Texas elections are always exciting but not all of them result in an armed standoff in the capitol between two Governors. The election of 1873 did! The Texas Supreme Court used a semicolon to cause the conflict and, change Texas history and end reconstruction! Learn more in Episode 9 of Wise About Texas.

The Capitol building where the standoff occurred.

The same capitol building on fire in 1881

The infamous "Semicolon Court"

 

Governor Richard Coke

E.J. Davis in his union uniform.

Davis adversary Gov. Andrew J. Hamilton