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Appendix IV Historical and Background Notes of the Pre–Civil War Percussion Period: Dorr Rebellion and Mexican War The percussion period of American military shoulder arms extended from the adoption of the Hall percussion carbine in 1833 to the end of the Civil War in 1865. These 32 years were an exciting, interesting, and complex period, during which a rebellion within a state and two wars occurred: the Dorr Rebellion, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. The first two conflicts are discussed here. Dorr Rebellion Following the War of 1812, there was a general shift in Rhode Island from ocean-dominated commerce to industry. Textile manufacture became the dominant industry. This general shift and resulting urbanization caused Providence to replace Newport as the state’s most important city. The state’s economic growth encouraged immigration, especially to urban areas. These immigrants were disenfranchised under the state’s charter of 1663, which limited suffrage to landowners. Urban centers were grossly underrepresented in state government. A movement to modify the state’s outdated constitution was led by Thomas W. Dorr (1805–1854) of Providence. Dorr held mass meetings, then a convention at which a new state constitution was written and submitted to popular vote in December 1841. Dorr claimed the majority of votes, and therefore adoption of the new state constitution. Governor Samuel Ward King’s legitimate government treated these proceedings as criminal, and branded Dorr a traitor. Dorr was inaugurated as state governor on May 3, 1842, by his supporters, and assembled his legislature at Newport that month. Governor King published broadsides, offering a $4,000.00 reward for the capture and delivery of “traitor Dorr.” King also declared martial law. At this time, Rhode Island simultaneously had two state constitutions and governments , each claiming legitimacy. Dorr raised a body of armed men to defend his government. Governor King’s state militia forces were augmented by at least one private infantry company from New York City. This company, which had been employed by Governor King, was commanded by James N. Olney. Prior to leaving New York City, the company used funds advanced by the state to purchase 50 of the most modern arms then available: Colt Model 1839 repeating carbines. The state militia forces dispersed Dorr’s forces and Dorr fled. In order to support the state government of Governor King, the federal government increased its presence in the Appendix IV 522 state by transferring a company of mounted artillery from Fort Columbus, New York, to Providence, Rhode Island, in 1842. Dorr was subsequently captured, tried, and convicted of treason. He was pardoned in 1852. The state revised its constitution in 1843. The revisions resulted in more equitable representation of the state’s urban areas, but disenfranchised the foreign born. The foreign born, especially recent Irish Catholic immigrants, were usually poorly paid and openly discriminated against. Mexican War During the last decade of the 18th and first dozen years of the 19th centuries, Revolutionary and Napoleonic France was constantly at war in Europe and North Africa. The funds to support France’s military ventures were obtained from a variety of sources. One of these was the sale of the small arms captured in Dutch arsenals when France occupied Holland in 1795. Another was the sale to the United States of the North American land claimed by France. For 60,000,000 francs, or about $15,000,000.00, the United States purchased thousands of square miles of what is now the northwestern section of the continental United States from France in the Louisiana Purchase on April 30, 1803. This purchase, however, did not include the additional thousands of square miles of land that constituted the northern part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, also known as Mexico. The Spanish land included all of what are now the states of California, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, a strip of southern Wyoming, and most of Colorado. Led by Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo, the citizens of Mexico began an 11-year war of independence from Spain. Mexico achieved its independence on February 24, 1821, and became a republic in 1823. There were efforts by some residents of eastern Texas and states that bordered Texas, such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, to achieve independence for Texas, or to bring it into the United States. Several vain attempts were made by U.S. envoys Anthony Butler and Joel Poinsett to purchase Texas from the new Mexican government for $15,000,000.00...

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