Oil and the Confedracy

samcster94

Banned
This is not about the evils of slavery or how they won the war, but it does related to what they'd do when oil became important. Texas, if it does not secede, is full of oil and is Confederate. What is the impact of this oil?
 
I seem to recall the techniques were pioneered in Pennsylvania an independent confederacy would probably contract American companies to do the drilling-depends on how relations are between the USA and CSA post war.
 
They're going to run into big problems related to overproduction and - assuming they try to address that - oil smuggling. As noted above, the United States will in all likelihood have the technical know-how and liquid capital necessary to really get production going, so you'll likely see some strong feelings on Yankees literally siphoning off the wealth of the Confederacy. Beyond that, a lot depends on when they find it. Spindletop OTL was in 1901, but I can imagine the Confederates finding it much later, which might not be to their detriment. Sort of a Dixie Arabia scenario.

It's hard to believe that the massive profits wouldn't awaken the avarice of the Confederal government. I think whenever oil is discovered, it's going to lead to great friction between Richmond and Austin.
 
If Yankee companies are doing the trilling the Confederate government in Richmond and the State government in Austin would probably have a tax of some kind.

Any revenue gained would probably be intended to go the state coffers-there would most certainly be corruption and unscrupulous politicians pocketing any profits

If the Austin government plays its cards right Texas might have an oil boom a century early.

This will most certainly exacerbate tensions between Richmond and Austin.
 
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