History, Political Culture, and GeographyGOVT 2306

Chapter 1

Geography Size of the state

Over 267,000 square miles of territory Texas is 2nd to Alaska in area

Roughly 800 miles in a straight line from Brownsville to the northwestern corner of the Panhandle (30 miles NW of Dalhart)

Approximately 222,000 miles of roadways 80,000 miles of major highways maintained by the Texas Department of

Transportation Texas leads the country in miles of roadways

Geography Size of the state

In the Republic period, the Texas legislature developed a concept of five areas as five potential states North, South, East, West, and Central

The congressional resolution that admitted Texas to the United States in 1845 states that four other states “may be formed out of its (Texas’) territory” and that each “shall be entitled to admission in the Union”

In 1868, a provisional constitution for the “State of West Texas” was drafted

However, all efforts to split the state have failed

Physical Regions of Texas

Physical Regions of Texas Gulf Coast Plains

Stretches from the Louisiana border to the Rio Grande; an extension of the Gulf Coastal Plains of the United States Follows the Balcones Fault Includes the Piney Woods of East Texas and the Rio Grande Plains of

South Texas Greenest region of the state with more than 50 inches of rain annually

The area has seen significant industrial growth since the Great Depression Oil strikes in the area produced significant profits after 1900 “Hot Oil” strikes in the Tyler area during the Great Depression Today, the state’s chief petrochemical industries, based on oil and natural

gas are located between Beaumont and Houston

Physical Regions of Texas Interior Lowlands

Covers the North Central Plains of Texas extended from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex westward to the Abilene area and northward to the Wichita Falls area

Farming and ranching are major activities within this region within this largely prairie region

Great Plains Large area in West Texas extending from Oklahoma to Mexico Largely known for its large-scale production of cotton and grain

Water is typically drawn from the Ogallala Aquifer, formed from runoff from the Rocky Mountains

Physical Regions of Texas Basin and Range Province

Arid region in West Texas that includes the Davis Mountains, Big Bend National Park, and El Paso

Only area of Texas classified as mountainous Highest mountains: Guadalupe Peak (8749 ft.) and El Capitan (8085

ft.) Popular vacation area that includes the Davis Mountains and Big

Bend National Park

Historic Regions of Texas

Historic Regions of Texas Panhandle Plains Region

Cities: Abilene, Amarillo, Mineral Wells, and Archer City Big Bend Region

Cities: El Paso, Del Rio, Fort Davis, Odessa, Midland, Marfa, and Big Bend National Park

Hill Country Region Cities: Austin, San Marcos, Wimberly, New Braunfels,

Fredericksburg, Luckenbach South Texas Plains Region

Cities: San Antonio, Laredo, McAllen

Historic Regions of Texas Gulf Coast Region

Cities: Houston, Corpus Christi, South Padre Island, Galveston, Beaumont, and Brownsville

Prairies and Lakes Region Cities: Waco, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington

Piney-Woods Region Cities: Nacogdoches, Tyler, Gilmer, Kilgore, Gladewater,

Huntsville, and Conroe

Political Borders

Crisis and Compromise

Crisis and Compromise

A Brief History of Texas Before 1500 - Indian tribes occupied the region between the

Rio Grande and the Red River before the arrival of Europeans

1519 – Alonso Alvarez de Pineda (Spain) was the first known European to explore and map the Texas coastline

Nov. 1528 – Cabeza de Vaca (Spain) shipwrecked near Galveston Island. He explored Texas for roughly 6 years before returning to Mexico

1540-1542 – Francisco Vasquez de Coronado (Spain) lead an expedition through northern Texas

A Brief History of Texas 18 Feb. 1685 – Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle (France)

established Fort St. Louis near Matagorda Bay. This formed the basis for France’s claim to Texas.

1716-1789 – Spain establishes presidios, Catholic missions, and settlements throughout Texas Notable settlements: San Antonio, Goliad, and Nacogdoches

1810-1820 – The Mexican Revolution; authority of Texas is transferred to the provisional Mexican government

3 Jan. 1823 – Stephen F. Austin received a empresario grant (inherited from his father) to colonize near the Brazos River

1824 – The Constitution of 1824 gave Mexico a republican form of government. It fails to define the rights of its states, including Texas

A Brief History of Texas 6 Apr. 1830 – Law of Apr. 6th: Mexican government shifts to

conservatism and restricts further immigration into Texas 1832-1833 – Conventions of 1832 and 1833 in Texas were

held to attempt to address settlers’ dissatisfaction with Mexican policies

2 Oct. 1835 – Texans drive back Mexican cavalry at the Battle of Gonzales. The first battle of the Texas Revolution.

2 Mar. 1836 – The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed by the Convention of 1836. An ad interim government was formed by the Republic of Texas

A Brief History of Texas 6 Mar. 1836 – Texans are defeated at the Battle of the

Alamo. The Runaway Scrape begins. 27 Mar. 1836 – James Fannin and nearly 400 Texas are

executed under orders of Gen. Santa Anna at Goliad. 21 Apr. 1836 – Gen. Sam Houston and Texan forces defeat

