Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

What happened to the Dixiecrats?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU
 
shockingelk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 02:35 PM
Original message
What happened to the Dixiecrats?
I'm looking for records of who voted how on Civil Rights legislation, what party they were in and if they changed party affiliation ... in other words, I'd like to look at some numbers to back up the anecdote that Democrats opposed to civil rights became Republicans ...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
PROGRESSIVE1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
1. Well....
Thurmond died and Zell Miller (a.k.a, the love child of Dick Russell) isn't really a Democrat anymore. They all became Repugs!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
oneighty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 02:40 PM
Response to Original message
2. Strom
Strom.(Rubbers)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Maddy McCall Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 02:44 PM
Response to Original message
3. It's true...many jumped during the Eisenhower administration...
The disaffection started in the FDR administration because of his "packing" the Supreme Court and his refusal to withdraw anti-lynching legislation. They were not so much opposed to his social programs, since the south had more money flowing into it than it had since antebellum days. Many southern dems began calling themselves "Jeffersonian Democrats" as opposed to "New Deal Democrats." They thought FDR should leave the party and start a third party. Some of the rhetoric in conservative newspapers during that time is amusing.

When Eisenhower ran, they jumped to the Republican party. They became disaffected with him too, however, because of his meek civil rights record.

The final blow for many was the JFK administration, in which you had a Catholic who supported civil rights for African Americans.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Maddy McCall Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 02:46 PM
Response to Original message
4. And you need to know that many northern democrats HATED CR legislation
Dixiecrats does not just apply to southerners, because notherners supported them in droves.

Opposition to civil rights for blacks was not a regional thing, but a national thing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
shockingelk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 02:56 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. This is the kind of stuff I want to look at
But am having a lot of trouble finding the congressional record for anything further back that loc.gov goes ...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 02:46 PM
Response to Original message
5. Meet the "modern day" Republicans..
Not a pretty sight.:(
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Scott Lee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
7. "States rights" dems - that became modern GOPers
The Dixiecrats were the wing of the Democratic party that couldn't stomach the then-emerging liberal civil rights movement within their party. They were also staunchly anti-federal. I'll bet many of them never forgave the federal government for the spectre of Kennedy sending troops down South to enforce civil rights law.

The GOP right tries to make hay of their connection to the "party of the slave-freeing Lincoln", but the reality is the jump in party was due mostly to reaction against the change in political winds toward race equality under the law.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
dwckabal Donating Member (854 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 03:10 PM
Response to Original message
8. Well, these aren't numbers, but
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
James T. Kirk Donating Member (916 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 04:03 PM
Response to Original message
9. link to election info
This might help.

http://www.uselectionatlas.org/

You can look at the results for each election and view county-by-county maps.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Yupster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 04:31 PM
Response to Original message
10. Southern senators in 1964
Alabama - Lister Hill, John Sparkman
Arkansas - John McClellan, William Fulbright
Florida - Spessard Holland, George Smathers
Georgia - Richard Russell, Herman Talmedge
Louisiana - Allan Ellender, Russell Long
N Carolina - Sam Ervin, Everett Jordan
S Carolina - Olin Johnston, Strom Thurmond
Tennessee - Al Gore, Herb Walters
Texas - Ralph Yarborough, William Blakley
Virginia - Harry Byrd, Willis Robertson

These were the 22 men who were senators at the time of the Civil Rights Act. At least 21 of them I know were Democrats. It's possible one was a Republican, but I think all 22 were Democrats. All 22 voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The only one who switched parties to my knowledge was Strom Thurmond. I don't think another senator switched until the 80's, but I could be wrong.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NewJerseyDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-30-03 04:36 PM
Response to Original message
11. Strom Thurmond was the only senator to switch parties
I've looked for the votes on Civil Rights and I can't find anything. I don't know who voted which way.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Tue Apr 30th 2024, 06:58 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC