Texas History

1. Provide a short definition for eight (8) of the following terms. Be sure to include the definition as well as the historical significance of each item you choose: Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) "Robin Hood" law North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Governor Mark White Ross Perot Tom DeLay House Bill 72 Ruiz v. Estelle Rick Perry Hopwood v. State of Texas 2. Choose one (1) of the topics below and provide a thoughtful response to your choice. Reflect upon all that we have covered in this class and apply that knowledge, your comprehension, as well as your opinion of the topic. I am not stating a word-count to this assignment. I believe that each of you will produce a well-thought, planned response since you will be choosing a topic that most interests you: A Texas has undergone dramatic demographic changes in recent decades. Describe how those changes have affected the state, and explain what new challenges they are likely to pose in the future. B. In the twenty-first century, Texas has been a one-party state—at least in statewide races. How do you explain the long era of Republican dominance? If Democrats are ever to become competitive again, what factors will likely account for it? C. It can be argued that Texas is no longer as distinctive as it once was, and that today it much more closely resembles the nation as a whole. In what ways is this true? Where do you still detect the persistence of distinctively Texas values, attitudes, or beliefs?