Santa Anna’s army at the Battle of San Jacinto 14 May 1836 – Treaty of Velasco: conclusion of hostilities

between the Republic of Texas and Mexico Nov. 1836 – Austin is chosen as the capitol of the Republic

A Brief History of Texas 29 Dec. 1842 – The Archives War. Texan officials attempt to

remove Republic documents from Austin to Houston 25 Mar. 1842 – 17 Texans were executed in what became

known as the Black Bean Episode; a result of the failed Mier Expedition

29 Dec. 1845 – U.S. President James K. Polk signed legislation to make Texas the 28th state

25 Apr. 1846 – The Mexican War begins over boundary disputes at the Rio Grande

A Brief History of Texas 25 Nov. 1850 – Texas relinquished 1/3 of its territory for a

$10 million loan in the Compromise of 1850 May 1852 – First Lone Star State Fair in Corpus Christi 1 Feb. 1861 – Texas seceded from the Union following a 171

to 6 vote 1 Jan. 1863 – Confederate troops regain control of

Galveston in the Battle of Galveston 13 May 1865 – The last land engagement of the Civil War

was fought at the Battle of Palmito Ranch in south Texas Over a month after Gen. Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox

A Brief History of Texas 30 Mar. 1870 – The U.S. Congress readmitted Texas to the Union 17 Jan. 1874 – The Coke/Davis Dispute ends peacefully as the

governorship is transferred from E.J. Davis to Richard Coke without bloodshed.

15 Feb. 1876 – The current Texas constitution took effect. 4 Oct. 1876 – The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas

opens. 15 Sept. 1883 – The University of Texas opens in Austin 16 May 1888 – The present state capitol in Austin was dedicated. 20 Jan. 1891 – James Hogg, the first native-born governor of

Texas took office 10 Jan. 1901 – Oil is struck at Spindletop oil field near Beaumont

Economic Geography The foundation of the early economy of Texas rested with

industries based on land.

Cattle – The cattle industry thrived on plentiful land, open range, and the relative absence of governmental regulation. Currently, Texas leads the nation in cattle production with an inventory of 13.8 million cattle (including 360,000 dairy cows), more than twice as many as the next largest producer

Cotton – Cotton has been an important crop in Texas before the Civil War. Texas produces almost half of the nation’s and nearly 1/10th of the entire world’s cotton supply.

Economic Geography The foundation of the early economy of Texas rested with

industries based on land.

Oil – For most of the 20th century, Texas’ leading industry was oil but today is less than 6% of the state’s economy. The influence of this industry on Texas politics is much less now than what it was at the middle of the last century. Increasing environmental concerns about oil spills and emissions have impacted the Texas oil industry. The industry is regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission.

Politics – Texas Style Every state has a distinct political style influenced by its unique

characteristics. Traditionally, Texas’ long history, geographical size, and diverse population shape its politics Political Behavior Patterns

To effectively participate in Texas politics, one must understand political action. Most of the 25 million people in Texas participate – if by doing nothing more than hearing other people talk about government and politics

Government, Politics, and Public Policy Government is a public institution that hast he authority to establish public

policy and allocate values in a society. Politics is the key to public policy Public Policy is a product of political activity that may involve both conflict

and cooperation among legislators, between legislators and the governor, within the courts, and among various governmental agencies, citizens, and others. The general public determines the acceptability of public policy

Texas Political Culture Political Culture – the values, traditions, habits, and general

behavioral patterns that develop over time and shape the politics of a particular region or state Political culture is constantly changing as these characteristics

change over time There are 3 distinct cultures that exist in the United States:

Moralistic, Individualistic, and Traditionalistic Moralistic – views government as a force for good and places

trust in it became they hold government accountable for their actions (or inaction).

Texas Political Culture There are 3 distinct cultures that exist in the United States:

Individualistic – This culture grew out of westward expansion throughout the 19th century. The individualistic culture does not consider government a vehicle for creating a just society and believes government intervention into public life should be limited. Found predominantly in mid-western and western states Texas is considered to be predominantly individualistic

Traditionalistic – The Old South influences Texas politics, where conservatives, elitism, and one-party politics were long entrenched. Found in a majority of Old Southern states and throughout the elitist

patron system of South Texas

The People of Texas The population of Texas is rapidly increasing and is one of

the most racially diverse among the states Demographic Features

The Texas population is young, and it is rapidly increasing, reaching an estimated 24 million in 2009.

The rate of population increase, even during the recent economic recession, ranks Texas 2nd among the states. Although, Texas’ population is aging.

