Chapter 1 The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Political culture

Broadly shared values

Traditionalistic political culture

The belief that government should be dominated by political elites and guided by tradition — influenced by Southern culture.

Individualistic political culture

The belief that government should limit its role in society so citizens can freely pursue their economic self-interest — influenced by mid-Atlantic states.

Provincialism

A narrow view associated with rural values

White primary

A primary election in which only White people could vote — used to exclude minorities from political participation.

Poll tax

A state tax imposed as a requirement to vote. Eliminated in federal elections by the 24th Amendment (1964) and in state elections by the Supreme Court (1966).

Privatization of public property

The transfer of public lands to private ownership — Texas turned a large portion of its public lands over to private citizens.

Boom-and-bust cycle

An economic pattern tied to oil: a major new discovery collapses prices and triggers economic downturns. Became deeply embedded in Texas's economic mentality.

What is Texas's political culture classification?

"Traditionalistic individualistic" — a blend of elite-led

What three values define American political culture broadly?

Liberty

When did Republicans secure political control of Texas?

After redistricting in 2002. Significant two-party competition had emerged in the 1990s after over 100 years of Democratic dominance.

What group do Democrats count on for a political comeback in Texas?

The expanding young Latino population.

What three forces have weakened Texas's traditional provincialism?

1) Increasing urbanization

What is the most distinctive geographic characteristic of Texas?

Its size. Texas is the second-largest state (after Alaska) — 801 miles north to south and 773 miles east to west.

What are the four physical regions of Texas?

1) Gulf Coastal Plains

Which Texas region was the center of plantation life and now has urban Democratic areas?

The Gulf Coastal Plains. It also contains Texas's major oilfields and timber production.

Which Texas region is a Democratic stronghold with a large Latino population?

The Basin and Range Province — includes El Paso

What are the three waves of economic change in Texas?

Wave 1: Cotton and cattle. Wave 2: Oil (from 1901). Wave 3: High-tech digital economy (from the 1990s).

When and where was oil discovered in Texas

launching the oil era?

What is the Texas Railroad Commission and what does it actually regulate?

Created in 1890 by constitutional amendment

What share of U.S. cotton does Texas produce?

One-third of all cotton produced in the United States.

How did Texas's manufacturing ranking change in the 1990s?

Texas went from 7th to 2nd in the nation in total manufacturing employment.

What is USMCA and when was it passed?

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (2018)

Who is Texas's top export destination?

Mexico.

What are the three factors driving Texas's population growth?

1) Natural increase (births)

What percentage of Texans are Latino (2023)?

About 40.2%. Texas has roughly 11.7 million Latinos — about 19% of all Latinos in the United States.

Who was Henry B. Gonzalez and why is he significant?

In 1956

Who was Barbara Jordan and why is she historically significant?

In 1972

How does Texas's age profile compare to the national average?

Texas is younger: 32.4% under 18 (vs. 28.3% nationally) and only 12.9% aged 65+ (vs. 16.5% nationally) as of 2020.

What percentage of Texans live in urban areas?

85%. Urbanization and suburbanization are the forces driving modern Texas politics.