Texas History and Civics—Civil War Era

Imagine Makenga is living on the Texas frontier during the Civil War. He notices that Native American attacks on settlements have increased. What was the primary reason for this change?

• Native American tribes aligned with the Confederacy to fight the Union.

• The Confederate government promised to provide Native Americans with land.

• The Union army provided Native American tribes with weapons to fight the Confederacy.

• The U.S. military left Texas to fight the Confederacy, leaving the frontier unprotected.

Mia is learning about the U.S. government in her civics class. Her teacher explains that the government cannot do whatever it wants, and must follow rules set by the people and the Constitution. Which of the following best reflects this principle of "limited government"?

• The president can override the Supreme Court’s decisions.

• The states are more powerful than the federal government.

• The government only has the powers given to it by the people and the Constitution.

• All citizens are required to follow laws set by the government.

Imagine you are a historian studying the Civil War, and you come across records about a battle in Texas fought primarily over control of the vital port of Galveston, which had significant strategic importance for the Confederacy. Which battle are you reading about?

• Battle of Fort Wagner

• Battle of Galveston

• Battle of San Jacinto

• Battle of Chattanooga

Imagine a situation where Cameron stopped laughing long enough to learning about how the United States is governed. He wonders how "federalism" affects the relationship between state governments and the national government. What would you tell laugh-a-lot Cameron?

• It gives the national government all the power.

• It allows the states to make all decisions without federal involvement.

• It ensures that state governments cannot make their own laws.

• It creates a partnership in which both state and national governments have specific powers.

After Yusra finally started paying attention, she prepared for a Texas history presentation. She needs to explain why the February 15th Texas Constitution of 1876 is still significance today. Which of the following should Yusra include in her presentation?

• It was ratified on February 15, 1876, and it remains the basic law of Texas.

• It was ratified on March 30, 1870, and it ended slavery in Texas.

• It was ratified on January 1, 1876, and it granted Texas statehood.

• It was ratified on December 25, 1865, and it restored secession rights.

Imagine Melky is living in Texas during the Civil War. She notices that wealthy individuals are able to avoid military service by paying for substitutes, while those with less income are drafted into the Confederate Army. Which of the following most accurately describes the relationship between wealth, military service, and slavery in Texas during the Civil War?

• Wealthy Texans were forced to fight in the Confederate Army because they controlled slaves.

• Wealthy individuals were exempt from military service and could pay for substitutes, while those with fewer income were drafted into the military.

• Slavery in Texas was abolished, so no one was required to serve in the military.

• All Texans were required to serve in the military regardless of wealth or slave ownership.

Mia is studying the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution for her civics class. She notices something they both have in common. Which of the following is a similarity between the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution?

• Both have a Bill of Rights that protects individual freedoms.

• Both allow citizens to directly change the constitution.

• Both give the president the power to create state laws.

• Both allow the governor to veto laws passed by the legislature.

Imagine Noslen is a sharecropper during Reconstruction. Why might he remain in a cycle of poverty?

• He lacked access to tools, seeds, and housing.

• He was unable to vote or participate in the political process.

• He had to give a significant (big) portion of his crops to landowners, leaving little for himself.

• He was forced to work without receiving wages for his labor.

Imagine Juan Soto finally stopped turning around in his seat and starts studying for his history exam and comes across a question about the Battle of Palmito Ranch. Which of these best explains the significance of the Battle of Palmito Ranch?

• It was the final land battle of the Civil War, happening after the war was technically over.

• It was the only time the South had five times as many soldiers as the North.

• It was the opening battle of the war where the first shots were fired.

• It was the only time the North had five times as many soldiers as the South.

Taqi is learning about the Texas government in school. He wants to understand how the three branches work together. Which of the following statements best explains the relationship between the three branches of Texas government?

• The Legislative branch enforces laws, the Executive branch creates laws, and the Judicial branch interprets laws.

• The Legislative branch enforces laws, the Executive branch interprets laws, and the Judicial branch makes laws.

• The Legislative branch makes laws, the Executive branch enforces laws, and the Judicial branch interprets laws.

• The Legislative branch controls the Executive branch, and the Judicial branch creates laws.