Texas Political Culture Texas Political Culture Texas culture

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Texas Political Culture

Texas Political Culture

Texas Political Culture • Texas culture stresses – Individualism – Conservatism • • Death

Texas Political Culture • Texas culture stresses – Individualism – Conservatism • • Death Penalty Welfare Environment Gambling

Texas Political Culture • Factors Contributing – – – Southern Conservatism Old West Individualism

Texas Political Culture • Factors Contributing – – – Southern Conservatism Old West Individualism Hispanic Culture Northern Migration Immigration Urbanization

Historical Influences on Texas Politics • From Republic to State – Independence 1836 –

Historical Influences on Texas Politics • From Republic to State – Independence 1836 – Statehood 1845 • Slavery delayed admission • Texas retained ownership of public land because US refused to assume debt – This land was rich in mineral resources such as oil and gas – Contributed to Permanent University Fund

The Civil War and Reconstruction • Sam Houston – – Pro-Union Resigned from US

The Civil War and Reconstruction • Sam Houston – – Pro-Union Resigned from US Senate Ran for Governor Refused US troops • Secessionist Convention – Voted to leave Union • Reconstruction – Republican EJ Davis – Rampant corruption – Anti-Republican attitudes until Ronald Reagan Gov EJ Davis

End of Reconstruction • Southern Democrats – Former Confederates allowed to vote in 1873

End of Reconstruction • Southern Democrats – Former Confederates allowed to vote in 1873 – Elected Democrat Richard Coke as Governor in 1874 • EJ Davis refused to vacate – Democrats rewrote Texas Constitution • Texas Grange – Legacy of Reconstruction • All White Democratic Party – Poll Taxes – White Primaries • Small predominately African. American Republican Party Gov Richard Coke

Progressives and Populists • Governor James Hogg – Reform Candidate – Support from East

Progressives and Populists • Governor James Hogg – Reform Candidate – Support from East Texas Farmers – Regulated Special Interests • Governor James Pa Ferguson – Farmer and Progressive – Impeached and Convicted • Governor Miriam Ma Ferguson – Two Governors for Price of One – “If English Good Enough for Jesus, it’s Good Enough for School Children of Texas” Gov Miriam Ferguson

Democrats and Al Smith • Al Smith was the 1928 Democratic Presidential Nominee –

Democrats and Al Smith • Al Smith was the 1928 Democratic Presidential Nominee – Catholic – Wet • Texans cast votes for Republican Hoover – Protestant – Dry Dem Al Smith

W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel • Host of Radio Program – Flour Salesman – Light

W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel • Host of Radio Program – Flour Salesman – Light Crust Doughboys • Platform – – Ten Commandments Golden Rule Old Age Pensions Reformer • Never paid Poll Tax – Did not believe any politician worth $1. 75 • O Brother Where Art Thou characters drawn from “Pappy” – Broom of Reform – Represented the “Little Man” Gov W Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel

Governor Allen Shivers • Fought to keep 10 miles of the Gulf of Mexico

Governor Allen Shivers • Fought to keep 10 miles of the Gulf of Mexico rather than 3 miles • Conservative Texans supported Eisenhower – Eisenhower supported Texas on Tidelands issue – Supporters were called “Shivercrats” • Liberal Democrats supported Stevenson • Resulted in split in Texas Democratic Party – Conservatives – Liberals Gov Allen Shivers

Notable Texas Politicians • Sam Rayburn – US Speaker of the House – Regarded

Notable Texas Politicians • Sam Rayburn – US Speaker of the House – Regarded by many as “The Most Effective Speaker” in US history • Lyndon Johnson – US House and Senate • Senate Majority Leader – Vice President – President • • Civil Rights Act of 1964 Voting Rights Act of 1965 Civil Rights Act of 1968 Vietnam War

Notable Texas Politicians • John B. Connally – Governor – Secretary of Treasury, Navy

Notable Texas Politicians • John B. Connally – Governor – Secretary of Treasury, Navy • Henry B Gonzalez – US House 1961 -1999 • Bill Clements – 1987 Became 1 st Republican Governor since Reconstruction

Notable Texas Politicians • Barbara Jordan – In 1972 she became first African American

Notable Texas Politicians • Barbara Jordan – In 1972 she became first African American Woman to represent a Southern state in US House of Representatives • Ann Richards – Defeated Clayton Williams to become 2 nd woman to serve as Governor – George HW Bush “born with a silver foot in his mouth” at 1988 DNC – Defeated by George W. Bush – in 1994 • Henry Cisneros – Elected Mayor of San Antonio in 1981 • First Hispanic to serve as mayor of major US city – Secretary of HUD 1993 -97

Texas Geography • Second Largest State – Alaska (land) – California (population) • Rich

Texas Geography • Second Largest State – Alaska (land) – California (population) • Rich in Natural Resources – Agriculture – Minerals • Oil • Gas

Texas Cultural Regions • • East Texas Gulf Coast South and Southwest German Hill

Texas Cultural Regions • • East Texas Gulf Coast South and Southwest German Hill Country West Texas Panhandle North Texas Central Texas

