Solid South refers to the electoral voting bloc for the Democratic Party in the Southern United States from the end of the Reconstruction era (1877) to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Post-Reconstruction, Southern Democrats disenfranchised nearly all black voters in the former Confederate states.
Southern Democrats controlled state legislatures, ensuring a one-party system dominated by Democratic primary elections.
Historical Context
Civil War & Reconstruction: Southern states seceded to form the Confederacy; post-war, the federal government defeated the Confederacy and ended slavery.
Redeemers: White supremacist Democrats who aimed to regain control and disenfranchise black voters.
Political Methods & Strategies
White Primaries: Exclusion of blacks from voting in Democratic primaries.
White Supremacist Policies: Use of paramilitary groups like the Ku Klux Klan to suppress black voting and enforce Democratic dominance.
Compromise of 1877: Resolved disputed 1876 presidential election; effectively ended Reconstruction, allowing Democrats to regain control in the South.
Key Events & Figures
Colfax Massacre (1873): White supremacist violence that exemplified racial terrorism.
Supreme Court's Role: Rulings like United States v. Cruikshank reduced federal intervention in racial violence.
Mississippi Plan (1874-1875): Strategy by Southern Democrats to suppress black voting and win control of the state.
Disenfranchisement and Legislative Actions
Lodge Bill (1890): Failed legislation aimed at protecting African American voting rights.
Disfranchisement Tactics: Poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses were implemented.
Final Failures to Protect Voting Rights: Federal courts failed to protect black voting rights in Williams v. Mississippi (1898) and Giles v. Harris (1903).
Shifts in Political Alignments
Rise of Republican Influence: Began post-World War II and accelerated with Civil Rights Acts.
Southern Strategy: Adopted by Republicans in the 1960s to increase support from white voters in the South.
Demographic & Social Changes
Great Migration: Movement of African Americans from the South to the North for better opportunities.
Economic Changes: South began to industrialize post-World War II, with significant socioeconomic developments.
Modern Political Landscape
Republican Dominance: Since 2010, Republicans have become the dominant political party in the South.
Exceptions: Virginia remains a notable exception, having become more Democratic due to demographic shifts.
Notable Supreme Court Decisions
Smith v. Allwright (1944): Ruled against white primaries, significantly impacting Southern electoral politics.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Ruled against racial segregation in public schools, a pivotal moment in civil rights history.
Study Tips
Focus on understanding the timeline of events from Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement.
Consider the impact of demographic changes and economic factors on political shifts.
Review Supreme Court rulings and their implications on civil rights and electoral politics.