2. Chapter 20 The Context for Texas Politics and Government

3. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives
LO 20.1: The expansive land mass was sparsely populated when Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836, but it is now home to more than 25 million. American Indians and Hispanics preceded the Anglo population, but from the creation of the state through the twentieth century, Anglos dominated the state’s politics and government. American Indians, now a very small part of the state’s population, gave Texas its name. The early Hispanics contributed to the state’s legal system and organization of local government. Slavery was prohibited under Mexican law, but soon after statehood, African Americans were brought into the state and played a prominent role in the development of the state’s agricultural economy. Race and ethnicity have shaped the state’s political culture and politics and continue to be dominant themes in politics and public policy. The mosaic of the state’s population became more complex in the last part of the twentieth century with new arrivals from Asia. Texans are now highly urbanized and participants in the global economy and are undergoing population changes of an enormous magnitude.
LO 20.2: Texans share the core values held by most other Americans. Anglos were proponents of individualism, liberty, equality, constitutionalism, and democracy, and these values were prominent in the way in which Texans shaped their institutions and gave form to their politics. Early Texans started as residents of Mexico, moved through a period of independent nationhood, and then became citizens of the United States. These events helped shape a set of views or attitudes identified as the Texan Creed, distinguished by its heavy emphasis on individualism, liberty, and views of limited government. Although there are variations on these values with sharp differences of opinion over public policy, there are common core values, such as property rights and freedom, that provide some basis for comity and cooperation.
Roots of Texas Politics and Government
LO 20.1: Trace the roots of Texas government and the impact of the state’s cultural diversity on its politics.
The Ideological Context
LO 20.2: Identify the core political values Texans hold, and distinguish between four distinct ideologies.

4. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives
LO 20.3: The gross state product now exceeds $1.2 trillion, and the state’s economy is the eleventh largest economy in the world. Not only has the state moved to mirror the general diversity of the nation’s economy, it is internally diversified with thirteen distinct economic regions. The state is a major player in the global economy with numerous sectors of the state’s economy being major sources of the nation’s exports.
LO 20.4: Although some Texans are very wealthy, and a large number of Texans live comfortably, there are a large number of Texans who are very poor, living in substandard conditions with limited access to health care. Low-income and less- educated Texans are to be found disproportionately among Hispanic and African American populations. These economic and social factors translate into politics, giving Anglos greater influence in the policy process. Even as minority populations now become the majority, they continue to have less influence on policy than the Anglo population and remain underrepresented in government positions.
The Economy of Texas
LO 20.3: Outline the transformation of the Texas economy from its dependence on agriculture and petroleum to a highly diverse, global economy.
Income, Wealth, and Poverty in Texas
LO 20.4: Analyze how disparities in wealth, income, and poverty among races and classes influence politics in Texas.

5. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives
LO 20.5: Despite the state’s huge and vibrant economy, expenditures for social services and the needs of the poor are low in comparison to many of the other highly industrialized states. On many per capita measures such as health care, mental health care, and education, Texas allocates much less than other states. The culture of individualism and self-help comes into direct conflict with social policies. Moreover, the state’s highly regressive tax system places a much heavier burden on the poor than the wealthy. Reforms in many areas are likely to occur only after litigation in the courts.
Toward Reform: Political Culture and Welfare Reform
LO 20.5: Assess the potential for welfare reforms within the context of the state’s political culture.

6. Roots of Texas Politics and Government LO 20
Roots of Texas Politics and Government LO 20.1: Trace the roots of Texas government and the impact of the state’s cultural diversity on its politics.
Click the hyperlink to view a table that shows how Texas population and demographics compare to those in other large states.
Photo caption: How many elected public officials in Texas are Hispanic?
Julian Castro, shown here, was elected mayor of San Antonio in In 2009, there were 2,435 Hispanic elected public officials in Texas.
Texas Population
Over 25 million, 2nd largest state in population and territory
Settled by
American Indians
Hispanic Americans
African Americans
Anglos
To Learning Objectives

7. The Contemporary Population of Texas
LO 20.1
The Contemporary Population of Texas
Click the hyperlink to view population projects for different ethnic groups in Texas.
Population rise:
Immigration
High birth rates
Urbanization
88% live in cities
Ethnic population projections
Hispanic population  political impact
Conservatives, but more Democratic
Issues: Jobs, schools, social welfare, drugs, and immigration issue
To Learning Objectives 7

8. In 2020, what will be the largest ethnic group in Texas?
LO 20.1
In 2020, what will be the largest ethnic group in Texas?
Anglos
African Americans
Hispanic Americans
Asian Americans
American Indians
To Learning Objectives

9. In 2020, what will be the largest ethnic group in Texas?
LO 20.1
In 2020, what will be the largest ethnic group in Texas?
Anglos
African Americans
Hispanic Americans
Asian Americans
American Indians
To Learning Objectives 9

