Chapter 1 Notes: Introduction to Texas History and Politics

Introduction to Texas History and Politics

Chapter context: Introduction to Texas history and politics; theme that learning changes everything.
Core idea: Texas history and politics are deeply intertwined with geography, culture, immigration, economics, and national events.
Scope: From pre-Columbian eras to modern politics; emphasizes how waves of colonization, independence movements, civil conflict, Reconstruction, economic revolutions (cotton, cattle, oil), and demographic shifts shape Texas today.

Geography, Inhabitants, and Early Encounters

Texas geography and multicultural environment influence culture, economy, and politics.
First residents are believed to have crossed the Bering Strait; over time evolved into many native tribes.
European exploration left lasting influences on laws and culture; Civil War and Reconstruction also shaped Texas.
In the last 500 years, Texas has been governed by six countries, reflecting its borderland location and shifting sovereignties.

Flags and Colonial Eras: Spain to Mexico

Spain’s claim to Texas dates to as early as 1519; Spanish Texas covered only a portion of today’s state.
Spanish exploration and the search for treasures drove early claims; many Spanish laws and place names persisted.
France briefly claimed parts of the Texas region, centered on the Mississippi River system and adjacent Mexican claims; Fort Saint Louis (1685) was established on the Texas coast but failed due to supply issues and was destroyed by Karankawa Indians.

Spain Returns and Settler Society

1689 discovery of Fort Saint Louis remnants prompted Spain to re-enter Texas via missions and presidios, mainly in eastern/Southern Texas.
Spanish settlers were known as Tejanos.
Legacy: many of today’s place names and laws reflect Spanish influence.
With the 1803 United States purchase of the Louisiana Territory, new settlement patterns emerged; Anglos (non-Hispanic white North Americans of European descent, often English-speaking) began to move into the region.
Spanish–Mexican relations deteriorated; Mexico declared independence in 1821.

The Republic of Mexico and Settlement Policies

The territory of Texas became part of the Mexican Republic; the area was combined with a Mexican state to form Coahuila y Tejas.
Empresario: a person contracted with Spanish/Mexican governments to recruit settlers in exchange for land claims.
Many settlers from the southern states brought enslaved people; land policies and settlement patterns shaped Texas society.
Decrees limiting property rights and economic freedoms for Anglos contributed to dissent among settlers.
The Texan revolt began in 1835; tensions included religious differences (Protestant settlers vs Catholic Spanish/Mexican regime).
When Antonio López de Santa Anna became president, Mexican troops were sent to quell the rebellion.
On March 2, 1836, the provisional government of Texas declared independence from Mexico.

Gonzales and the Come and Take It Flag

Late 1835: Texan and Mexican forces clashed over a small six-pound cannon at Gonzales.
Texan defenders raised a flag reading “Come and Take It” beneath a lone star and cannon, symbolizing Texan resolve.

The Republic of Texas (Independence and War) (Part 1)

The Republic’s fourth national flag flew during its early years; independence from Mexico was contested and hard-won.
The Battle of the Alamo (March 6, 1836): Texan forces were outnumbered but fought to the death; Santa Anna ordered no quarter.
Santa Anna ordered the execution of captured Texas General James Fannin’s troops.
Sam Houston captured Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto; Santa Anna signed the Treaty of Velasco recognizing Texas’s independence.
Postwar economics: the new republic carried debt and struggled to meet minimum obligations.
Texas sought U.S. statehood, but the issue of slavery (whether Texas would be a slave or free state) blocked admission initially.

The Republic of Texas (Independence and War) (Part 2)

After independence, Texas faced debt and governance challenges as a new republic until it sought statehood.
The slave issue shaped the political dynamics with the United States; resistance from northern states contributed to delays in statehood acceptance.

The Battle of Texas Independence and its Aftermath

The Alamo and San Jacinto became emblematic of Texan resolve and contributed to a short-lived confidence in independence.
The Treaty of Velasco established Texas as an independent republic until its eventual statehood in 1845.

The Republic of Texas: Life Between Wars (1836–1845)

From 1836 to 1845, Texas struggled to survive as an independent entity with ongoing border disputes with Mexico and conflicts with Native American tribes.
Fiscal and infrastructural weaknesses persisted; however, the republic offered broad land to attract settlers.
Ethnic diversity expanded with German immigration (Adelsverein) to the Hill Country; Czechoslovakian settlers settled around West, Texas.

Manifest Destiny and Statehood: The Twenty-Eighth State (1845)

The idea of Manifest Destiny framed U.S. expansion from Atlantic to Pacific; Texas achieved statehood in 1845.
The U.S. flag became the fifth to fly over Texas.
Texas retained its public debt; the U.S. government purchased lands designated for federal use.
The 1850 Compromise resolved territorial boundaries between free and slave states; Texas boundaries were settled as part of the compromise.

Mexican–American War and Territorial Changes

Mexico objected to U.S. annexation; Mexican–American War (1846–1848) followed; the U.S. emerged victorious.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Gadsden Purchase expanded U.S. territory to include Texas, California, and lands between them.

Map and Territorial Boundaries (1850s)

Map 1.1 (Compromise of 1850) shows current Texas borders and territories transferred to federal government; New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, etc., adjusted; Pecos River and Rio Grande region noted as Sold to the United States in 1850.

The Confederate State of Texas and the Civil War Years

From 1848 to 1860, settlement surged from the South and Europe; Texas’s economy increasingly linked to the Southern slave economy.
Texas seceded from the Union in 1861 and joined the Confederacy; the Confederate flag was the sixth national flag to fly over Texas.
Not all Texans supported secession; Sam Houston, the first Texas governor, was removed for opposing secession.

Civil War Effects on Texas (Part 1)

The Civil War was brutal and costly; roughly $90{,}000$ Texans served in the war.
France briefly attempted to prop up Maximilian in Mexico, but did not provide substantial support to the Confederacy.

Civil War Effects on Texas (Part 2)

In 1863, Confederate forces recaptured Galveston; naval forces captured the USRC Harriet Lane while CS Neptune was lost.

Geographic Constraints and Settlement Patterns During the Civil War

Balcones Escarpment limited western Anglo expansion; most settlements were in the Eastern and Southern parts of the state.
Dry, arid plains west of the Escarpment were unsuitable for plantation agriculture and provided challenges to invading forces.
U.S. forts were abandoned during the Civil War; Native Americans continued to be dominance in many areas.

The Balcones Escarpment

A geographical feature west of I-35 in Central Texas that influenced settlement and military movement.

Reconstruction in Texas (1865–1870s)

Immediately after the war, Texas fell under Union military occupation; Reconstruction aimed to restore law and order and readmit southern states to the Union.
Reconstruction produced a culture clash between Confederate sympathizers and Union supporters; carpetbaggers and scalawags appeared in the political landscape.
On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger issued General Order #3 in Galveston, declaring slaves free and granting full citizenship rights; Juneteenth commemorates this event.
In 1866, Texas adopted a constitution abolishing slavery, nullifying secession, and canceling wartime debt.
African Americans gained the right to vote; whites who participated in the Civil War lost that right.
The so-called “carpetbagger” constitution was short-lived and replaced in 1869 due to Reconstruction acts and military rule; Texas formally rejoined the Union in 1870.

Post-Civil War Constitutional Amendments

13th Amendment: Abolished slavery.
14th Amendment: Granted former slaves citizenship and required due process and equal protection under the law.
15th Amendment: Gave male African-Americans the right to vote.

Reconstruction in Texas: The 1876 Constitution and One-Party Dominance

After martial law ceased, Southern Democrats regained control with the 1874 elections.
The 1876 Texas Constitution embodied distrust of government institutions and emphasized individual liberties; it established the framework for state government for decades.
African Americans lost many rights gained under previous constitutions; the constitution has since undergone hundreds of amendments but remains a foundational document.

Post-Reconstruction Texas: Land and Land-Based Economy

Texas developed a land-based economy, with land as the primary source of wealth.
Land incentives attracted settlers; a sitio or legua was granted, equating to about $4{,}428$ acres of land.
By the 1820s, settlers demanded generous land incentives due to travel hardships and survival needs.
Land ownership played a key role in the 1836 Texas Revolution and the 1845 annexation by the United States.

Post-Reconstruction Texas: Transformation of the Economy (Cotton to Cattle to Oil)

1820s–1860s: Cotton farming dominated the economy.
Postwar decades saw cattle emerge as the economic mainstay; large ranches fostered cowboy culture and the frontier mystique.
1901: Spindletop near Beaumont marked a dramatic economic shift; oil transformed Texas’s economy and politics.

Spindletop and the Texas Oil Boom

The Spindletop oil strike catalyzed a transition from an agricultural economy to an industrial one.
Oil attracted workers from across the United States and abroad, contributing to rapid population growth and urbanization.

Population Shifts and Urbanization

1900: less than 20% of Texans lived in urban areas.
1950: urban share rose to about 63%; 1990: over 80% urban.
2010: urban share around $88.7\%$ ; rural share around $11.3\%$ (note: source text lists 15.3% rural; figures reflect historical data and slide context).

Late 20th Century to Contemporary Economy and Policy

1970s–1980s: Oil price increases spurred growth; later declines prompted calls for economic diversification.
Policy responses included participation in NAFTA (1994) and later updates via USMCA; growth in high-technology sectors and R&D.
By the 21st century, Texas’s economy diversified beyond energy to services, technology, manufacturing, and international trade.

Today’s Texas: Service Economy, Exports, and Regions

Service industries dominate: accounting, legal, computer services; construction, engineering, management; health care and education services due to population growth.
Leisure and hospitality industries expanded with growth in population and tourism.
Top Exports (2018): ext{Petroleum and coal products}
ightarrow 56.3 ext{ billion dollars}, ext{Computers and electronics}
ightarrow 47.9 ext{ billion}, ext{Chemicals}
ightarrow 46.2 ext{ billion}, ext{Transportation equipment}
ightarrow 25.1 ext{ billion}, ext{Machinery (excluding electrical)}
ightarrow 22.6 ext{ billion}

Texas’s Economic Regions and Regional Specialization

The Texas Comptroller divides the state into 12 economic regions; for discussion six core regions are highlighted:
- East Texas (Piney Woods)
- The Plains
- Gulf Coast
- Border area of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley
- The Metroplex (Dallas–Fort Worth)
- The Central Corridor (midstate region)
Regional specializations:
- East Texas: timber, agriculture, and oil; major cities: Tyler, Longview, Texarkana.
- Plains: agriculture, ranching, oil and gas; major cities: Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland–Odessa.
- Gulf Coast: petrochemicals, manufacturing, shipping, fishing, high-tech; major cities: Houston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont.
- South Texas/Rio Grande Border: citrus fruits and vegetables; major city: El Paso.
- Metroplex: financial center with banking, manufacturing, high-tech, aerospace.
- Central Corridor: universities, state government, high-tech, and major military bases.

Texas Politics: From Democrat to Republican (Overview)

Post-Reconstruction, the Democratic Party dominated Texas politics until the mid-1970s; third parties rose during the Progressive Era.
By the early 20th century, Texas effectively operated as a one-party state with factions within the Democratic label (Progressive Democrats and Conservative Democrats); voters often identified as "Yellow Dog Democrats" (voting only for Democrats).

Political Realignment: 20th Century to Early 21st Century

Through World War II, most Texas Democrats were conservative; as the national party expanded government, conservatives became disenchanted and shifted support away from national Democratic tickets.
The civil rights movement in the 1950s–60s further propelled conservative realignment, with Republicans gaining traction in national races and gradually in state/local offices.
By 2002, Texas had a fully Republican statewide majority; Democrats were voted out of several key offices; redistricting reinforced Republican majorities in both state and federal legislatures.

The Modern Republican Era and Ongoing Realignment

Over the past two decades, Texas has remained a Republican-dominant state, though Democrats have made some gains (notably in 2016 and 2018, and mixed results in 2020).
Voters: a strong conservative tilt persists; many voters identify as conservative across public policy areas.
Redistricting has generally solidified Republican majorities for both state and federal offices.

National and Local Issues: Economic Challenges and Demographics

Economic resilience during the 2008 financial crisis: Texas weathered the recession relatively well due to diversification across energy, agriculture, trade, services, utilities, and professional sectors; business-friendly policies supported stability.
2010s boom: some large corporations established or relocated headquarters in Texas (e.g., Hewlett-Packard, Toyota, Tesla); diversification increased.
COVID-19 impact (2020): unemployment spiked to $12.9\%$ in April 2020; supply chains and closures affected the economy; by 2022, unemployment declined and the economy recovered.

National and International Factors: Education, Income, and Immigration

National education and income trends intersect with Texas dynamics; incomes in Texas are slightly below the national mean and poverty rates are slightly higher than national averages; educational attainment lags in some measures (high school completion and bachelor’s degrees).
Immigration and in-migration shape Texas demography and politics:
- In-migration contributed to about $29\%$ of population growth since 2010.
- Push factors include housing costs, climate, and job opportunities; origins increasingly include California and Florida; Katrina (2005) and 2008 financial crisis also influenced migration patterns.

Migration and Demographics: Movement into Texas

Table 1.2 (Migration to Texas from Other States, 2019) provides state-origin and numbers:
- California: $82{,}235$
- Florida: $41{,}238$
- Louisiana: $24{,}513$
- Georgia: $24{,}209$
- Illinois: $23{,}747$
- Oklahoma: $23{,}535$
- New Mexico: $23{,}425$
Legal immigration into Texas (2019): $153{,}502$ from Mexico (the largest nation of origin); unauthorized immigrants estimated at about $1.9\text{ million}$ .
Since the recession, Mexican immigrants returning to Mexico temporarily rose, but by 2018 the trend reversed; immigration from Asia is on the rise.

Demographics: Population Composition and Trends

Since 2004, Texas has been a majority-minority state: combined minority groups exceed non-Hispanic Whites.
As of 2021:
- Non-Hispanic Whites: $41.2\%$ of the population (numerical minority).
- Hispanics/Latinos: $39.7\%$ .
- Asian Americans: $5.2\%$ ; African Americans: $12.8\%$ (growth and stability vary by group).
Minority political influence: Hispanic voters and leaders have become a major force in Texas politics; growing Asian and other minority communities contribute to demographic shifts.

Focus On 1: How Government Defines “Hispanic”

Hispanic/Latino identity is an ethnicity, not a race.
Census basis: self-identification; individuals who report as Hispanic can be of any race.
There are multiple contemporary self-identification categories used in popular usage for Latinos.

Religion in Texas and its Political Role

Catholic influence stems from Spanish/Mexican roots; Protestantism, especially conservative evangelical Protestantism, is influential in Texas politics.
Approximately $82\%$ of Texans affiliate with a religious tradition (2014 survey).
About $75\%$ identify as Christians; Protestants account for roughly $50\%$ of the population; about one-third of Texans are evangelical Protestants, who skew Republican.

Religious Affiliation in Texas (2014) – Table 1.1

Evangelical Protestant: $31\%$
Mainline Protestant: $13\%$
Historically Black Protestant: $6\%$
Catholic: $23\%$
Mormon: $1\%$
Jehovah’s Witness: $1\%$
Orthodox Christian: <$1\%$
Other Christian: $1\%$
Jewish: $1\%$
Muslim: $1\%$
Buddhist: $1\%$
Hindu: $1\%$
Other World Religions: <$1\%
Other Faiths: 1\%
Unaffiliated: 18\%

Religion and Party Identification

Figure 1.4 shows party identification by religious affiliation:
- Historically Black Protestants lean Democratic; Catholics lean Democratic more than Republican.
- Evangelical Protestants lean Republican; other Protestant and unaffiliated groups show varied patterns.

