Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929)

1. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Supporting TEK: Objective: Critical Question: Warm Up Question: 7.10B Explain ways in which geographic factors such as the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, have affected the political, economical, and social development of Texas. We will be able to explain how the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 affected the modernizing of Texas. How did a hurricane in 1900 affect the modernization of Texas? How can a natural disaster affect the economics of a government? It can destroy lives (labor/economics) It can destroy land (resources/economics) It can change governments (political) It can motivate people to work harder (social)

2. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Galveston Island: The city of Galveston is on Galveston Island, a barrier island that protects the Texas coast from the tides of the Gulf of Mexico. Galveston Bay is the largest bay on the Texas coast. Because of its large bay, Galveston became (and is still) a leading port. A port is a parking place for ships to load and unload cargo (a transportation hub for trade). Because of this, the island city became one of Texas’ largest and important cities. Galveston has two major geographic challenges to its growth: climate and weather. Climate: weather and temperature over a long period Weather: natural conditions at a given time (rain, heat, wind, etc...) One of the most destructive weather conditions is a hurricane. A hurricane is a tropical storm with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour. In September of 1900, early Weather Bureau spotters first reported a hurricane passing over Cuba. No one gave serious consideration that the storm would hit Galveston.

3. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Why was Galveston so important to Texas? What where the challenges to Galveston’s growth as a city?

4. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUTlGjPCoQ8 Video: Galveston Hurricane of 1900 Questions: What caused the majority of damage during the hurricane? Why did the city change what type of singles people could use on their roofs? What affect did the water have on the city?

5. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Galveston Hurricane of 1900: Throughout the morning of the 8th of September, the winds grew stronger (reaching 120 miles per hour) and tide surges washed out all bridges to the island. Telegraph and telephone lines were blown down, and communication to the island city was lost. By mid-afternoon, water covered half of the city streets and people began to head for what little high ground there was. Many simply headed for the upper floors of their homes trying to keep above the rising water level. Wind continued to knock down larger and larger objects (anything loose became a missile) and eventually pushed a large wall of water across the island. By 7:30pm, it was reported that the water rose 4 feet in a matter of seconds. By the next morning, the gulf waters had mostly subsided. Between 6,000 and 8,000 people had died in the city, with another 4,000 dead outside the city. The Galveston Hurricane was – and remains- the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

6. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) After the storm: The storm destroyed all 2,636 homes in one part of the city, another 1,000 throughout the city were beyond repair. Goods and supplies in stores were ruined. The city leaders made two major decisions to protect Galveston from future storms. 1. Build a sea wall to prevent future floods. 2. Raise the city higher in elevation. Over the next few years, workers built a six-mile wall along the coast. It reached a height of 16 feet and was 17 feet wide. Today the wall stretches more than 10 miles. Next, workers began to pump sand from the floor of the Gulf to raise the city – enough sand to fill more than 1 million dump trucks. Parts of the city gained as much as 17 feet in elevation. Crews lifted thousands of homes (some under repair or construction) on jacks while sand was poured beneath them. Other crews raised gas, sewer, and water lines along with streetcar tracks, gravestones, and trees. The city reorganized its government with commissioners responsible for major city functions; such as public works or finances. Galveston would be rebuilt, but would never regain its leading role. (Shipping moved to other coastal cities such as Houston)

7. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) What did the citizens do about the destruction of their city? How did the people react to the threat to their city?

8. Unit 9: Modernization of Texas and the Age of Oil (1900-1929) Topic: Discussion: How did the storm affect government? Political: Economical: Social: How did the storm affect the economy? How did the storm affect people? Summary: How did the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 affect Texas?

9. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929)

10. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Supporting TEK: Objective: Critical Question: Warm Up Question: 7.12A Explain economic factors that led to the urbanization of Texas We will be able to explain how the discoveries of new resources and new technologies change the way we live. How did the oil industry affect the modernization of Texas? How can a discovery of a new resource affect the economics of a government? It can create jobs (labor/economics) It can develop land (resources/economics) It can change trade routes (political) It can motivate people to war with others (social)

11. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Oil in Texas: Spanish explorer Luis de Moscoso found oil in Texas in 1543 when he was ship wrecked. People have used oil since ancient times. American Indians used it to waterproof their baskets and pottery. Sailors and construction workers used pitch and tar (made from oil) to seal boats and walls. Oil prevented leather from drying out, but its main use was for kerosene (for oil lamps). Oil was first found in America in the 1800s in western Pennsylvania. After the Civil War, oil was being produced in Oil Springs, Texas (east of Nacogdoches) at 10 barrels a day. In Corsicana, they were producing more than 60,000 barrels a day by 1900. The market price for oil at that time was very low (about $10 a barrel), but prices began to rise with the demand for gasoline-powered engines. In January 1901, something big would happen to change Texas’ economy forever.

12. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Oil in Texas: Pattilllo Higgins bought land in Spindletop Hill, Texas (south of Beaumont) to look for oil and gas under the ‘salt dome’ in the region. Higgins early efforts were failures and many thought he was foolish for continuing to drill in the area. Just as funds were running out, Higgins hired Anthony Lucas to help develop the land. Lucas brought in new technologies and new drilling began in October 1900 (just after the Galveston Hurricane). On January 10, 1901; Spindletop, Texas shook as an explosion of oil shot up more than 100 feet into the air. The ‘Lucas’ Gusher shot out some 100,000 barrels of oil in a day. More than all the other oil fields in the United States combined. * By the fall of 1901, oil flowed from six wells at Spindletop. By 1904, Spindletop was producing less and less oil, but the discovery of such large quantitates of the resource began to grow interest in the region.

13. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Oil in Texas: Why would the discovery of oil in Texas have different affects at different times? What affect would discovery of oil in Texas have on people? How do you think the rest of the United States felt at the discovery of oil in Texas? -what is ‘black gold’ and ‘Texas tea’ have in common?

14. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Oil in Texas: Oil would become a huge industry in Texas – and around the world. Technical innovations would create huge demand for oil products. Key Innovations of 1900’s: Motorcycle: 1885 Car: 1886 Farm Tractor: 1892 Airplane: 1903 The oil ‘boom’ had a dramatic effect on the Texas economy. Oil was a great source of wealth and contributed to the growth and expansion of the economy. Cities grew up providing refinery facilities and Texas quickly changed from a rural to an urban society. Taxes from the sale of oil funded the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and other colleges. Public projects (such as roads and buildings) began with the steady income of the oil industry. Government regulations would be added to safeguard against fires, dirty groundwater, and abandoned oil wells.

15. Unit 9: Modernization of Texas and the Age of Oil (1900-1929) Topic: Discussion: How did oil affect government? Political: Economical: Social: How did oil affect the economy? How did oil affect people? Summary: How did the discovery of oil affect Texas?

16. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Supporting TEK: Objective: Critical Question: Warm Up Question: 7.12A Explain economic factors that led to the urbanization of Texas We will be able to explain how the discoveries of new resources and new technologies change the way we live. How did the oil industry affect the modernization of Texas? How did the invention shown above affect the agricultural industry in Texas? Many farmers who could not afford new equipment went out of business (causing an increase in prices) b. Farmers went into debt to buy this type of equipment (causing farmers to raise prices) c. Farming became a slow process because of the bulky machine (prices decreased) d. Crops were produced in greater amounts eventually supplying more than demand (causing a drop in prices)

17. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Oil changes Texas: In 1900, less than 20 percent of Texans lived in urban areas, or towns and cities. By 1920, more than 30 Texas cities had populations more than 10,000. By 1922, Texans owned more than a half a million trucks and cars. Many workers were moving to the cities to find jobs in factories and refineries. The arrival of railroads made the transportation of oil easy and cheap and turned cities like Houston and Dallas into major urban centers of trade. Petroleum (oil products) had become one of the most important natural resources in Texas. As long as the search continues, Oil could be found in Texas. With the invention of the ‘Hughes Rock Bit’ by Howard Hughes Sr., more Texas oil could be retrieved.

18. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Oil changes Texas: The oil industry needed regulations as dangers were becoming apparent as the rush for black gold swept the region. Excess oil caused many problems, such as fires and dirty groundwater. Abandoned oil wells would create problems for farmers and city construction. As oil companies expanded into other services (refining and development of new products), the stable revenue funded a variety of public infrastructure projects, such as improving roads (where more cars can drive) and new jobs. As railroads were used to transport the crude (unrefined) oil, the government created the Texas Railroad Commission to regulate and control oil prices safety requirements surrounding the oil industry. The oil industry was the newest ‘boom’ to Texas. A ‘boom’ is a period of great profits. With the oil industry serving as a ‘boom’ to the economy, Texas agriculture was taking a ‘bust’. A ‘bust’ is the downward trend in an industry.

19. Unit 9: Modernizing Texas in an Age of Oil (1900-1929) Oil changes Texas: What is a sign that Texas has went from a rural to urban society? Who was Howard Hughes Sr.? What technological innovation helped Texas with marketing their oil? What part of the Texas government is responsible for the price and safety regulations of oil? What is a ‘boom’ and ‘bust’ cycle?

20. Unit 9: Modernization of Texas and the Age of Oil (1900-1929) Topic: Discussion: How did oil affect government? Political: Economical: Social: What helped the oil industry? How did oil industry affect people? Summary: How did the discovery of oil affect Texas?

21. Unit 9 Modernization of Texas and the Age of Oil (1900-1929) 6-Week Project Choice Board Class Video / Presentation / Act What will the ‘project’ selected be about? How will the ‘project’ be shown? How can someone tell if you are helping (being a team player)? Who will..? Write Act/Draw/Sing/Talk/… Set up Stage equipment Operate Camera/Lights/Papers/… Direct How can I grade it? Any questions that I didn’t think of?