A population study conducted by Dr. Steven Murdock in 1996 suggested that, under any scenario, the Texas population will continue to increase through 2040. Projected 35.8 million people in 2040

The People of Texas Demographic Features

Population Distribution – The diversity of the state is reflected by the great contrasts in population Harris County – 4 million; Loving County – 42 people Texas’ 4 most populous counties have a combined population of more

than 10 million Harris, Dallas, Bexar, and Tarrant

Population shifts in the 1990s reflected a continued movement from rural to urban and from large cities to suburbs

Urbanization – After World War II, Texas has become a predominantly urban state despite the long perceived notion that the state is rural People move where the jobs are Texas was 80% rural in 1900; by 1970, it was 80% urban Today, 85% of Texans live in urban areas

Loving County Harris County

Loving County Courthouse Harris County Civil Courthouse

The People of Texas Demographic Features

Metropolitanization – concentrates large numbers of people in urban centers, which become linked in a single geographic entity. Texas’s Metropolitan Statistical Area’s contain more than 80% of the

state’s population An MSA has a minimum total population of 50,000

Texas also has 2 metropolitan divisions – Dallas/Plano/Irving and Fort Worth/Arlington MD is a county or group of counties within a core based statistical area that

contains a core with a population of at least 2.5 million However, they consist of less than 20% of the state’s 254 counties It is political significant that these 48 counties account for roughly 4 out

of 5 votes cast in state-wide elections

The People of Texas Racial and Ethnic Groups

Percentages:

Racial/Ethnic Group Percentage

White/Anglo 46.7

Hispanic/Latino 36.9

Black/African American 11.3

Asian 3.4

American Indian 0.4

Native Hawaiian 0.1

Other/Two or more races 1.1

The People of Texas Racial and Ethnic Groups

Anglos – numerically the largest group and has been the largest group in Texas for the last century and a half.

Term commonly used to identify non-Latino white people Historically, Anglos of English, Scottish, Irish, or Welsh ancestry moved

from the southern United States to Texas in the early 1800s. Most settled in East Texas A significant number of Germans established settlements in the Hill Country

west and north of San Antonio before the Civil War By the turn of the 20th century, the largest migration came from the border

states, the Northeast, and the Midwest Have lost majority status but still have the plurality of numbers and

continue to dominate government, economic, and social institutions Population projects indicate that the percentage of Anglos will decrease

The People of Texas Racial and Ethnic Groups

Latinos – the largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority group in Texas 9.1 million Latinos compose more than 1/3 of the total population

Texas is second to California with 13.6 million Over 76% of Latinos in Texas are of Mexican origin Greatest proportion is in South Texas, but it is increasing throughout the

state Historically, many have been concentrated around San Antonio, Goliad, and

Laredo In 24 counties, more than 61% of the population in Latino Latinos have increased political influence in the last 50 years

More than 2300 Latino elected officials The largest number of any state in the U.S.

The People of Texas Racial and Ethnic Groups

African Americans – number 2.9 million and consist of roughly 11% of the state’s population Texas has the 3rd largest number of African American in the nation after

New York and California More than ½ of the state’s African Americans reside around Houston

(approx. 765,000) The group does not constitute a majority in any Texas county

However, Jefferson County has the greatest percentage at 34.7% Like Latinos, African Americans political influence has increased in the

last 50 years Hold local, statewide, and national offices Currently 19 African Americans serving in the Texas Legislature

The People of Texas Racial and Ethnic Groups

Asian Americans – roughly 811,000 people of Asian descent in Texas Most have immigrated to the United States from Southeast Asia

(Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam) Most live in the state’s largest urban centers, Houston and Dallas/Fort

Worth Fort Bend and Collin county have the highest concentration of Asian

Americans by percentage, 11.2% and 6.9% respectively

The People of Texas Racial and Ethnic Groups

Native Americans – relatively few Texans are identified as Native American today However, their influence is well documented in the development of

Texas Counties: Cherokee, Comanche, Nacogdoches, Panola, Wichita Cities/Towns: Caddo Mills, Lipan, Nocana, Quanah, Waco, Waxahachie

Before 1900, more than 50 native tribes had permanent settlements in Texas Before the arrival of the Spanish, population estimates range from 30,000 to

150,000 1856 – estimated 12,000 Today, less than 200,000

New Economic Directions The Texas economy is now diversifying. Texas has become

a middle-class state, similar to the rest of the nation. Declines in oil prices has spurred Texas to actively recruit new

businesses In 2010, Texas tied California in the number of Fortune 500 companies Houston and Dallas are 2nd and 3rd on the list of cities with the most

Fortune 500 companies, after New York City. Overall, Texas had lead a successful campaign to recruit new and

big business

New Economic Directions New Industries

Energy – Texas has some of the largest energy related corporations in the United States like Exxon-Mobil and ConocoPhilips In 2010, 3 of the 4 largest corporations in Texas were energy or energy-

related High Technology – the promotion of high-tech and biotechnology

research has helped to diversify the Texas economy Companies: Motorola, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, and

Applied Materials Biotechnology – in the past 20 years, biotech jobs have

increased 4 times faster than the overall increase in employment in Texas Texas employs over 56,000 workers in this industry

New Economic Directions New Industries

Services – One of the fastest-growing economic sectors in Texas Employing 1/4th of all Texas workers, but most of these are low paying

jobs The health care industry will continue to expand in the next several

years Agriculture – Texas overall is 2nd in the nation in agricultural

production Overall, it is a $16 billion industry

Trade – More than 60% of U.S. exports to Mexico are produced in Texas and/or transported through Texas The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) reduced and

eliminated tariffs over a 15 year period to stimulate U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico