The resurrection of the Democratic party in Texas - Research Paper Example

The resurrection of the Democratic Party in Texas Texas is second among the biggest s in the United s of America. Its geographical location is in the southern region of the USA. It is also ranked second in terms of population after California. Its population initially comprised the native people, Spanish explorers, Mexican settlers and American settlers. According to Jillson, “The Texans fought for independence from the Mexican government which was dangerous and arbitrary” (57). After ten years of independence and fifteen years as a member of the union, Texas participated in the Civil War in which Texas was defeated. Reconstruction caused a standoff between the state government and white Texans. However, in the 1870s, white Texans regained their state and designed a constitution (Jillson 79). This paper illustrates the resurrection of the Democratic Party and the impact of this comeback on Texas’ political culture despite the numerous challenges. Texas political culture highlights entrepreneurship, individualism and personal responsibility. For many years, the Democratic Party dominated over the Republican Party but not until twentieth century, when the Republican Party became more prominent in the state. This was because Texas was a rural and agricultural state before the twentieth century and most of the farmers preferred the Democratic Party since it had their interests at hand. Presently, Texas is a more urban and industrial state than an agricultural state. Therefore, since the Republican Party is a more business oriented party than the Democratic Party, most citizens preferred the Republicans. Also citizen’s participation in politics has been limited whereas the taxes rest lightly on the state’s economic and social elite (Marten 119). Since the American settlers settled in Texas, the Democratic Party has greatly contributed in most political development. Most of these settlers were from South America. They brought along their former political allegiance with them. The democrats in Texas started off as a loose organization into a very well organized party. However, the changes were slow because it was the only party. This caused the democrats to dwell less on unifying and centralizing the party (Beck). They were inclined to get involved in factional strife. Democrats have always been protective of the existing state of affairs. They are known to be quiet resistant to change. The political culture of Texans has been remarkably stable despite historic changes. The existence of the Democratic Party since it started in Texas can be categorized into two main periods. The first period from 1836, their independence, to 1952 when there was a presidential election. During this period, the Democratic Party was the only feasible party and dominated all levels of politics (Texas Politics Website). The second period from 1952 in which the Democratic Party faced numerous challenges from the previously ineffective Republican Party in the control of state affairs. Due to the lack of organization in the political parties before 1848, personalities dominated the political force. Contests eventually evolved to a more definite stage of competition after the Democratic Party formally became part of the electoral process in 1848 during the presidential campaign. However, it is important to note that it took sometime before the Texan democrats could adopt a statewide network and organize conventions. Nevertheless, partisanship developed steadily between annexation and 1861. Democrats started facing opposition at different sources. Initially it was the Whig party, followed by the American party and finally the Constitutional Union party. In the mid 1850s there was rapid growth in the mechanism of party discipline. In 1854, the party was influenced by the upheaval in national politics. This made the Texans move from Jacksonian nationalism and associate themselves closely with rights of state of the lower south. The governor elections in 1895 demonstrated that there was division in the Texas’ political structure. During the civil war, democrats in Texas brought partisan activity to a stop after they became closely associated with extreme pro-slavery side that the Democratic Party supported in the Confederation (Texas Politics Website). In February 1861 when Texas seceded from the Union, democrats had the highest number of officer holders (Worth). Moreover, most of those elected in the state government and those appointed in high military positions were also democrats. After the civil war, the U.S. Congress stopped senior Confederate military and political officials from holding offices or voting. The Republican Party dominated the politics in Texas between 1865, the end of the war, and the end of Reconstruction ten years later. In the early 1870s Confederates who had formerly stopped holding office were allowed back into the electorate and the resumed control of Texas state politics. After the civil war, there was another split between the Secessionist and the Unionist democrats which was an immediate aftermath. Since the strongest Unionist had moved north and left the political scene, the remaining active members supported the Confederacy. Unionists therefore supported a stronger egalitarian power distribution in the state while they joined to diminish the influence of the planters (Worth). Unfortunately the Unionist also split. Therefore, due to the many divisions in the Democratic Party, as well as, in the national congress reconstruction, Republicans acquired the state legislature and the governor’s office in 1869. Democrats came together again and overturned the government of the Republicans by accusing them on corruption and extravagancy. Democrats passed the constitution on 1876 further constraining the supremacy of the state and limiting the tax rates. However, this return to power by the democrats did not bring a stop to the splitting up within the state. Texas faced challenges that caused uncertainty about the economic conditions. Democrats could not easily adjust to third party challenges. They gave conflicting responses whereby sometimes they endorsed drastic inflation measures while at other times they overlooked economic views that encouraged more paper money to be printed. Finally the Greenback challenge forced the Texan democrats to pay heed to the state’s economic problems. The prohibition politics split the party evenly hence laying a foundation for battles in the twentieth century (Beck). During the first twenty years of the twentieth century, the Democratic Party divided into two wings. The stand-pat wing was against progressiveness whereas the progressive wing adhered to the demands of the prohibitionists. Factional fights in the Democratic Party eventually declined in the 1960s but the splits and divisions in the party continued. The republicans also continued to garner support in Texas and by 1990; they had managed to win about 35% of all the state legislature seats in both houses (Jillson 63). This had a great impact on the Democratic Party which in turn encouraged development of a moderated leadership for the party machinery hence pushing some of the individual candidates to emerge more conservative compared to their Republican opponents. In 1994 Republicans retained the office of the agricultural commissioner, reacquired the governor’s office, gained all the seats in the railroad commission and won two congressional seats. The liberal and moderates became stronger as there was an increased integration of racial and ethnic minorities within the Democratic Party (Texas Politics Website). More so, there was departure of the conservatives who had caused battles and disagreements within the party. The victory of the moderates and liberals brought significant costs political. The changes in the Democratic Party made it more defined. These changes are, however, contrary to those of the political culture in Texas. The social conservatives and classical liberals who had always influenced the state politics had less influence in the Democratic Party. In recent years the Republican Party has become highly organized and powerful. In spite of that, the democrats still influence a good section of the Texas state. The future of the democrats in Texas is bright. This is because they can take advantage of the racists’ attitudes of and mold new group of Latino democrats. This can only be achieved with time and use of good strategies. In 2012 presidential election, a good percentage of Texans voted for President Barrack Obama who vied on a Democratic Party ticket. The democrats continue to regain their popularity in the state of Texas (Beck). In conclusion, the Democratic Party remains to be the second party in strength in Texas. It has faced many circumstances which may have been affected by the focused action of smaller groups of people and individuals seeking to change the status quo. This has been a constant situation in the party before and after the civil war. It has led to changes on its originates as a result of combination of short term hindrances and long term development strategies. These hindrances include shifting party allegiances, ideological differences and unhealthy competition for political power. However, the resurrection of Democratic Party, despite the many challenges, it has a great impact on Texas’ politics. Works Cited Beck, Nancy. Democratic Party: Texas State Historical Association Website. 2009. 7 April 2013 . Jillson, Call. Texas Politics: Governing the Lone Star State. Florida: Taylor & Francis Publishers, 2011. 57-113. Print. Marten, James. Texas divided: loyalty and dissent in the lone star state, 1856-1874. Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 1990. 34-201. Print. Texas Politics Website. Political Parties. 2009. 7 April 2013 . Worth, Robert. Building a Progressive Coalition in Texas, the Populist-Reform Democrat Rapprochement, 1900-1907. 2013. 7 April 2013 Read More