East Texas • Social and Cultural Extension of Old South – Tyler – Marshall

East Texas • Social and Cultural Extension of Old South – Tyler – Marshall • Lady Bird Johnson • Bill Moyers – Nacogdoches – Jasper • Rural and Biracial – Segregated – Dominated by Old Families

Gulf Coast • Discovery of oil in Beaumont (Spindletop in 1901) gave birth to

Gulf Coast • Discovery of oil in Beaumont (Spindletop in 1901) gave birth to Gulf Oil and Texaco and “Fueled” Development • Economy – Refineries/Petrochemicals • Beaumont, Port Arthur, Baytown, Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte – Shipping • Port of Houston 2 nd only to South Louisiana Port Facility • Bayport Expansion • Economy Diversifying • Globalization

South and Southwest Texas • Ranchero Culture – Creoles – Meztizos • NAFTA stimulated

South and Southwest Texas • Ranchero Culture – Creoles – Meztizos • NAFTA stimulated economic development in South Texas and along the Border in Mexico – – – – Brownsville Mc. Allen Harlingen Edinburg Pharr Laredo Eagle Pass

German Hill Country • • Farming and Ranching Conservative Republican Stronghold East European Immigrants

German Hill Country • • Farming and Ranching Conservative Republican Stronghold East European Immigrants established a “German Belt” stretching from Texas's Coastal Plain to the Hill Country – – – Flatonia Weimar Shiner New Braunfels Gruene Fredericksburg • LBJ born near Stonewall

West Texas • • Individualistic Socially Conservative Bible Belt Fundamentalism Oil and Gas –

West Texas • • Individualistic Socially Conservative Bible Belt Fundamentalism Oil and Gas – Midland • George HW Bush began oil business in Permian Basin – Odessa • Odessa Permian Panthers • Friday Night Lights – El Paso • Largest city in West Texas • Loving County has smallest population of any county in US – 2000 population of 67

Panhandle • • Midwestern Protestant Conservative Republican

Panhandle • • Midwestern Protestant Conservative Republican

North Texas • Urban • Commercial Economy – Banking – Corporate • Cosmopolitan Dallas

North Texas • Urban • Commercial Economy – Banking – Corporate • Cosmopolitan Dallas • Old West Fort Worth

Central Texas • Bounded by San Antonio, Dallas, Houston • Austin – Dramatic Population

Central Texas • Bounded by San Antonio, Dallas, Houston • Austin – Dramatic Population Growth • Top 5 Metro Areas – Considered the most liberal city in Texas • Economy – State of Texas – University of Texas – Texas Silicon Valley

Texas Population • One of fastest growing states at twice the national average –

Texas Population • One of fastest growing states at twice the national average – 1990 pop— 17 million – 2000 pop— 21 million – 2007 pop— 24 million • 80% Urban – Four urban areas account for over 50% of state’s population • • Harris Tarrant Bexar Dallas – Population Concentrated in East of Line from Dallas/Austin/Brownsville – Harris Co SMSA 5. 6 million

Ethnic Diversity • Texas Officially Minority. Majority State • Anglos— 48% • Hispanics— 36%

Ethnic Diversity • Texas Officially Minority. Majority State • Anglos— 48% • Hispanics— 36% – South and Southwest Texas • African Americans— 12% – East and Southeast Texas • Asian Americans— 3. 4% • Native Americans— 1%

Religious Diversity • Population Rankings – – – First in Evangelical Protestants Third in

Religious Diversity • Population Rankings – – – First in Evangelical Protestants Third in Catholics Third in Buddhists Fifth in Muslims Fifth in Hindus Tenth in Jewish • Political Candidates Must Consider Broad Range of Social and Moral Issues When Campaigning – – – Abortion Same Sex Marriage Gun Control Gambling Alcohol Southern Baptists in Texas

Education and Poverty • State Rankings – – 8 th Persons Below Poverty 31

Education and Poverty • State Rankings – – 8 th Persons Below Poverty 31 st Average Teacher Salaries 30 th Household Income 50 th in population over 25 with HS Diploma – 27 th in population over 25 with Bachelors Degree • Poverty – 16. 2% poverty rate compared to 12% national poverty rate – 36 of 254 counties considered persistently poor with greater than 20% poverty rate Poverty Rates in Texas Counties

2008 Democratic Primary Map Can you see how demographic variables influenced the outcome to

2008 Democratic Primary Map Can you see how demographic variables influenced the outcome to the Texas Primary?

Texas Primary Democrats and Republicans Why do you think Huckabee did so well in

Texas Primary Democrats and Republicans Why do you think Huckabee did so well in Northeast Texas and the Panhandle? Why did Obama do better in Beaumont-Port Arthur, Houston, Austin and DFW?

Texas Democratic Caucus Why did Obama do much better the caucuses than he did

Texas Democratic Caucus Why did Obama do much better the caucuses than he did in the primary?