Texas Political Culture, Geography, and Demographics Overview

What is political culture?

A shared set of values, traditions, and beliefs about the scope and function of government.

What characterizes Texas's political culture?

A 'traditionalistic individualistic' culture emphasizing elite governance and limited government intervention.

What are the three patterns experiencing challenges in Texas's political culture?

One-Party Dominance, Provincialism, and Business Dominance.

What does One-Party Dominance refer to in Texas?

The historical dominance of conservative Democrats followed by conservative Republicans in state politics.

Define Provincialism in the context of Texas.

A narrow, limited view of the world often associated with rural values and traditionalism.

How does Business Dominance manifest in Texas politics?

Business groups significantly influence politics through campaign contributions, interest groups, and lobbyists.

What has shaped Texas's history, political life, and economy?

The relationship between the people and the land, influenced by various historical governance transitions.

What is the significance of Texas retaining ownership of its public lands?

It allowed for the privatization of public property, facilitating economic development.

What are the four distinct physical regions of Texas?

Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and Basin and Range Province.

What characterizes the Gulf Coastal Plains region?

Rich economic resources, significant population centers, and urbanization around major cities like Houston and Dallas.

What is the economic focus of the Interior Lowlands?

Predominantly agricultural with a rural conservative population and a growing green energy industry.

What challenges does the Great Plains region face?

Significant water resource challenges due to population growth and depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer.

What defines the Basin and Range Province?

A mountainous region with sparse rainfall, significant cultural and economic exchanges with Mexico.

What major economic changes has Texas experienced in the last 150 years?

Three waves of technological change, leading to a diverse economy with significant Fortune 500 presence.

What role did cotton play in Texas's economy?

Cotton cultivation began in 1821, making Texas the leading producer by the 1880s, influencing rural dependency.

How did the cattle industry evolve in Texas?

Boomed after the Civil War, now dominated by agribusiness, while Texas leads in livestock production.

When was oil discovered in Texas, and what was its impact?

Discovered in 1894, it became a major economic force, influencing transportation, urbanization, and politics.

What is the role of the Texas Railroad Commission today?

Originally regulated railroads, now crucial for regulating the oil and gas industry.

What recent advancements have influenced Texas's oil and gas industry?

Horizontal drilling and fracking have revitalized the industry, despite environmental concerns.

What is the significance of severance taxes in Texas?

They contribute significantly to the state's budget and fund major university endowments.

What challenges did the oil industry face during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Setbacks due to market gluts, but the industry rebounded in early 2022.

What is the relationship between Texas's political culture and its economy?

Economic interests often shape political values and governance, reflecting the state's historical context.

How does urbanization affect Texas's political culture?

Urbanization introduces new dimensions to political life, especially in economically dominant regions.

What historical factors contribute to the complexity of Texas's political culture?

Successive waves of settlement and diverse geographic influences create a multifaceted political landscape.

What are the criticisms regarding water resources in Texas?

There are concerns about the extensive use of water resources for drilling.

Which Texas metropolitan areas are known as national centers of the high-tech industry?

Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

What is the Texas Technology Corridor?

The area along I-35 from Dallas to San Marcos, housing major technology companies like Apple, Meta, and Tesla.

What was NAFTA?

The North American Free Trade Agreement aimed at eliminating tariffs and trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

What replaced NAFTA in 2018?

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

What are some changes introduced by the USMCA?

Provisions to protect American workers in the car industry, increased IP protections, and opening Canadian dairy and timber markets.

What role do military bases play in Texas's economy?

They contribute significantly to economic development and revenue generation for local communities.

What factors have contributed to Texas's population growth since the 1850s?

Natural increase, international immigration, and domestic immigration.

What was the percentage of non-Hispanic Whites in Texas in 1950?

74 percent.

What is the current percentage of non-Hispanic Whites in Texas as of July 2024?

39.6 percent.

What historical challenges did Latinos in Texas face?

They faced political inequality, White primaries, poll taxes, and political violence until the mid-twentieth century.

Who was Estavanico?

The first documented African in Texas, enslaved and brought by Spanish explorers in 1528.

What is commemorated as 'Juneteenth'?

The emancipation of African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1861.

What is the approximate percentage of Asian Americans in Texas?

About six percent.

What is the average age of the population in Texas as of 2023?

35.9 years.

What is urbanization?

The process of people moving from rural to urban areas.

What percentage of Texans reside in urban areas?

More than 83 percent.

What is Houston known for economically?

Oil refineries, chemical plants, healthcare research, and space technology.

What is the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex?

An economic region with multiple cities, known for banking, high-tech, and manufacturing jobs.

What contributed to San Antonio's population growth?

Military bases built during World War II and supporting businesses.

What is Austin recognized for in Texas?

Being the capital and a hub for government and high-tech industry, with significant growth in tech employment.

What major tech companies have increased their presence in Austin since 2019?

Snap, Tesla, Google, Oracle, Meta, and Apple.