Duval County Political History Through Time

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 mutually beneficial relationship with the Parr minority, thereby achieving fairness in governance, full constitutional rights, equal social standing, and economic independence.

While the Archie and George B. Parr political machine, so widely written about, was at the center of the Duval County historical narrative for 63 years of the twentieth century, it did not define the county as a whole. The fact is that Duval County Tejanos’ agency shaped and molded Parr politics. Duval County does not mirror the political principles of the Parrs; instead, the Parrs absorbed and accommodated Tejanos’ political aspirations.

The formation of Duval County Tejanos’ political strategy towards co-governance since the beginning of the American era in Texas (1848) began to take shape under José de Escandón, Spain’s colonizer of the area south of the Nueces River (1746-1770), who taught the residents under his charge methods of survival that served them and their progeny well. These practices included relying on themselves, their families, and their neighbors, rather than on the state or national government. While their national citizenship changed — from Spanish to Mexican to American — the norteños ordinarily did not rely on la patria (the national or state government) for their well-being. Beyond their ranchos and region, their political ties to the motherland were somewhat tenuous, and loyalties were superficial. They focused on their patria chica, their ranchos, parientes, and vecinos for help. Tejanos preserved the notion of self-governance through the Spanish and Mexican periods; moreover, it remained ingrained in their psyche as part of their ethnogenesis.

After the War with Mexico (1846-1848), Duval County became part of the new American state of Texas. This transition marked the first opportunity for Tejanos in Duval County to vote under the Americano system, showcasing their adaptability and resilience in the face of change. Tejanos quickly learned that politics played a crucial role in their new surroundings, and in keeping with their patria chica experience and approach, their focus shifted to county politics.

Go to Soy de Duval Bookstore to order your copy!