“[Texas] is America on steroids. Think of the characteristics that make America distinctive–its size and diversity, its optimism and self-confidence, its crass materialism and bravado, its incredible ability to make something out of nothing–and they exist in their purest form in Texas.”
– The Future is – Texas; Texas, 2002
Individualism
INDIVIDUALISM is the belief that individuals are responsible for their own welfare. Individuals are encouraged to have initiative and work hard to become successful in society. Through the lens of individualism, what is good for society is based on what is good for individuals, and “[g]overnment activity is encouraged only to the extent that it creates opportunity for individual achievement” (Roots of Texas Politics). Individualism helps to explain the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality of many Texans. Texas’s individualism is rooted in the state’s frontier heritage.
Traditionalism
TRADITIONALISM refers to upholding or maintaining tradition, particularly in resistance to change. Under traditionalism, the government is viewed as a mechanism through which the existing social order can be preserved; in other words, government action should reinforce the power of society’s dominant groups. Traditionalism, “emphasizing deference to elite rule within a hierarchical society and traditional moral values, represents the values of 19th century Southerners who migrated to the rich cotton land of East Texas” (Roots of Texas Politics).
Limited Government
Closely associated with individualism is the belief that the government must be limited in its power and responsibilities. The belief in limited government is a key component of U.S. political culture, which developed out of concerns that a powerful government is likely to threaten individual rights. Anglo-American settlers brought this belief in limited government with them as they began to colonize Texas. However, this belief did not arrive to Texas with empresarios and Anglo-Americam settlers; there were also many Mexican citizens who also favored limited government (known as the FEDERALISTAS). Texas’s experience as an occupied military district under Governor Davis during Radical Reconstruction solidified limited government as a cornerstone of Texas political culture, and the structure and functions of Texas’s government as outlined in the Texas Constitution of 1876 (Texas’s current constitution) epitomizes limited government.
Private Property, Free Enterprise, and Entrepreneurialism
PRIVATE PROPERTY (the ownership of property by private parties), FREE ENTERPRISE (an economic system in which private business competes in free market), and ENTREPRENEURIALISM (the ability to start new businesses) are all fundamental elements of capitalism. Texas is known for its ardent support of limited government regulations and free markets. As with the belief in limited government, these beliefs are rooted in Texas’s experiences as a territory of Spain and Mexico, in addition to the influence of Anglo-American settlers.