Pioneer LifePioneer Life

Commerce and TransportationCommerce and Transportation

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Trades and ProfessionsTrades and Professions Some Texans made their living in Some Texans made their living in

trades, including brick masons, trades, including brick masons, blacksmiths, carpenters, and blacksmiths, carpenters, and wheelwrights. wheelwrights.

Others entered professions such Others entered professions such as law, medicine, the ministry as law, medicine, the ministry and teaching. and teaching.

The increase in population meant The increase in population meant more people with specific skills more people with specific skills settled in the republic.settled in the republic.

Industry and Commerce Fuel GrowthIndustry and Commerce Fuel Growth The few industries in early Texas The few industries in early Texas

were located in towns or along major were located in towns or along major roads or rivers.roads or rivers.

Over time Texans built brickyards, Over time Texans built brickyards, tanneries, iron foundries, cotton gins, tanneries, iron foundries, cotton gins, soap factories, carriage factories, soap factories, carriage factories, and textile (cloth) mills.and textile (cloth) mills.

Able and creative leaders promoted Able and creative leaders promoted the growth of business.the growth of business.

Better TransportationBetter Transportation Travel in Texas was difficult. Travel in Texas was difficult. Some roads had been Native American Some roads had been Native American

trails, while others were originally built trails, while others were originally built in the Spanish and Mexican eras. in the Spanish and Mexican eras.

Almost all the roads were unpaved, and Almost all the roads were unpaved, and rains often turned them into mud. rains often turned them into mud.

Almost all of the goods transported in Almost all of the goods transported in early Texas were carried by freight early Texas were carried by freight wagons drawn by oxen or mule teams. wagons drawn by oxen or mule teams.

Stagecoaches and SteamboatsStagecoaches and Steamboats Stagecoach was a popular but expensive Stagecoach was a popular but expensive

means of travel. means of travel. The Butterfield Overland Line provided The Butterfield Overland Line provided

transportation and all mail service to St. transportation and all mail service to St. Louis and Memphis to the east and San Louis and Memphis to the east and San Francisco to the west. Francisco to the west.

Stagecoach lines connected towns and Stagecoach lines connected towns and cities within Texas. cities within Texas.

They traveled about 7 miles per hour in They traveled about 7 miles per hour in good weather. good weather.

Stagecoaches and SteamboatsStagecoaches and Steamboats Steamboats carrying passengers and Steamboats carrying passengers and

freight operated on Texas’s major rivers. freight operated on Texas’s major rivers. While steamboat travel was comfortable While steamboat travel was comfortable

and cheap, but encountered problems and cheap, but encountered problems like driftwood (rafts) and sandbars.like driftwood (rafts) and sandbars.

Buffalo Bayou was the most heavily Buffalo Bayou was the most heavily traveled waterway in Texas. traveled waterway in Texas.

It was an effective passageway for It was an effective passageway for steamboats that carried cotton from the steamboats that carried cotton from the interior of Texas to Galveston. interior of Texas to Galveston.

Railroads Aid BusinessRailroads Aid Business The first Texas railroads were built shortly The first Texas railroads were built shortly

after statehood and into the early 1850’s.after statehood and into the early 1850’s. To encourage the extensions of the rail To encourage the extensions of the rail

lines, the state gave bounties of land and lines, the state gave bounties of land and loaned money form the school fund to loaned money form the school fund to railroad companies. railroad companies.

By 1860 several railroads connected By 1860 several railroads connected Houston with neighboring communities.Houston with neighboring communities.

These railroads brought many kinds of These railroads brought many kinds of products in and out of Houston and products in and out of Houston and helped to make it one of the state’s most helped to make it one of the state’s most vital cities. vital cities.

Telegraph and NewspapersTelegraph and Newspapers A telegraph firm called the Texas and Red A telegraph firm called the Texas and Red

River Telegraph Company had been River Telegraph Company had been charteredchartered, or established by a state , or established by a state contract, in January 1854.contract, in January 1854.

The company opened the first telegraph The company opened the first telegraph office in Marshall and began extending office in Marshall and began extending lines to many other cities.lines to many other cities.

Newspapers were an important source of Newspapers were an important source of information.information.

The The Telegraph and Texas RegisterTelegraph and Texas Register was was the most influential of the early the most influential of the early newspapers. newspapers.

Texans Gather for Social LifeTexans Gather for Social Life During the 1850’s most Texans lived During the 1850’s most Texans lived

on isolated farms and had few on isolated farms and had few occasions to visit with their neighbors.occasions to visit with their neighbors.

Texans combined many social Texans combined many social activities with work like quilting and activities with work like quilting and log rolling.log rolling.

Dancing was one of the most popular Dancing was one of the most popular forms of recreation. forms of recreation.

The fiesta, a festival or religious The fiesta, a festival or religious celebration, was a part of the Hispanic celebration, was a part of the Hispanic culture.culture.

Formal Education Advances SlowlyFormal Education Advances Slowly Although the Texas Congress set aside Although the Texas Congress set aside

land for public education during the land for public education during the Lamar administration, no state public Lamar administration, no state public school system was established. school system was established.

In rural areas, mothers often taught their In rural areas, mothers often taught their children the basics of reading, writing, children the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic.and arithmetic.

In 1854 the legislature set aside $2 In 1854 the legislature set aside $2 million as a permanent school fund but million as a permanent school fund but Texas established few schools.Texas established few schools.

Colleges were founded by churches. Colleges were founded by churches.

Religious Diversity FlourishesReligious Diversity Flourishes Before the Texas Revolution, the Before the Texas Revolution, the

Mexican government recognized only Mexican government recognized only the Roman Catholic faith.the Roman Catholic faith.

After independence, the Constitution After independence, the Constitution of 1836 guaranteed freedom of of 1836 guaranteed freedom of religion.religion.

Protestant churches grew in Protestant churches grew in popularity. popularity.

Methodist had the biggest gain, and Methodist had the biggest gain, and the Baptist and Presbyterian faiths the Baptist and Presbyterian faiths also were successful. also were successful.