Six Constitutions Over Texas: Texas' Political Identity, 1830-1900

The book Six Constitutions Over Texas: Texas Political Identity, 1830–1900, by historian H. W. Brands, describes the saga surrounding the development of the Texas state constitution as having "the sweep of a Russian novel... populated by characters as colorful as any of Tolstoys." This study by legal historian William J. Chriss examines how Anglo Texans created their political identity over three quarters of a century and the impact of those decisions. It offers insights on the ways in which systems of law impact social control and political identity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2024
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

In his captivating foreword to Six Constitutions Over Texas: Texas Political Identity, 1830–1900, historian H. W. Brands paints a vivid picture of the saga surrounding the development of the Texas state constitution, likening it to the grand narrative of a Russian novel. The table of contents itself hints at the international and regional conflicts, intrigue, and shifting political alliances that characterized the rise and—in the case of the first five iterations—fall of the constitutions that served as the guiding document for what was variously a state of Mexico, an independent nation, a member of the Union, a Confederate state, and a newly subdued region under Reconstruction.

This comprehensive study by legal historian William J. Chriss delves into the intricate process by which Anglo Texans crafted their political identity over three quarters of a century. By meticulously examining the social, political, military, and other factors that shaped Texas's development, Chriss sheds light on how different groups constructed Texas as an imagined community, an identity formed through ideological consensus among economic, cultural, and legal elites.

Six Constitutions Over Texas offers a fresh perspective on how shifting political ideologies were enshrined in the state constitution, with varying degrees of permanence. It provides insightful insights into the ways in which legal systems impact social control and political identity, making it a valuable addition to the literature on Texas history and politics.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781648431715