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New Texas was a colony established in
New Texas was a colony established in São Paulo
São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...
state, Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
by remnants of the Confederacy after their surrender in the American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
. The New Texas colony's leader was Frank McMullen.
Background
Following the end of the American Civil War, many former Confederates desired to flee the now-unifiedUnited States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
. This inclination was fueled by resentment towards and perceived oppression by their new leaders, along with a conviction that the economic and political conditions of the South would be slow to improve during the era of Reconstruction. For some, they chose to flee to another country in hopes of preserving their former way of life, including slavery, but as immigration was an expensive action, not all were able to participate. In addition to this, several Confederate leaders (including General Robert E. Lee) discouraged individuals from leaving the country. One popular destination for these displaced citizens was Brazil due to the fact slavery was still legal, resulting in up to 20,000 people emigrating from the South.
Initial settlement
In 1865, Frank McMullen left for Brazil with 154 former citizens of the Confederacy in hopes of starting a successful colony. They were hoping to take advantage of the lax immigration laws of Brazil at the time. The Emperor of Brazil at the time,Dom Pedro II
Dom PedroII (2 December 1825 – 5 December 1891), nicknamed "the Magnanimous" ( pt, O Magnânimo), was the second and last monarch of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, the seventh child of Em ...
, actively encouraged Confederate immigration; there were efforts to provide financial assistance and land to the incoming Southerners. McMullen decided to start his settlement on a 50 square-leagues plot of land South of São Paulo
São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...
, leading to the official foundation of New Texas.
See also
* Americans in Brazil *Confederados
''Os Confederados'' () is the Brazilian name for Confederate expatriates who fled the Southern United States during Reconstruction and their Brazilian descendants. They were enticed to Brazil by offers of cheap land from Emperor Dom Pedro II ...
* Confederate colonies
Confederate colonies were made up of Confederate refugees who were displaced or fled their homes during or immediately after the American Civil War. They migrated to various countries, but especially Brazil, where slavery remained legal, and to a ...
References
{{coord missing, São Paulo (state) American diaspora in South America 1867 establishments in Brazil Social history of the American Civil War 19th century in Brazil Confederate expatriates American expatriates in Brazil * History of São Paulo (state) Settlement schemes in South America