Two-party system in Texas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Two-party system in Texas - Essay Example a growing challenge to the Democrats in Texas even though the characteristics of the state today lean towards the side of the Democrats more than the Republicans (Young, 2008). The leaning towards the Democratic Party was evident even during the times of Andrew Jackson since the earliest politically motivated individuals working in Texas were close friends of Jackson with strong ties to the Democratic Party. Even though the elections at the time were dominated by personality and charisma issues more than political leanings, those who won elections in Texas were more likely to be democrats than anything else. Even after the civil war and the reconstruction era, the individuals who settled in Texas were Democratic Party sympathizers and the Republicans could do little to gain a lot of power in Texas (Young, 2008). Even through the progress of the First World War and the depression, democrats held on their power base in Texas due to â€Å"the oil, land and financial barons who traditionally kept conservative Democrats in power (Time Magazine, 1966, Pg. 1)†. However, things changed after the Second World War when the increasing importance of oil placed the Texas democrats in a conundrum. While the democrats suggested greater control of the federal government and the improved need for looking at the greater good, the Republicans presented a different picture with regard to the natural resources of the state (Young, 2008). The rights of the state with regard to the natural resources found in the state were supported by the Republicans who offered the idea of less federal interference in state matters. This idea became quite attractive to many people in Texas as they did not appreciate the democrats handing over the resources of the state to the federal government. Further, the issue also weakened the Democratic Party in Texas as factions within the party had different ideas as to how the issue should be handled. From 1976 to 1992, the democratic presidential