Changes

The [[Fourth Party System]] began with the 1896 election, a realignment during which the GOP controlled the presidency for 28 of 36 years. The GOP dominated most of the Northeast and Midwest, and half the West. Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic, or GAR, became the GOP. One of the consequences of the Democratic victories in the South was that many Southern Congressmen and Senators were almost automatically re-elected every election. Due to the importance of seniority in the U.S. Senate, Southerners were able to control most of the committees and kill any civil rights legislation.<ref>https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_org_democratic.html</ref> [[William Jennings Bryan]], with a base in the South and Plains states, was strong enough to get the nomination again in 1900 (losing to McKinley) and 1908 (losing to Taft).  [[Theodore Roosevelt]] dominated the first decade of the century—and to the annoyance of Democrats "stole" the trust issue by crusading against trusts.  

The [[Fourth Party System]] began with the 1896 election, a realignment during which the GOP controlled the presidency for 28 of 36 years. The GOP dominated most of the Northeast and Midwest, and half the West. Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic, or GAR, became the GOP. One of the consequences of the Democratic victories in the South was that many Southern Congressmen and Senators were almost automatically re-elected every election. Due to the importance of seniority in the U.S. Senate, Southerners were able to control most of the committees and kill any civil rights legislation.<ref>https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_org_democratic.html</ref> [[William Jennings Bryan]], with a base in the South and Plains states, was strong enough to get the nomination again in 1900 (losing to McKinley) and 1908 (losing to Taft).  [[Theodore Roosevelt]] dominated the first decade of the century—and to the annoyance of Democrats "stole" the trust issue by crusading against trusts.  

[[File:320px-Birth of a Nation theatrical poster.jpg|left|200px|thumb|'''Birth of a Nation''' released in 1915 depicted the history of the Democratic Party after the Civil War. In 1992, the [[Library of Congress]] deemed the film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.]]

[[File:320px-Birth of a Nation theatrical poster.jpg|left|200px|thumb|'''Birth of a Nation''' released in 1915 depicted the history of the Democratic Party after the Civil War. In 1992, the [[Library of Congress]] deemed the film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.]]

Anti-Bryan conservatives controlled the convention in 1904, but they faced a [[Theodore Roosevelt]] landslide.  Bryan dropped his free silver and anti-[[imperialism]] rhetoric and supported mainstream [[progressive]] issues, such as the income tax, anti-trust, and direct election of Senators. He backed Woodrow Wilson in 1912, was rewarded with the State Department, then resigned in protest against Wilson's non-pacifistic policies in 1916. Northern Democrats were progressive on most issues, but generally opposed prohibition, were lukewarm regarding [[women's rights]], and were reluctant to undercut the "boss system" in the big cities.  

Anti-Bryan conservatives controlled the convention in 1904, but they faced a [[Theodore Roosevelt]] landslide.  Bryan dropped his free silver and anti-[[imperialism]] rhetoric and supported mainstream [[progressive]] issues, such as the income tax, anti-trust, and direct election of Senators. He backed Woodrow Wilson in 1912, was rewarded with the State Department, then resigned in protest against Wilson's non-pacifistic policies in 1916. Northern Democrats were progressive on most issues, but generally opposed prohibition, were lukewarm regarding [[women's rights]], and were reluctant to undercut the "boss system" in the big cities.