1950s TX: Political Changes
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Essential Questions:
– Analyze the political,
economic, and social
impact of political
controversies such as
desegregation and
communism
– Identify the different
points of view of
political parties in the
1950s
Political Parties Divide
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After WWII, Republicans
and Democrats both had
members who disagreed
on world affairs, New
Deal programs, and
segregation.
New political stances
liberal (loose on
tradition), conservative
(strong on tradition), and
moderate (in the middle)
emerged.
– Ex: “Conservative
Democrats”
The Dixiecrats
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Southern Democrats were
not happy with President
Harry S. Truman, a
moderate Democrat,
when he desegregated
the military in 1948.
Those favoring
segregation nominated
Strom Thurmond of S.
Carolina to run against
him in 1948.
– Formed the States’ Rights
Democratic Party, or
“Dixiecrats”; won 4 states,
but party later dissolved.
1948 U.S. Presidential Election
The “Tidelands” Controversy
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Texans were upset that the
federal government refused to
allow Texas’s sovereignty
beyond 3 miles from the
coast—where potential of oil
and gas was worth billions!
Dwight Eisenhower, a
Republican running for
President in 1952, promised
Democrat Governor Allan
Shivers he would sign a bill
giving the tidelands to Texas if
money from the tidelands went
to support Texas schools.
Shivers-Eisenhower Connection
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Governor Shivers organized
“Democrats for Eisenhower” in
1952.
Shiver’s name was on the
ballot for both parties—he won
the election.
“Ike” also won and became
president.
Shivers helped modernize
Texas government by
supporting funding for state
hospitals, retired teachers and
state employees, and roads
and bridges.
1952 U.S. Presidential Election
New Highways and Suburbs
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President Eisenhower
supported an interstate
highway system to
connect states with
quality roads.
The Gulf Freeway, or I45, in Houston was the
first interstate in TX.
Developers purchased
property miles from the
city and began building
residential areas called
suburbs (ex: Kingwood).
Houston Suburban Areas
Drought in 1950s Texas
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An extended drought
began drying up
reservoirs, wells, and
rivers causing extensive
damage and destruction.
It ended in 1957, but:
– cities built new reservoirs
– ranchers built more stock
ponds
– farmers turned more to
irrigation
– the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers built more dams
across Texas rivers
The Warren Court
President Eisenhower
appointed Earl Warren Chief
Justice of the Supreme
Court.
 In the 1950s and 1960s the
court consistently decided in
favor of those seeking to
end discrimination.
 In 1967, President Lyndon
B. Johnson appointed
Thurgood Marshall, the first
African American justice to
the Supreme Court.
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School Desegregation
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In Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896),
the Supreme Court ruled that
racial segregation was legal as
long as facilities of both races
were equal.
In the Brown vs. Board of
education of Topeka, Kansas
case (1954), the Court ruled
racial segregation in public
schools was unconstitutional—
schools were ordered to
desegregate.
Mansfield ISD in TX was the
last to integrate in 1965.
It took 20 years for
desegregation to fully occur.
Desegregation of Public
Facilities
Minorities were still denied
access to public facilities,
parks, libraries, and
swimming pools even
though their taxes helped
them. They sued to gain
access.
 A popular way to resist
court desegregation orders
was to turn operation of city
facilities over to private
clubs that maintained
discrimination.
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The “Red Scare”
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The fear about the rise of
communism led to many
people, including labor unions
and civil rights workers, being
accused of Communist ties.
Senator Joseph McCarthy of
Wisconsin accused many U.S.
military leaders and politicians
of being Communists.
“McCarthyism” spread as some
Hollywood stars were
blacklisted too.
John Henry Faulk, an Austin
native and radio star for CBS,
was accused and fired. But he
sued for libel and won!