Texas Political Culture: Definitions and Types

Political culture defines attitudes, values, and beliefs about government’s proper role in society.
Elazar’s typology (Types of Political Culture 1):
- Moralistic subculture: government is a positive force to achieve the common good.
- Individualistic subculture: government benefits the individual; government is a necessary evil.
- Traditionalistic subculture: government maintains the existing political order for a small elite.

Political Culture in Texas and the States

Map 1.3 shows regional cultural patterns: traditionalistic (South/old Confederacy), individualistic (Midwest/parts of the West), and moralistic (Northeast and some Western states).
Texas’s early settlers contributed to a traditionalistic influence, with some individualistic elements from German and Midwestern settlers in West Texas.
The state’s government structure aligns with traditionalistic/individualistic models: limited government, power dispersed among officials, weak executive authority, limited business regulation, and modest environmental regulation.

Populism, Progressivism, and Ideological Mix

Texas political culture blends classical liberalism (individual rights, limited government, rule of law, free market) with social conservatism (abortion, traditional family values, school prayer).
Populists advocate for government action to aid small businesses, farmers, and ranchers against large corporations and foreign competition.
A substantial minority supports progressive liberalism: greater government intervention in the economy, stronger welfare programs, more business regulation, and resistance to social conservatism.

Conclusion: Texas’s Unique Position

Texas occupies a special position within the United States; state government must navigate issues common to other states and issues unique to Texas.
Its political culture, shaped by early settlers and historical experiences, continues to shape government responses and policy outcomes.

Accessibility and Visual Aids (Notes Only)

Slide text and figures accompany the material; text alternatives available for images and maps (e.g., MAP 1.1, Figure 1.1, Figure 1.2, Figure 1.3).
These aids illustrate boundaries, exports, and regional divisions, but the notes above summarize the core concepts and data.

Key Data and Formulas (Quick Reference)

Land grant size: 1 ext{ sitio} ext{ (land grant)}
oughly ext{ equals } 1 ext{ legua}
ightarrow 4{,}428 ext{ acres}.
Unemployment (COVID impact, 2020): 12.9\%.
Population migration (in-migration share, since 2010): 29\%.
Legal immigrants from Mexico (2019): 153{,}502.
Unauthorized immigrants in Texas (approximate, 2019): 1.9\text{ million}.
Population shares (2021): Non-Hispanic White 41.2\% $; Hispanic/Latino$ 39.7\% $; Asian$ 5.2\% $; African American$ 12.8\%.
Top exports (2018): Petroleum and coal products 56.3\text{ B} $; Computers and electronics$ 47.9\text{ B} $; Chemicals$ 46.2\text{ B} $; Transportation equipment$ 25.1\text{ B} $; Machinery (excl. electrical)$ 22.6\text{ B}.
1850 Compromise and territorial boundary settlements affected state borders (referenced in MAP 1.1).
13th/14th/15th Amendments (post-Civil War): Abolish slavery; citizenship and due process; voting rights for African American men. ext{13}^{ ext{th}}, ext{14}^{ ext{th}}, ext{15}^{ ext{th}}.$$

Connections to Earlier and Later Content

Links to foundational concepts: geography shaping settlement patterns; the slavery question influencing statehood and federal relations; the evolution from an agrarian to an industrialized, urban economy.
Real-world relevance: Texas as a case study in regional economic diversification, demographic change, and political realignment that mirrors broader national trends.
Ethical and practical implications: immigration policy, minority political influence, economic inequality, and the balance between conservative social values and progressive economic ideas.