Civics Collection
The New Deal Political Realignment

The Democratic Party

The Democratic Party is the nation’s oldest political party still active today and dominated national politics from 1800 to 1860. While the Civil War ended the party’s dominance nationally, between 1865 and 1932, the Democratic Party reestablished political control in the South. White southerners who opposed the end of slavery, civil rights for southern Blacks, and voting rights for Black men organized to return state governments to Democratic White rule. These “Redeemers” used violence, harassment, and electoral fraud to prevent Black political participation and restored the South to Democratic control by 1877.
A sketch appearing in an 1876 Harper's Weekly magazine.

“Of Course He Wants to Vote the Democratic Ticket,” Harper’s Weekly, October 1876.

The sketch shows a Black man who is next in line to the ballot box. Two white men with casual but threatening stares are on either side of the Black man, both pointing a gun to the Black voter's head. The Black man, who appears scared, is looking at the ballot boxes. Writing at the bottom of the sketch reads, "Of course he wants to vote the Democratic ticket! Democratic reformer. You're as free as air, ain't you? Say you are or I'll blow your black head off!"

Take Notes

In your own words, explain what is happening in this image. What is the artist’s claim? How do you know? Support your answer with evidence from the image.

When Reconstruction ended in 1877, and Republicans removed federal troops from the South in exchange for victory in the disputed 1876 election, Democrats rapidly rolled back Republican reforms and passed Jim Crow laws to legalize segregation and suppress Black voting rights. Jim Crow laws remained in place for most of the 20th century, and the Democratic Party maintained control of the “Solid South” for nearly a century.
A black and white map of the continental United States entitled "The Solid South, 1880 to 1912."

The heavily shaded area, the Solid South, was solidly Democratic, while the border states occasionally cast Republican votes.

The states shaded solid black are Viriginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The gray shaded border states are Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Iowa. A description indicates that the black shaded states were solidly Democratic in 1800 to 1912, while the gray border states occassionally leaned Republican.

Take Notes

Consider what you have learned about the Democratic Party’s policies and actions. In the chart below, identify the group or groups that would likely have voted for the Democratic Party and explain why. If you think that a group would have opposed the Democratic Party, leave the space for that group blank.

After you complete the chart, open the Answer Key to check your responses.
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Answer Key
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Southern Black Americans:Leave blank

Northern Black Americans:Leave blank

Southern Whites: Most southern Whites wanted to return to a segregated society, where they ruled over free Black Americans.

Northern Whites:Leave blank

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