Texas Politics

1
Texas Politics Government

• Chapter 20
• OConnor and Sabato
• American Government Continuity and Change

2
Texas Politics Government

• In this chapter we will cover
• 1. Roots of Texas Politics Government
• 2. Texas - Its People Past and Present
• 3. Ideological Context
• 4. Texas Economy
• 5. Wealth Poverty

3
Roots of Texas Politics and Government

• Texas is big 267, 339 square miles
• Texas is bigger than most states
• Texas has every major land form

4
Texas and Its People

• 20.9 million
• Second largest state in population
• Percentage in the populations
• US TEXAS
• 69 Anglo
  52 12 African Americans 12
• 13 Hispanic
  32

5
Population Trends in Texas
6
Native Americans

• Few Native American tribes left
• Native Americans small percentage of Texas
  population
• Little political influence
• Current issues- gambling on tribal property

7
Hispanics

• Spanish cultural legacy (sixteenth century)
  values equalitarianism, sense of duty, respect
  for physical prowess, gallantry
• 1836 (Texas independence) only 7000 to 8000
  Spaniards
• Political clout growing e.g., year 2000 1855
  elected officials, more than any other state
• Most Hispanics elected are Democrats

8
African Americans

• Few during Spanish rule (Mexico opposed slavery)
• Slavery legalized in Republic of Texas
• African American population rapidly grew to more
  than 20 by 1840
• Most live in cities (Houston Dallas)
• Elected officials roughly equal to population
  proportions
• Prominent African Americans Mayor Brown of
  Houston Mayor Kirk of Dallas

9
Asian Americans

• First Asian Americans - 1869
• 1900s - Japanese helped develop rice industry
• Asian Americans include Vietnamese, Chinese,
  Indians, Filipinos, Koreans
• Houston has largest Asian-American population of
  any city in Texas
• 2000 census almost 600,000 Asian Americans in
  Texas

10
Anglos

• Early Anglos from Tennessee, Kentucky, etc.
• Legalization of slavery in Texas Republic
  increased Anglo population
• Anglos have dominated politics and government
  since 1836
• All governors have been Anglo as well as
  virtually all state-wide officials
• As population composition changes - Anglo
  dominance challenged also

11
Contemporary Texas

• Mostly urban
• Rapid minority population growth
• Hispanics becoming principal ethnic group
• Issues jobs, education, public policy (tax)

12
Ideological Context

• Texas Creed
• Ideas that identify Texans (individualism,
  equality, constitutionalism)
• Political Ideas - liberalism and conservatism
• Texas politics is about economics

13
Economy of Texas

• Then cotton, cattle, and oil
• Now more diverse, including construction, high
  technology, and service
• Texas economy has been become globalized

14
Wealth Poverty in Texas

• Unequal distribution
• Gap between rich and the poor increased
• More poverty in Texas
• Poverty highest among Hispanics
• The poor are not players politically
• Texas is wealthy Texans are not

15
Share of Income by Fifths in Texas