Chapter 20 The Context for Texas Politics and Government Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 American Government 2006 Edition (to accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, Texas, and Essentials Editions) O’Connor and Sabato

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Roots of Texas Politics and Government  Native Americans Few today, but their legacy is substantial Caddo Only three tribes on reservations in Texas  Alabama-Coushatta  Kickapoo  Tigua Controversy over gambling  Hispanics Spanish colonization Many cultural norms and legal traditions are their legacy Mexican colonization relatively limited until 1890 and Hispanics have political clout

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Roots of Texas Politics and Government  African Americans Inhabited Texas since Spanish rule Mexican government opposed slavery When slavery legalized population increased but was halted by the Civil War Out-migration from rural to urban areas due to agricultural and economic changes

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Roots of Texas Politics and Government  Asian Americans First permanent Asian residents probably Chinese immigrants working for the railroad Japanese colonization in 1903 Vietnamese came due to Vietnam War in 1970s  Anglos Non-Hispanic whites Early settlement in mostly southerners from TN, KY, AR, and NC Anglos dominated politics and government in TX since its independence from Mexico in 1836.

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Contemporary Population of Texas  Patterns of settlement by Texas’ first residents are still evident today.  Fast growing and urbanizing  Ethnic composition is changing

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Contemporary Population of Texas  Hispanics will become the principal ethnic group and Anglos will lose their majority status.  Politics and government are likely to change. Important issues for Hispanics: jobs. Hispanic ideology: divided across categories. View on government: Hispanics tend to see government positively as a problem solver.  Less regressive tax code  Health care spending

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Ideological Context  Texan Creed A set of ideals- primarily individualism and liberty – that shape Texas politics and government  Individualism: the belief that each person should act in accordance with his or her own conscience. Frontier era: period when Texas constituted a border between American civilization and an area inhabited by a hostile, indigenous population. Texas Rangers: mounted militia formed to provide order on the frontier.  Liberty: belief that government should not infringe upon a person’s individual rights. The Alamo

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Four Ideologies

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Ideological Context  Constitutionalism Limits placed on government through a written document  Equality The belief that all individuals should be treated similarly, regardless of socio-economic status  American Creed Set of ideas that provide a national identify, limit government, and structure politics in America  Individualism, equality, liberty, constitutionalism, and democracy

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 Political Ideologies in Texas  Libertarianism Emphasize strongly the autonomy of the individual and the minimal role of government  Populism Supports the promotion of equality and of traditional values and behaviors  Conservatism Believe government should not promote equality, but they support government regulation of individual behavior to ensure an ordered liberty  Liberalism Favors a government that uses its authority to promote equality but that leaves an individual free to make moral or personal decisions

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 The Economy of Texas  Cotton  Cattle  Petroleum  Contemporary Economy More diverse, nationalized, globalized

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2006 Wealth and Poverty in Texas  Poverty more pronounced in Texas than in the nation as a whole. More prevalent among certain ethnic groups  Hispanics – 25%  African Americans – 23 %  Anglos – 8 %