Soy de Duval

Duval County Political Development Through History Alfredo E. Cárdenas Part 2 of a Series Duval County Tejanos saw promise in the new land laws adopted by Texas, which were designed to protect their land ownership, which they had acquired from Spain and Mexico. Moreover, the Texas political structure could serve as a vehicle to achieve goals of protecting not only their land but also ensuring their political liberties . Since only a handful of Americanos lived in the unorganized county of Duval before the Civil War, Tejanos were in a position to dominate the electoral process. Duval County Tejanos began to assert their political rights in a special election called by the governor in 1860 to select a district judge who would determine their land rights. The Tejanos’ choice for the judgeship won the election, but Governor Sam Houston threw out the Duval votes, giving the win to one of his financial and political supporters. The district court ruled in favor of the Tejano candidate. The...

Duval County Political Development Through History Alfredo E. Cárdenas Part 1 of a Series. Duval County Tejanos: An Epic Narrative of Liberty and Democracy , my recently published book by the University of North Texas Press, delves into the remarkable historical narrative of Mexican-American (Tejano) involvement in Duval County, aiming to achieve parity in social, economic, and political spheres with Americanos. Duval County Tejanos spans over two centuries, showcasing the changes adopted and developed by Tejanos from the days under Spanish rule (1746-1821) and extending beyond the end of the Parr regime. Published scholarship on Duval County during the Archie, George, and Archer Parr era (1912–1975) portrays a scenario in which bosses exploited the poor and uneducated Mexican population for personal gain and enrichment. However, Tejanos, early on, persisted in a modus vivendi of partnering with the administration holding political power. This strategic approach aimed to forge a mutua...