans do not take kindly to forced obedience and have a unique talent for bold and vocal dissent. In short, Texans have never, under any circumstances, had any chill. Wish more time had been taken to craft a popular history instead of a dissertation. Then again, for a book published in 1990, I will acknowledge possibly unrealistic expectations.
It is worth noting, Mr. Marten’s recent work has focused on the experience of children in the Civil War. This presents a fascinating and under researched topic and if researched as thoroughly as TD, I look forward to continue reading his work.
In the spirit of that pragmatism, this book a hard, dry, tedious read. The research is there. Mr. Marten clearly put in the work for this book and it shows in the detailed notes and in numerous passages throughout but the narrative style is inconsistent and mostly dull. Frequently falling back to a comfort zone of organized facts, TD struggles to create a through line of consistent ideas and themes beyond what the subtitle gives you. There is no Big Idea here beyond groups in power demanded loyalty and would not accept dissension, either from Unionists, political rivals, immigrants, or ultimately, newly freed slaves.
There is a rich story here and a compelling reminder that Texas has a long and entrenched history of violence, racial supremacy, and loyalty through intimidation and political dominance. However, one of the great ironies is the book‘s main theme points to the constant conflict which resides in Texas. Texans do not take kindly to forced obedience and have a unique talent for bold and vocal dissent. In short, Texans have never, under any circumstances, had any chill. Wish more time had been taken to craft a popular history instead of a dissertation. Then again, for a book published in 1990, I will acknowledge possibly unrealistic expectations.
It is worth noting, Mr. Marten’s recent work has focused on the experience of children in the Civil War. This presents a fascinating and under researched topic and if researched as thoroughly as TD, I look forward to continue reading his work.
April 28, 2016
This book is sort of exactly what I was hoping for, but I would have appreciated a lot more thought about the writing. It's an achingly detailed overview of one of the most complicated and difficult periods of American history, and the book neither narrates nor satisfies. It's only a recantation of things that happened, in more or less the order they happened, and since nothing about it is simple enough to truly understand the author doesn't bother trying to make sense of it.
The only place the book really comes to life is, oddly, in describing the sectional disagreements in St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin just before the war.
This is definitely not a primary resource on Reconstruction, though there's a lot of stuff about it. It's not a primary resource on anything, really. The author assumes you're an expert on the Civil War and Reconstruction, gives you a bunch of names to look up, and calls it a day.
I wanted more about E. J. Davis and the state police. That seemed interesting.
The only place the book really comes to life is, oddly, in describing the sectional disagreements in St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin just before the war.
This is definitely not a primary resource on Reconstruction, though there's a lot of stuff about it. It's not a primary resource on anything, really. The author assumes you're an expert on the Civil War and Reconstruction, gives you a bunch of names to look up, and calls it a day.
I wanted more about E. J. Davis and the state police. That seemed interesting.
June 8, 2013
Not all Texans were in favor of succeeding from the Union. This is a discussion of the ideals of various groups of Texans from prior to the American Civil War through the end of Reconstruction in Texas.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews