Introduction to Texas History and Politics

Texas is a complex product of diverse factors including cultural influences, a unique geography with a vast land area bordering a foreign nation, and thriving ports.
The state's development is characterized by complicated historical relations with European powers and a distinct experience during the United States Civil War and Reconstruction.
Economic history is marked by shifts from agriculture to industry, while political history involves transitions in dominance from one party to another.
Changing demographics continue to shape the state as people arrive to capitalize on economic opportunities.
To appreciate the Texas government fully, one must examine the past and present within the framework of political culture, identifying how the state is both "American" and "uniquely Texan."

The Six Flags of Texas: From Exploration to Statehood

Settlement of the territory began with North Asian groups migrating across the Bering Land Bridge. These groups spread throughout the Americas, eventually occupying Texas's plains, grasslands, and coastal woodlands.
Key indigenous groups included: * The Caddo: Settled primarily in Eastern Texas. * The Wichita: Occupied much of the Red River Valley and lowland grass plains. * The Karankawa: Resided along the coastal plains. * Great Horse Cultures: Located in the western parts of the state, including the Comanche, Apache, Kiowa, and Toccoa.
Six western countries have governed Texas over the last $500$ years, giving rise to the "Six Flags of Texas": Spain, France, The Republic of Mexico, The Republic of Texas, The United States of America, and the Confederate States of America.
Spain: * First modern European nation to claim Texas territory. * Alonso Alvarez did kinetic explored and mapped the coastline in $1519$ , over $100$ years before the pilgrims at Plymouth. * Francisco Vesquez de Coronado surveyed the interior in $1540$ ; finding no treasures, Spain largely abandoned the region for nearly a century and a half.
France: * Briefly claimed territory encompassing the Mississippi River system and parts of East and North Texas along the Red River. * Rene Robert Cafailure, Seir de los Al, led an expedition in $1685$ that overshot New Orleans and landed at Matagorda Bay. * Established Fort St. Louis, which was a failure due to poor leadership and inadequate supplies. Cafailure was killed by his own men in $1687$ , and the Karankawa destroyed the fort in $1688$ .

Spanish Return and Legal Legacies

Spurred by the discovery of Fort St. Louis in June $1689$ , the Spanish crown increased settlement via missions and presidios (fortified settlements) in East Texas.
The goal was to fend off French claims by bringing Spanish settlers, known as Tejanos, from Mexico.
Permanent settlements reached as far north and east as San Antonio.
Spanish influence remains in geographic names (rivers, cities, counties) and the introduction of livestock (horses, sheep, cattle).
Legal legacies from Spanish law include: * Community property laws. * Protections against the forced sale of property to pay debts. * The homestead exemption, which protects family homes from creditors and foreclosures, helping populate rural regions.

The Republic of Mexico and the Texas Revolution

Mexico declared independence from Spain in $1821$ . The Republic of Mexico (the third flag) included Spanish Texas.
In $1824$ , Texas was combined with another province to form the state of Coimbula in Texas.
The empresario land grant system attracted Southern US Anglos and the enslaved African Americans they brought, starting in the $1820s$ .
Conflict arose between the Catholic Spanish settlers and the newcomer Protestant Anglos, particularly over property rights and Mexico's brewing anti-slavery movement.
Antonio Lopez de Santana declared himself dictator, limiting Anglo economic freedom.
The revolt began in late $1835$ in Gonzales, Texas, over a $6$ -pound cannon. Defenders flew the "Come and Take It" flag.
Significant Military Events: * Siege of the Alamo: Continued for two weeks in February $1836$ . Under William B. Travis, all $187$ defenders died on March $6$ , $1836$ . * Provisional government declared independence on March $2$ , $1836$ . * Goliad Massacre: Santana captured and killed all $350$ of James Fannon's troops. * Runaway Scrape: A retreat of Texas forces and citizens toward Louisiana. * Battle of San Jacinto: On April $21$ , $1836$ , General Sam Houston's army defeated Santana. * Treaty of Velasco: Santana forced to sign, recognizing Texas's independence.

The Republic of Texas and Annexation

The Republic of Texas (fourth flag) existed from $1836$ to $1845$ .
The young nation struggled with debt, poor infrastructure, and hostilities with Mexico and indigenous groups.
Sam Houston, the first president, petitioned the US for statehood. The petition was initially denied due to the divisive issue of slavery and the need for a corresponding free state to maintain balance.
Immigration was promoted to stabilize the economy. The Adelspreuit Society promoted German immigration, bringing over $7,000$ Germans by $1847$ (settling Fredericksberg and the Hill Country). By $1850$ , Germans were $5.4\,\%$ of the population.
Annexation: Driven by Manifest Destiny, President Polk signed the act making Texas the $28th$ state on December $29$ , $1845$ .
Terms of Admission: Texas retained its public debt and public lands. In the Compromise of $1850$ , the US government purchased western parts of Texas (now New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma).
The US Flag (fifth flag) flew while tensions with Mexico remained.

The Mexican-American War and the Confederacy

Mexico broke diplomatic relations in $1845$ and attacked US troops on April $25$ , $1846$ , leading to war.
Mexican-American War ( $1846$ - $1848$ ): Ended with a US victory.
Treaty of Guadalupe Citalgo (and Gadsden Purchase in $1853$ ): The US gained Texas, California, and the land between them.
Secession: Texas joined the Confederacy (sixth flag) in $1861$ due to ties to the slave system. Despite being a founding leader, Sam Houston was evicted from the governorship for being a unionist. He died in $1863$ .
Geography during the Civil War: Settlements remained mostly east of the Balcones Escarpment. Westward expansion was limited by Native American groups (Comanche, Pan Apache, Kiowa, Tampawa) and the dry plains terrain.
Notable Civil War Battles in Texas ( $1863$ ): * Battle of Sabine Pass. * Battle of Galveston. * Battle of Palmetto Ranch: The final land conflict, occurring a month after Lee's surrender.
Approximately $90,000$ Texans served in the war.

Reconstruction and the 1876 Constitution

Reconstruction began in $1865$ with two goals: restoring order for readmission and dismantling slavery.
Juneteenth: General Gordon Granger issued General Order Number $3$ in Galveston on June $19$ , $1865$ , declaring all slaves free with "absolute equality of personal rights."
Constitutional Amendments: * $13th$ : Abolished slavery ( $1865$ ). * $14th$ : Citizenship and equal protection ( $1868$ ). * $15th$ : Right to vote for Black men ( $1870$ ).
Political Factions: * Southern Democrats: Confederate sympathizers wanting the status quo. * Republicans: "Carpetbaggers" (Northern newcomers) and "Scowags" (Southern supporters of Reconstruction).
1876 Constitution: Written after Democrats regained control under Richard Coke in $1874$ . It reflects a strong distrust of government and remains the state's fundamental law.
Post-Reconstruction saw the rise of one-party Democratic dominance lasting nearly $100$ years.

Economic Evolution of Texas

Cotton ( $1820s$ - $1860s$ ): Primary cash crop and economic mainstay.
Cattle: Post-Civil War mainstay, developing the "cow boy" culture.
Oil ( $1901$ ): The Spindletop field near Beaumont transformed the state into an industrial, urbanized society. * Urbanization: In $1900$ , less than $20\,\%$ lived in urban areas; by $1990$ , over $80\,\%$ did.
Diversification: The recession of the $1980s$ spurred a shift toward high-tech (Texas Instruments, software) and service industries.
Trade and NAFTA: Effective in $1994$ , NAFTA removed trade barriers between the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Current Standing: In $2022$ , Texas exported valuation of $\$485,600,000,000$ in goods, accounting for $23.5\,\%$ of all US exports. Mexico is the most important trading partner.
Service Industry: Employs roughly $10,000,000$ people as of December $2023$ .

Economic Regions of Texas

East Texas/Piney Woods: Timber, manufacturing; oil in decline.
The Plains (Lubbock/Amarillo): Agriculture (cotton, wheat), ranching, oil/gas extraction.
Gulf Coast (Houston/Corpus Christi): Petrochemicals, shipping, fishing, high-tech, organized labor.
Border Area (South Texas/Rio Grande Valley): Citrus, vegetables, trade with Mexico.
Metroplex (Dallas-Fort Worth): Financial center, aerospace, high-tech.
Central Corridor: Education (UT Austin, Texas A&M), military bases, high-tech.

