Plantation owners had a great deal of influence over the politics and government of Texas before the Civil War. Using the

information you learned in your lectures, speculate why plantation owners had so much power and influence, especially on

laws regarding slavery.

Plantation owners gained a lot of influence in Texas before the civil war because they became wealthy and controlled a lot of land. They filled representative positions in local governments and used their wealth to influence policies on slavery.

Explanation:

Slavery in Texas grew in the 1830s through the 1850s as more Anglo-American settlers from states in the southeast came to Texas, bringing their slaves with them as well. After the Revolution in Texas in 1836, slavery was made legal. When Texas was under Mexican control there was tension on the slavery issue because slavery was outlawed in Mexico. Legislation was passed that assured slavery would endure. Most of the slaves worked plantations in East Texas where they grew crops like cotton. These plantation owners held most of the wealth in Texas and thus they dominated many levels of government in the state.