Changes

The South favored the [[Jeffersonian Republicans]] during the [[First Party System]], from the 1790s to 1820s. However, during the [[Second Party System]], 1830-1854, the region was closely balanced between Democrats and the [[Whig Party]], with the Democrats gaining after 1848.

The South favored the [[Jeffersonian Republicans]] during the [[First Party System]], from the 1790s to 1820s. However, during the [[Second Party System]], 1830-1854, the region was closely balanced between Democrats and the [[Whig Party]], with the Democrats gaining after 1848.

Political parties were in disarray in the late 1850s and were suspended during the Civil War. During Reconstruction, 1863-1877, the dominant [[Republican Party]] was a coalition of Freedmen (freed slaves), [[Carpetbaggers]] (new arrivals from the North), and [[Scalawags]] (white southerners), all supported by the U.S. Army. Violent confrontations led to the collapse of the Republican state governments in the 1870s; the last three fell in 1877. They were replaced by the [[Redeemers]], conservative white Democrats allied to the [[Bourbon Democrats]] of the North.

Political parties were in disarray in the late 1850s and were suspended during the Civil War. During Reconstruction, 1863-1877, the dominant [[Republican Party]] was a coalition of Freedmen (freed slaves), [[Carpetbaggers]] (new arrivals from the North), and [[Scalawags]] (white southerners), all supported by the U.S. Army. Violent confrontations led to the collapse of the Republican state governments in the 1870s; the last three fell in 1877. They were replaced by the [[Redeemers]], white Democrats allied to the [[Bourbon Democrats]] of the North.

The Democrats repressed a Populist movement in the 1890s, and dominated every state with rare exceptions down to 1964.  The "Solid South" as political pundits called it, nearly always supported Democrat presidential candidates, except in 1928, 1952 and 1956.

The Democrats repressed a Populist movement in the 1890s, and dominated every state with rare exceptions down to 1964.  The "Solid South" as political pundits called it, nearly always supported Democrat presidential candidates, except in 1928, 1952 and 1956.

While the majority of political scientists believe that the shift of the South to the Republican Party began in the 1960's, there is evidence that it really began in the 1920s and the 1950s.<ref>Trande, Sean (April 30, 2013). [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/04/30/southern_whites_shift_to_the_gop_predates_the_60s_118172.html Southern Whites' Shift to the GOP Predates the '60s]. ''Real Clear Politics''. Retrieved September 9, 2016.</ref>

While the majority of political scientists believe that the shift of the South to the Republican Party began in the 1960s, there is evidence that it really began in the 1920s and the 1950s.<ref>Trande, Sean (April 30, 2013). [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/04/30/southern_whites_shift_to_the_gop_predates_the_60s_118172.html Southern Whites' Shift to the GOP Predates the '60s]. ''Real Clear Politics''. Retrieved September 9, 2016.</ref>

    

    

====1964 to 1992====

====1964 to 1992====

In the 1976 election, Democrat contender [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1976ec.gif 1976 Electoral Distribution].</ref> carried most of the region combining the black vote with a majority of evangelical whites. Beginning in 1972, the Solid South began a long string of picking the winner beginning with Richard Nixon (1972), Jimmy Carter (1976), [[Ronald Reagan]] (1980 & 84), and [[George H.W. Bush]] (1988).<ref>In 1980 Carter carried his home state of Georgia.</ref>

In the 1976 election, Democrat contender [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1976ec.gif 1976 Electoral Distribution].</ref> carried most of the region combining the black vote with a majority of evangelical whites. Beginning in 1972, the Solid South began a long string of picking the winner beginning with Richard Nixon (1972), Jimmy Carter (1976), [[Ronald Reagan]] (1980 & 84), and [[George H.W. Bush]] (1988).<ref>In 1980 Carter carried his home state of Georgia.</ref>

While the South may have lost the Civil War, since Lyndon Johnson, Southern views and priorities have dominated the White House and the national agenda.

While the South may have lost the Civil War, since Lyndon B. Johnson, Southern views and priorities have dominated the White House and the national agenda.

====1992 through 2016====

====1992 through 2016====

After 1992 the South continued its winning ways of setting the national agenda and picking the winner. In 1992 [[Bill Clinton]] reassembled Carter's coalition for the Democrats and carried Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<ref>http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps</ref> [[George W. Bush]] (2000 and 2004) carried every Southern state including Democrat challenger and incumbent Vice President [[Al Gore]]'s home state of Tennessee.

After 1992 the South continued its winning ways of setting the national agenda and picking the winner. In 1992 [[Bill Clinton]] reassembled Carter's coalition for the Democrats and carried Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<ref>http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps</ref> [[George W. Bush]] (2000 and 2004) carried every Southern state including Democrat challenger and incumbent Vice President [[Al Gore]]'s home state of Tennessee.

In 2008 Barack Obama recaptured small portions, carrying Florida, Virginia and North Carolina, leaving the GOP in disarray. However, the GOP rebounded in the 2012 presidential election, retaking North Carolina. The GOP maintained and even increased its Southern holdings in the 2016 election.

In 2008 Barack Obama recaptured small portions, carrying Florida, Virginia and North Carolina, leaving the GOP in disarray. However, the GOP rebounded in the 2012 presidential election, retaking North Carolina. The GOP maintained and even increased its Southern holdings in the 2016 election (though it lost North Carolina back to the Democrats).

In the [[2016 U.S. presidential election|2016 presidential election]], every rural, white-majority Southern county voted for the Republican nominee for the first time in history with the historic flip of Elliott County, Kentucky.<ref>Simon, Jeff (December 9, 2016). [http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/09/politics/elliott-county-kentucky-democratic-streak-broken-by-donald-trump/index.html How Trump ended Democrats' 144-year winning streak in one county]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref>

In the [[2016 U.S. presidential election|2016 presidential election]], every rural, white-majority Southern county voted for the Republican nominee for the first time in history with the historic flip of Elliott County, Kentucky.<ref>Simon, Jeff (December 9, 2016). [http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/09/politics/elliott-county-kentucky-democratic-streak-broken-by-donald-trump/index.html How Trump ended Democrats' 144-year winning streak in one county]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref>