Texas Geography, History, and Political Culture

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers Texas's history, geographic impacts, demographic shifts, and the specific political subcultures that define the state's identity as outlined in the lecture notes.

The Alamo

The site of the historic $1836$ siege and battle in downtown San Antonio that serves as a popular tourist destination.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

One of the key historical events in the path to Texas statehood, alongside the Revolution of Texas and the Mexican-American war.

February 19, 1846

The official date of formal statehood for Texas.

Geographic Size Insulation

A benefit of the state's large size which insulated Texas from the large, corrupt party machines of the nineteenth century.

Geographic Size Stifling

A cost of the state's large size that hindered the development of beneficial groups meant to support community interests.

Urbanization Rate

Percentage representing the portion of Texans living in cities and suburbs, which is approximately $88\%$.

2013 Population Estimate

The total number of people in Texas was estimated at $26,448,193$.

Top Civilian Employment Sector

Educational services, health care, and social assistance, which accounts for $20.8\%$ of employment.

Political Myths

Stories pervasive in literature and popular culture used to describe the past and common historical or cultural experiences.

Myth of Origin

A Texas political myth rooted in individualism, often symbolized by the Alamo and the Lone Star State.

Frontier Myth

A Texas political myth rooted in individualism, symbolized by Cowboys and Texas Rangers.

Political Culture

A set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments that give order and meaning to behavior and the role of government.

Daniel Elazar

The scholar who identified three political subcultures in the United States based on immigration patterns.

Individualistic Subculture

A subculture where politics is viewed as a marketplace and the government's purpose is to provide a stable order for private interests.

The Texas Ranger

A figure representing the frontier myth of individualism, but also a symbol of violent suppression to many Hispanics and minorities.

Moralistic Subculture

A subculture where the purpose of government is to serve the general good and there is a sense of duty to provide benefits for all.

Traditionalistic Subculture

A subculture where government is designed to serve the interests of a few and systematic efforts are made to reduce public participation.

Texas Subcultural Identity

The state's political culture is characterized as a combination of Individualistic and Traditionalistic.

Tejas

A Native American word meaning allies or friends, which became the geographic name for Texas.

V. O. Key

A scholar of American politics who observed that Texas voters divide along class lines in accord with their class interests.

Texas Median Age (2010)

Texas ranked forty-ninth among the states with a median age of $33.6$ years, compared to the national average of $37.2$ years.

Texas Urban Triangle

The geographic area where most Texans live and where the majority of future population growth is expected to occur.

Colonia

A settlement along the Texas-Mexico border characterized by substandard housing and little access to running water or sewer lines.

Gross State Product

The value of Texas's economy, which is estimated at $\$1.2$ trillion.

NAFTA

The North American Free Trade Agreement, which is a significant factor in the economic transformation of Texas.