Transcript Chapter 1 Ideas, People, and Economics in Texas Politics

Chapter 1
Ideas, People, and Economics in Texas
Politics
Changing Face of Texas

Population Growth in the 1990s





Largest decade increase in state’s history – 3.9 million
Growth in all 27 metropolitan areas, most of its counties,
and most of its towns and cities
Population became even more ethnically diverse
Population is aging
Effects of Population Growth



Workforce education
Demand for education
Demand for social and human services
People of Texas: Native Americans

Four Traditions




Hunters and Gatherers: Coahuiltecan and
Karankawan tribes
Plains Indians: Tonkawas, Kiowas, Kiowa
Apaches, and Comanches
Puebloan Culture: Jumano
Semisedentary tribes: Wichitas, Caddoes
People of Texas: Native Americans
People of Texas: Native Americans

Three Reservations remain




Alabama-Coushatta
Tigua
Kickapoo
Native Americans and politics

Gambling: Tiguas and Speaking Rock Casino
People of Texas: Hispanics

Four institutions





Mission
Presidio
Rancho
Towns or civilian settlements
Small percentage of population until 20th Century





1836, 7-8,000
1850, 14,000 (7 percent)
1887, 83,000 (4 percent)
1890 – 1910, population doubled
Late 1940s, Hispanics replaced African Americans as the
largest ethnic minority
People of Texas: Hispanics

Hispanics and Politics







2,170 Hispanics were elected officials in 2007
Victor Carrillo (RRC) and David Medina (Texas
Supreme Court) hold statewide elected offices
37 Hispanics served in the Texas Legislature
271 were county officials
595 were municipal officers
402 held judicial and law enforcement positions
807 served on elected school boards
People of Texas: African Americans

Early African American immigration




Inhabitants since Spanish rule
No more than 12 percent until 1836
Increase after Texas independence—20 percent of
population by 1840
Bulk of Settlement—1836-1865






Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, and Mississippi
By 1860, 13 counties had African American majorities
All located in East Texas
By 1887, 12 counties had majorities
By 1930, only 4 counties had majorities
By 1980, none of the counties had a majority
People of Texas: African Americans

African Americans and Politics




2001, 460 African Americans held elective office in
Texas
Ninth in the nation in number of elected officials
Sixteen African Americans in legislature
2005, three African Americans held statewide
elected offices—Michael Williams (RRC) and
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace
Jefferson and Associate Justice Dale Wainwright
People of Texas: Asian Americans

Early Immigrants



Recent Immigrants



Chinese who worked on railroads from 1869 to
the 1880s
Early 1900s, Japanese to help with rice cultivation
Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s
Largest number in Houston
Asian Americans and Politics


Few elected officials
House member Hubert Vo
People of Texas: Anglos

Early Immigrants





1815 – 1836, primarily upper Southerners from
TN, KY, AR, NC
1836 – 1865, primarily lower Southerners from AL,
GA, MS, LA.
1850, approximately equal in population
Settled different areas of Texas—lower
Southerners in East and Southeast Texas
1880s, West Texas settled by upper Southerners
and lower Midwesterners (IL, KS, and IA)
Contemporary Population

Population Growth


Nearly 24 million in 2007 estimate. Growth result of net inmigration and natural increase. Balance predicts high
future growth rates.
Urbanization




84 percent urban in 2000.
27 metropolitan areas--91 percent of growth
Highest growth in central core and along the border with
Mexico
Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas are among 10 largest
cities in the United States
Contemporary Population

Diversity




Hispanics made up 36 percent of the population in 2006,
growing by 54 percent between 1990 and 2000.
African Americans made up 12 percent of the population in
2006, growing by 19 percent during the 1990s.
Anglos made up 48 percent of the population in 2006,
increasing by less than 10 percent during the 1990s.
Population Projections



Anglos ceased to be a majority in 2004.
Hispanics will become largest ethnic group before 2015.
Hispanics will become a majority by 2030.
Texas Population Projections
Texas Population Projections, 2010-2040
100%
4%
5%
6%
7%
7%
8%
9%
90%
11%
11%
10%
10%
9%
9%
8%
39%
43%
46%
49%
52%
55%
58%
31%
28%
25%
2030
2035
2040
80%
Percentage
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
45%
41%
38%
34%
10%
0%
2010
2015
2020
2025
Year
Anglo
Hispanic
African American
Other
Components of Texan Creed

Individualism




Reasons for immigrating
Texas Frontier era
Cowboy
Liberty


Reasons for Revolution of 1836
The Alamo
Components of Texan Creed

Constitutionalism and Democracy



Limitations on government
Bill of rights
Equality


Among Anglos based on property ownership
Slavery, segregation, and discrimination against
minorities
Political Ideologies





A political ideology is a consistent set of
beliefs and attitudes about the scope and
purpose of government.
Libertarians: Individualism
Populists: Equality and Social Order
Conservatives: Individualism and Social
Order
Liberals: Equality and Individualism
Political Ideologies
Equality
Liberals
Populists
Libertarians
Conservatives
Individualism
Individualism Liberty
Ordered Liberty Social Order
Economic Heritage

Cotton was basis for the first economy




Southern planters
Crop barged to Gulf of Mexico
Shipped to Europe or U.S. through New Orleans
Galveston was commercial center from 1840s to
1880s
Economic Heritage


Cattle Kingdom dominated from late 1800s
Petroleum basis for Texas economy during
much of the 20th century



Spindletop was first major discovery in 1901.
West Texas oil industry established in 1923.
East Texas field was largest find in 1930.
Contemporary Economy




Since the 1980s, the Texas economy has
become more diverse, more nationalized, and
more globalized.
Diversity in products and economic activities
Nationalized because the Texas economy
resembles the U.S. economy although grew
at faster rate from 1990-2000
Globalized in distribution of goods and
economic competition
Wealth and Poverty in Texas


Texas is one of the most unequal states in
income distribution—9th among the 50 states
in 2005
Poverty more pronounced in Texas than in
other states—16.3% in 2007



Hispanics have highest poverty rates (25%)
African Americans have next highest rates (24%)
The distribution of income affects political
involvement
Income Differences, 2006
Bottom
20 %
Second
20 %
Middle
20 %
Fourth
20 %
Top
20 %
$16,088
$30,076
$44,574
$64,197
$126,504
An Income Tax for Texas

Arguments for an income tax




Fairer than sales tax or property tax
Deduction from federal income tax
Additional revenues for funding state’s programs
Arguments against an income tax



Higher tax burden for Texans
Harm Texas’s favorable business climate
Public opinion opposes an income tax
An Income Tax for Texas



Kansas income tax rates, brackets, and
deductions—brackets range from 3.5 percent to
6.45 percent adjusted gross income, no tax for
family of four with income under $24,400.
Results in 2004: $16.4 billion in revenue. Lower
school property taxes (.20/$100 assessed
valuation), deductions on federal income tax ($1.6
billion), and $3.9 net cost to Texas tax payers.
Results by income group: lowest fifth: 6% less,
middle fifth: .5% less; top fifth: 2% more.