We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Politics

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Who are the Southern Democrats?

By Cassie L. Damewood
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 21,839
References
Share

Southern Democrats is the term commonly applied to members and supporters of the United States (U.S.) Democratic Party who live in the states typically called the American South. This geographic region includes up to 16 states. The included states vary based on a range of historical and political references.

The term Southern Democrats was first used in the early 1800s when many regions of the United States were divided in their opinions on the morality and legality of slavery. They were often perceived as the strongest supporters of slavery, putting them in direct opposition to their Northern Democrat counterparts. Their views on slavery and other social issues were also commonly thought to be in conflict with the relatively new political party that called themselves Republicans.

As the politics of the land continued to evolve in the middle to late 1800s, some Southern Democrats became more liberal and embraced more middle-of-the-road political views. A significant number of other Southern Democrats, however, were bound together more closely by opposition to the Civil Rights Movement. These people formed ultra-conservative factions such as the Dixiecrats and right-wing vigilante groups such as the White League and the Ku Klux Klan.

Support for civil rights and changes in laws that prohibited institutionalized racism resulted in some radical changes in the Democratic party overall. The general party politics slowly shifted to the left around the turn of the century. Some Southern Democrats reacted by joining forces with the Republican Party, which was starting to wax conservative and welcomed the Democratic support.

Despite the many changes the two major political parties underwent in the early 1900s, most voters remained true to their original parties. But when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 went into effect, many Southern Democrats decided to oust their Democratic representatives in favor of Republicans. Not since the Great Depression years had the Southern states elected so many Republicans to major political offices.

Over the next couple of turbulent decades, many voters switched political parties more than once. The Democrats in the South started to lose control of some political strongholds in the south, which many blamed on the liberal Democrat influence. The Republicans took advantage of this perceived weakness and gained control of both houses of Congress in 1994, a position they maintained for the rest of the decade.

Southern Democrats still exist today, but the moniker is not as prevalent as it was when the country was much younger. An attempt to unify in both name and platform is the goal claimed by many current members of the Democratic Party. The current Southern Democrats are generally identified as supporting government legislation of traditional values, tough foreign policies and fiscal responsibility in handling public funds.

Share
America Explained is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
By anon1005604 — On Oct 05, 2021

Whoa! The Dixiecrats were never conservative much less ultra -conservative. I grew up in the south during segregation, Jim Crow laws, and the KKK. All these belonged exclusively to the Democrat party with such governors as Lester Maddox of Georgia and George Wallace of Alabama crying “Segregation Forever”! Conservatives/Republicans played no part in any of these southern racist institutions.

By Markerrag — On Jan 30, 2014

I do believe the traditional Southern Democrat became almost an endangered species back in 1980. Ronald Reagan was able to break the stranglehold the Democratic party held in the South when he ran against Jimmy Carter and the Republican party has only gained strength in that part of the country since then.

Share
https://www.americaexplained.org/who-are-the-southern-democrats.htm
Copy this link
America Explained, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

America Explained, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.