Texas Politics

Progressivism Progressivism is social reform (change) through the power of government. Reformers wanted the government to improve life and reduce corruption. This movement included Women’s Suffrage (Vote) and the Temperance movement (against alcohol)

James S. Hogg Elected Governor in 1890, James Hogg was a very popular progressive Texan. He created the Texas Railroad Commission in It regulated the railroad and ended price fixing and other unfair practices. It also would regulate the oil industry. James Hogg

Railroad Trust Governor Hogg went after the Texas Traffic Association which was a railroad trust. A Trust is a group of companies that work together to set prices and reduce competition. They could control the market and make sure prices stayed high.

Hogg argued that the trust caused an unfair monopoly in the railroad industry Texas passed an Antitrust law which made the trust illegal.

James S. Hogg’s Daughter Ima Hogg

Progressive changes Women received the right to vote in 1920 with the passing of the 19 th Amendment Laws were passed to protect Texas Laborers: –A limit of hours was set an employee could work a day (40 hr work week) –Child labor outlawed

The Fergusons James “Pa” Ferguson was elected the governor of Texas in 1914 running against prohibition. Ferguson was a popular governor but was often accused of corruption by political opponents. Some of his opponents were professors at the University of Texas Ferguson wanted them fired, when they were not he vetoed the funding bill for the school. “Pa” Ferguson

Several days later it was announced that Ferguson had been charged for corruption. The Legislator voted in a court of impeachment and by the vote of 25 to 3 convicted Ferguson and prevented him from holding public office in Texas again.

If we can’t have Pa, why not ma? James Ferguson being banned from office wasn’t going to stop him. James’ wife, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson ran and won the governor’s office in During the campaign she said she would follow the advice of her husband and that Texas would get "two governors for the price of one." Miriam "Ma" Ferguson

“Ma” Ferguson, who was Texas’ first female governor, was accused of corruption like her husband.“Ma” Ferguson, who was Texas’ first female governor, was accused of corruption like her husband. She lost reelection because of scandals concerning excessive pardons and political bribery.She lost reelection because of scandals concerning excessive pardons and political bribery. She was re-elected in 1932 but once again lost her reelection bidShe was re-elected in 1932 but once again lost her reelection bid Many of the corruption accusations had to do with pardons like this one, for Texas prisonersMany of the corruption accusations had to do with pardons like this one, for Texas prisoners

"Pappy" O'Daniel Wilbert Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel made a fortune in the flour industry. Daniels started a band to promote his company called the “Light Crust Doughboys” Daniels ran for governor in 1938 and won by using the radio and his new band “Pat O'Daniel and his Hillbilly Boys” In 1941, O'Daniel ran for the United States Senate. He defeated Lyndon Johnson by 1,306 votes in one of the more controversial elections in state history

Lyndon B. Johnson Born in 1908, Johnson is one of the most famous Texas politicians of all time. First serving in the U.S. house from before joining the Senate from During his time in the Senate he served as the Democratic leader starting in 1953.

Johnson in his helicopter

In 1961 he was elected Vice President with John F. Kennedy and assumed the president when Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963 in Dallas. Johnson being sworn in as president after the assassination on Air Force One at Love Field Airport in Dallas Johnson started his Presidency with some of the biggest reforms in history, including the Civil Rights Act. But the War in Vietnam he inherited grew out of control and he became unpopular.

The Changing Democratic Party Over the course of the early 1900’s, many Texans didn’t like the big government that the Progressive Era created. They especially didn’t like Democrat Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, a large government program designed to defeat the Great Depression in the 1930’s Franklin Roosevelt

A group of Texas Democrats that called themselves the “Texas Regulars” opposed the re- election of Roosevelt in (He won anyway) These conservative Democrats eventually started calling themselves Dixiecrats. They were determined to protect the Southern way of life.

Rise of the Republican Party in Texas In 1979, Republican Bill Clements became the first Republican Governor since Reconstruction. The Republican Party had become more conservative and many Texans felt the Democrats had become too liberal. In addition from the 1980’s onward the Republican Party was backed by Christian Conservatives. Bill Clements

Famous Republican Texas Politicians George H.W. Bush –Served in the U.S. House from TX –41 st President of the U.S. George W. Bush –Governor of Texas ( ) –43 rd President of the U.S. Kay Bailey Hutchinson –U.S. Senator since 1993