Analyzing Political Divides in Social Studies Textbooks: A Comparison of California and Texas Textbooks

In a groundbreaking analysis, The New York Times has uncovered how political divides are shaping what students learn about the nation’s history in California and Texas. Despite using textbooks from the same publisher and crediting the same authors, the contents of these textbooks diverge in ways that reflect the nation’s deepest partisan divides.

The analysis revealed hundreds of differences between the textbooks used in California and Texas, two of the largest markets in the nation. These differences are influenced by state social studies standards, laws, and feedback from review panels appointed by policymakers.

Conservatives in Texas have pushed for textbooks to promote patriotism, highlight Christianity’s influence, and celebrate the founding fathers. On the other hand, the left in California has advocated for a more ground-up approach to history, focusing on marginalized groups like enslaved people, women, and Native Americans.

The differences in the textbooks extend to topics like race, immigration, gender, sexuality, and the economy. For example, California textbooks delve into issues like redlining and restrictive deeds, while Texas textbooks focus more on tax increases as a reason for white resistance to black advancement after the Civil War.

In terms of gender and sexuality, California textbooks include history not found in Texas editions, such as discussions on same-sex families under slavery and early sex reassignment surgeries. Texas textbooks tend to restrict mentions of LGBTQ issues to recent events like the Stonewall uprising.

When it comes to immigration, California textbooks are more likely to note when a historical figure was an immigrant and cover the contributions of specific immigrant groups. Texas textbooks, on the other hand, emphasize the positive view of the American economy and free enterprise.

The differences in the textbooks reflect the broader political and ideological divides in the country, with California textbooks being more critical of wealth inequality and the impact of big business on the environment. Texas textbooks, on the other hand, celebrate entrepreneurs like Andrew Carnegie and highlight critiques of environmental legislation.

Overall, the analysis sheds light on how textbooks are not just educational tools but also political instruments that shape the views and understanding of future generations of voters.