Political Culture of Texas
The Ideological and
Socioeconomic Context of
Texas
Politics and Government
• Political Culture
• Political Ideology and
Socialization
• The Economy of Texas
• The People of Texas
Political Culture
• Political Culture is a people’s shared
framework of values, beliefs, and
habits of behavior related to
government politics.
Relationship between government and
people
Rights and responsibility of people
Obligations of government
Limits on government authority
Political Culture
and Political Ideology
• Political ideology is a consistent set of
beliefs and attitudes concerning the
scope and purpose of government.
• Texas political ideology is described in
terms of three different ideals
– Classic liberalism
– Social conservatism
– Populism
• Overlapping focus results in low taxes
and low government service in Texas,
Texas Individualism
• Product of 17th Century
Anglo/European Protestantism.
• Society based on land ($.125 per
acre).
• Frontier setting lasts four decades.
• Conflict with Native Americans.
• Adaptation:
– Ranching for agriculture
– Texas cowboy (vaquero)
– Texas Ranger
Classic Liberalism
• Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
• Individualism – as long as rights of others
are not restricted.
• Opposed to government control to attain
social objectives.
• Religious tolerance and protection of civil
liberties.
• Reliance on “Laissez faire” – free market
economy.
Social Conservatism
• John Adams and Alexander Hamilton
• Embrace traditional hierarchical social
relations.
• View social change as a threat to
established practices and beliefs.
• Accept use of government to reinforce
traditions.
Populism
• Primarily concerned with protecting the
ordinary people.
• Stresses use of government to regulate
both society and the economy.
• Conflicting approaches
– Government regulation to aid farmers
– Lower taxes on middle and upper classes.
Contemporary Liberals
• Promote use of government to
economic, political and social equality.
• Leaves individual free to make moral or
personal decisions without government
influence.
• Has its roots in Franklin Roosevelt’s
“New Deal” and Lyndon Johnson’s
“Great Society”.
One Dimensional Political Spectrum
Left Wing
Radical
Liberal
Center
Right Wing
Moderate Conservative
Reactionary
Status Quo
The Political Ideological Group Spectrum
6-6
Four Texas Ideologies
Equality
Results
•Liberalism
Equality
•Libertarianism
Opportunity
Individualism
Liberty
•Populism
•Conservatism
Ordered Liberty
David Nolan Ideology Graph
Libertarian Expansion to 3 Dimensions
Online Quiz
Acquisition of Political Ideas
• General Socialization – learning manners
and proper etiquette.
• Political Socialization - learning political
values and beliefs.
• “Texans are made not born!”
• Agents of Political Socialization
– Family
– School
– Religion
– Media
Family Influence
• Identification with:
– Ethnicity
– Race
– Religion
– Class
• Has to be successfully articulated by
parents, understood by children and
perceived as important.
School Influence
• Introduction of substance as well as
different, contradictory points of view.
• More important in Texas than in other
states. (Alamo vs Bunker Hill)
Influence of Religion
• Provide a significant part of a society’s
value infrastructure.
• Disagreements over religious doctrine
and public policy.
– Abortion
– Rights of women
– Rights of Gays and Lesbians
Media Influence
• For adults the principal agent is the
mass media.
• Includes printed material, broadcast
news, on-line services, and various
entertainment media.
• Television by far the most influential,
53% of the population consider it
their source of events.
• Can be manipulated by the journalist
or producer/director.
The Texas Economy
• Cotton - Heart of the early economy
– First real economy but gave way to
cattle after the civil war.
• Cattle - Continuation of Mexican
free range steers/cattle
• Oil - 20th century growth industry
until late 1940. Cheaper to import oil.
1973 embargo and boom. Crash in
mid 1980s.
• Diversification – manufacturing,
technology and services.
Economic Ideals and
Concerns
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Entrepreneurship
Creation of Wealth
Aversion to Taxation
Aversion to Government Services
Importance of Public Education
Texas Social Workforce
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60% Anglo
25% Hispanic
12% African American
2% Asian American
1% Native American
Texas Economy Today
• Diversification, nationalization and
globalization
• Agriculture $13 Billion
– 1/3 crops
2/3 cattle
• Oil/Gas Production
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1935
1978
2003
2005
2008
375,617M barrels, 59,461 wells
1billion barrels, 166,365 wells
357,580M barrels, 153,461 wells
376,709M barrels, 150, 856 wells
Production
Wells
30% growth in manufacturing
84% growth in services
200% growth in exports
GSP 2007 - $1 Trillion
Texas Wealth and Poverty
• Texas ranks 3rd in U.S. income
inequality
• Texas ranks 40th in high school
graduates
• Ethnic Poverty rates:
– Anglo 8%
– Hispanic 25%
– African American 23%
• Primarily in urban areas and Rio
Grande Valley
The People of Texas
23,507,783 (2006)
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Native Americans
Hispanics (4000)
African Americans (5000)
Asian Americans
Anglos (31000)
Population Growth
• Since 2000 Census – 2,000,000
• 1,200,000 – Texan Births – Deaths
• 800,000 – Immigration
– 200,000 – national immigrants
– 600,000 – international immigrants
Population Distribution
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1850
1900
1950
2000
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3.5% urban (2500+ cities)
17.1%
60%
85%
Native Americans ( .7%)
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North - Lippan Apaches, Wichitas
East - Caddos “Tayshas”
Central - Tonkawas, Wacos
South – Coahuiltecan, Karankawas
West - Comanche, Apaches, Jumanos
Today there are 3 tribes
Alabama-Coushattas
Kickapoos
Tiguas (1990s - Speaking Rock Casino)
Hispanics (35.1%)
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Spanish Rule 1535 - 1821 (Dies y Seis)
Mexican Rule 1821 - 1836
Republic of Texas 1836 - 1845 (10%)
State of Texas
1850 Census made up 7% of population
1890 Census made up 4% of population
1910 10 fold growth in population
1940 made up 20% of population
2000 made up 32% of population
Held 2000 elected political offices in
2003
• 98% of these officials are Democrats
African Americans ( 11.7%)
• Mexican government opposed slavery
• 1836 made up 12.5% of population
• 1836 to 1865 forced migration with
southern farmers, made up 33% of
population.
• Agricultural changes from plantations to
share croppers to tenant/owner farmers
causes drop in population to 12%.
• Held 460 elected offices in 2001.
• 9th in U.S. in number elected in state and
local government.
Asian Americans (3.3%)
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1869 Chinese
1903 Japanese
1970 Vietnamese
Also represented - Koreans,
Filipinos, Indians
• Limited participation at the county or
city level in elected office.
Anglos (49.1%)
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Early Settlement 1815 -1821
US immigrants from upper southern states
European immigrants
Mexican Empresario Program 1821 - 1835
US immigrants from lower southern states
European immigration continues
1836 Anglo Population
60% Upper Southern US 10% New England
25% Lower Southern US
5% European