10. Constitutionalism and democracy Equality originally for Anglos
The Ideological Context LO 20.2: Identify the core political values Texans hold, and distinguish between four distinct ideologies.
Photo caption: Does Texas have its own mythology?
The Texan Creed is based, in part, on the events that occurred at the Alamo and San Jacinto, when Texans defeated the troops of Santa Anna on April 21, 1836.
The Texas Creed
Individualism
Frontier era and the Texas Rangers
Liberty
Limited government
Symbol of the Alamo
Constitutionalism and democracy
Equality originally for Anglos
A greater emphasis on individualism and liberty than the American Creed
To Learning Objectives

11. Political Ideologies in Texas
Click the hyperlink to view a diagram illustrating the four types of ideologies in Texas.
Photo caption: Where do they fit ideologically?
A tea party rally in San Antonio in 2009 brought together a diverse group of individuals with a number of anti-government complaints. Pundits continue to assess the political and ideological basis of their positions.
Four ideologies in Texas
Libertarians
3 to 5%
Populist legacy
Conservatives in both parties
The liberal minority
To Learning Objectives 11

12. Which of the following values are most prominent in the Texas Creed?
Individualism and liberty
Liberty and equality
Constitutionalism and democracy
Equality and democracy
Constitutionalism and individualism
To Learning Objectives

13. Which of the following values are most prominent in the Texas Creed?
Individualism and liberty
Liberty and equality
Constitutionalism and democracy
Equality and democracy
Constitutionalism and individualism
To Learning Objectives 13

14. The Economy of Texas LO 20.3: Outline the transformation of the Texas economy from its dependence on agriculture and petroleum to a highly diverse, global economy.
Cotton
Cotton grown on slave plantations
Galveston port city
Cattle
Cattle kingdom inherited from Mexicans
Petroleum
1901 discovery at Spindletop
1980s bust
To Learning Objectives

15. The Contemporary Economy
LO 20.3
The Contemporary Economy
3rd largest state economy in the U.S.
50 years of diversification
Strong high tech industry
Global trade and NAFTA
Texas’s economy now tied to Mexico’s
To Learning Objectives 15

16. Today Texas’s economy relies on all of the following EXCEPT
oil.
cattle.
a high tech industry.
global trade.
corn.
To Learning Objectives

17. Today Texas’s economy relies on all of the following EXCEPT
oil.
cattle.
a high tech industry.
global trade.
corn.
To Learning Objectives 17

18. Wide disparities in income in TX
Income, Wealth, and Poverty in Texas LO 20.4: Analyze how disparities in income, wealth, and poverty among race and classes influences politics in Texas.
Click the hyperlink to view a table illustrating the disparities between ethnic groups in Texas.
Wide disparities in income in TX
Median income lower than national average
Significant differences between ethnic groups
TX is home to some of the nation’s poorest counties: largely Hispanic; twice the unemployment rate
To Learning Objectives 18

19. Which ethnic groups has the highest median household income?
LO 20.4
Which ethnic groups has the highest median household income?
Anglos
Hispanic Americans
African Americans
Asian Americans
None of the above
To Learning Objectives

20. Which ethnic groups has the highest median household income?
LO 20.4
Which ethnic groups has the highest median household income?
Anglos
Hispanic Americans
African Americans
Asian Americans
None of the above
To Learning Objectives 20

21. Elazar’s typology of political culture
Toward Reform: Political Culture and Welfare Reform LO 20.5: Assess the potential of welfare reforms within the context of the state’s political culture.
Elazar’s typology of political culture
TX: individualistic traditionalistic
Implications for social welfare policy:
46th in the quality of its health care program
48th in the % of children above the poverty level
49th in mental health expenditures
50th in the % of its population with health care insurance
To Learning Objectives

22. LO 20.5
How can Texas’s political culture be characterized based on Daniel Elazar’s typology?
Individualistic
Moralistic
Traditionalistic
Individualistic and traditionalistic
Traditionalistic and moralistic
To Learning Objectives

23. LO 20.5
How can Texas’s political culture be characterized based on Daniel Elazar’s typology?
Individualistic
Moralistic
Traditionalistic
Individualistic and traditionalistic
Traditionalistic and moralistic
To Learning Objectives 23

24. Table 20.1: How does the population of Texas compare to those of other large states?
Back
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25. Analyzing Visuals: Texas’s Population Projection
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26. Figure 20.1: What are the four ideologies?
The axes represent people’s attitudes concerning the use of government to achieve certain goals. The horizontal axis represents a person’s willingness to use governmental power to limit personal freedoms to maintain order. The vertical axis represents a person’s willingness to use governmental power to promote equality. Each ideology reflects a choice between conflicting values. For example, liberals oppose the use of governmental power to limit personal freedoms to maintain order, but support the use of governmental power to promote equality over protecting personal freedoms. On the other hand, conservatives support the use of governmental power to maintain order over protecting personal freedoms and support the protection of personal freedom over the use of governmental power to promote equality. Libertarians support the protection of personal freedom over the use of governmental power either to promote equality or to maintain order. Populists support the use of governmental power to maintain order and to promote equality over the protection of personal freedom.
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27. Table 20.2: How do U.S. and Texas incomes compare?
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