Political Shift: From Democrat to Republican

Progressive Era: Democrats absorbed third-party movements like the Greenback party, Farmers Alliance, and Populists.
"Yellow Dog Democrats": Term for loyal partisans who would vote for a dog if it ran as a Democrat.
1952/1956: Faction known as "Shubbakrats" (conservative Democrats) supported Republican Eisenhower.
John Tower: First Republican US Senator from Texas since $1870$ , elected in $1861$ .
Bill Clements: Elected governor in $1878$ , signaling the shift for state offices.
Since $1980$ , a majority of Texans have voted Republican in every presidential election.
2002 Realignment: Republicans gained a majority in the Texas House and held all statewide elected offices.
Modern Landscape: Battleground Texas (PAC) launched in $2013$ to revitalize Democrats. Results remain mixed; Beto award was defeated by Greg Abbott in $2022$ by over $10$ percentage points.

Demographics and Religious Trends

Population Growth: Texas is the second most populous state. Population grew from $11,200,000$ in $1970$ to a $2023$ estimate of $30,503,301$ .
"Majority-Minority": Since $2004$ , racial/ethnic minorities outnumber non-Hispanic whites.
Racial Breakdown ( $2023$ ): * Non-Hispanic White: $39.8\,\%$ . * Hispanic: Just over $40\,\%$ . * African American ( $2019$ ): $12.8\,\%$ . * Asian American ( $2023$ ): $5.7\,\%$ .
Latino GDP: Estimated at $\$465,000,000,000$ in Texas, the second largest in the nation behind California.
Religion ( $2023$ ): Approximately $82\,\%$ of Texans affiliate with religion. $50\,\%$ are Protestant, $23\,\%$ are Catholic. * Megachurches: Lakewood Church in Houston has attendance exceeding $45,000$ . * Texas has $211$ megachurches with at least $2,000$ attendees.

Modern Challenges and Migration

COVID-19 Impact: First case confirmed February $13$ , $2020$ . Unemployment peaked at $12.9\,\%$ in April $2020$ , dropping to $4\,\%$ by late $2023$ .
Income: Median household income ( $\$73,035$ ) is below the national average ( $\$75,149$ ).
Poverty: $14\,\%$ poverty rate in $2023$ , compared to $11.5\,\%$ nationally.
Education: In the class of $2022$ , the on-time graduation rate was $89.7\,\%$ . Lagging metrics exist for bachelors degree completion compared to the US average.
Migration: About $1,000$ people move to Texas daily. $29\,\%$ of growth since $2010$ is from international sources. Most domestic immigrants come from California, Florida, and New York.
Hate Crimes: $56.8\,\%$ motivated by race/ethnicity/ancestry in $2022$ . Antisemitism has risen; Jewish individuals are targets of $55\,\%$ of religiously motivated hate crimes.

Texas Political Culture and Ideology

Political Culture: Attitudes, values, and beliefs about the role of government.
Elazar's Subcultures: * Moralistic: Government as a positive instrument for the "good society." * Individualistic: Government as a marketplace/utilitarian entity; minimal intervention. * Traditionalistic: Government to maintain the existing social order/elite control.
Texas classifies as Traditionalistic-Individualistic. It features limited government, multi-elected officials, and a weak governorship with more power in the legislature.
Dominant Ideologies: * Classical Liberalism: Focus on limited government, individual rights, and free markets. * Social Conservatism: Opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage; defense of religious liberty and prayer in schools. * Populism: Distrust of big business and banks; historically supports federal help for small businesses/farmers while maintaining conservative values. * Progressivism: View of government as a potent force for social good, favoring regulation and welfare systems.

Questions & Discussion

Questions for Consideration: * Based on history, would you have voted for Texas's annexation in $1844$ or $1845$ ? What are the strongest arguments for and against? * How have settlement patterns affected the character and culture of your hometown? * Why do urban areas vote differently than rural areas in modern elections? What issues could unite them? * In light of religious diversity, what can citizens do to promote a more inclusive environment for religious minorities? * Which of Elazar's three political cultures do you think is best and why?
Map Reading Steps: * Step $1$ : Orientation (Compass rose, longitude/latitude). * Step $2$ : Type of map (Physical, political, historic, statistical, thematic). * Step $3$ : Scale (Ratio of measurement). * Step $4$ : Key/Legend (Symbols directory).