2007-07-15 15:21:17 · 23 answers · asked by Rosebee 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
In a nutshell the Democratic Party became the party that supported civil rights, and that drove white southerners (who command outright majorities in all Southern states) into the Republican party.
The Democratic party also evolved in a progressive and secular direction and most southern whites are conservative and highly religious.
2007-07-15 17:27:54 · answer #1 · answered by Adam J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The south maintained conservative values and a primarily agricultural economy until the 1980s.
After WWII the democrats became more populist since that was the safer route to stay in power. Going populist means going more "progressive". Even though the democrats tried to keep the agricultural subsidies going to keep the farm votes, the population of the countryside was diminishing yet remaining more conservative than the core democratic party platform issues.
Suburbanization of the US resulted in decreasing city core populations, and was also a draw on rural non-farm populations since that was a preferrable transition than moving directly to a "big city". This has been occuring since the 60s, but has increased since the end of the cold war. It has resulted in the growth and urbanization of the south's economy, yet the present generation was raised in the country and still have conservative values. Work in the city, live in the burbs.
Suburbs are the equalizer, and have the most swing votes per capita. This is part of why presidential elections in the US are still pretty close and the balance of power is tenuous for either party in the house and senate.
This flip flop happens every couple generations.
2007-07-15 22:37:30 · answer #2 · answered by Kevin B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Civil Rights Acts of the 1960s under a Democratic president and the Republican “Southern Strategy.”
2007-07-15 22:35:18 · answer #3 · answered by tribeca_belle 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Changes in the party lines. The modern Democrat is very similar to the Civil War era Republican.
2007-07-15 22:24:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Simply because they are more conservative than the present day Democratic party. Why do people who live in the north still see the south as bigots? I suggest that idea is bigoted itself. I lived in NY state when I was younger and saw some of the most bigoted people that I had ever seen. Grow up, it's over.
2007-07-15 22:53:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
democrats in the south are still very traditional and concervative but a huge number of democrats when from center to the extreme left while industrialists from the north moved to the south and founded the republican base.
That's why is so hard for liberals to get votes in the South in presidential elections.
2007-07-15 22:26:59 · answer #6 · answered by Bonneville P 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When lynchings became illegal it was no more fun being a democrat, they all went to the republican side.
I love the way these southern republicans spout the family values and chrisianity b.s., I am white and when the room is full of white southern republican "christians" and they don't yet know where I stand, you should hear the "N" word fly, women and men alike, christian my a.s.s, Black people if you have any conservative southern "christian" friends, they are calling you a "N" behind your back, I promise you, and all of you on here know it, you can deny and say not me, but you're lying to yourself. Lie to me don't lie to yourself.
DocL the south still is bigots, the white sheets just went out of fashion!
2007-07-15 22:43:46 · answer #7 · answered by old man 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They left the Democratic Party after Democrats like LBJ and JFK played such an important part in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Some of them, like Strom Thurmond, tried forming a third party, but it failed and they eventually became Republicans.
2007-07-15 22:25:27 · answer #8 · answered by I'll Take That One! 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It comes from several things. First the religious convictions that are common among southerners, tend to fit better with the Republican party, things such as abortion are a key issue. Secondly, the concept of broad individual freedoms are embraced, kind of a I should be free to do my thing, you should be free to do yours. Thirdly, the sense of self reliance is strong. The idea of relying on the government is not as readily accepted as elsewhere.
2007-07-15 22:26:59 · answer #9 · answered by Jon B 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The democratic party changed significantly in the 1940s, going from conservative to liberal. The republicans were there to scoop up the votes.
2007-07-15 22:24:18 · answer #10 · answered by American Man 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