Pre-Civil War
As tensions grew between the North and the South in the years leading up to the Civil War, the Democratic Party pushed for the continuation and expansion of slavery to the West. Since the expansion of slavery to the West was necessary to protect the institution at the legislative level, this push increased the party's support in the South, where slavery was the foundation of the economy and society. As the country became more and more divided over the issue of slavery, the Democrats' popularity only grew in the South.
Reconstruction & Jim Crow
After the Civil War and the end of slavery, the Democratic Party continued to stand for the perpetuation of white supremacy in America. The party was extremely popular in the South, where resentment towards the victorious and mostly Republican North caused voters to shift even more towards the right. Although Northern power prevented Democrats from taking positions in politics in the first stages of Reconstruction, groups like the Ku Klux Klan used violence and intimidation to help return Democratic control to the South by 1877.
While amendments to the Constitution established a foundation to work towards racial equality, the challenge of Reconstruction was shifting the Southern mindset away from white supremacy. This task proved too difficult for the North, as Southern Democrats stubbornly fought integration with violence, intimidation and legislation.
Watch the video to the right to learn more about Reconstruction. Skip to 8:40 for the Democratic return to power. |
|
Soon after the Democrats pushed the Republicans out of Southern politics, the Jim Crow system took hold and the South became heavily segregated. An important piece of this system was voting restrictions, put into place to keep blacks and poor whites from voting. In addition to the legislative restrictions, groups like the KKK used violence and intimidation to scare off voters. Since these voters were the ones who would normally vote Republican, the Democrats solidified their power even more in the South.
|
1948 & the Dixiecrats
"We again state our belief that racial and religious minorities must have the right to live, the right to work, the right to vote, the full and equal protection of the laws, on a basis of equality with all citizens as guaranteed by the Constitution." - From the Democratic Party Platform of 1948.
Around 1945 the Democratic Party existed as a coalition between Northern and Southern Democrats. The Northern side had become more progressive in its economic and racial positions, giving more support to the poor who were often minorities. Jim Crow had been left largely untouched, and most Southerners still supported the Democratic Party. However, at the 1948 Democratic Convention, the Northerners passed a new Civil Rights platform plank for the party, overcoming Southern Democrats and moderates by a close margin. Outraged, the Southern Democrats left the assembly and soon formed the States' Rights Party, often called the Dixiecrat Party. Led by J. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, this party actively supported segregation and attracted many Southern voters. Although the party itself was short-lived (it dissolved after Thurmond lost the presidential race), the split foreshadowed the realignment of parties in the North and South.
|
The Civil Rights Movement
During the Civil Rights movement, Democratic presidents were hesitant to take a strong stance against segregation because they didn't want to lose the support they had in the South. John F. Kennedy began to support the movement during his presidency, but when Lyndon B. Johnson took office he immediately pushed for civil rights legislation. The Civil Rights movement gained momentum, culminating with the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As a result, the Democrats lost their historical hold on the South, but gained much support from minorities and Civil Rights supporters, especially in the North. The Democratic Party had become for Civil Rights what the Republican Party was for abolition, effectively realigning the two parties around racial issues.
|