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| | During the [[Third Party System]] (1854-1896) the Democrats became the minority in the face of the newly formed Republican Party (formed by former Whigs and Free Soil [[abolition]]ists), which controlled nearly all northern states by 1860, bringing a solid majority in the Electoral College. A powerful Republican issue was the allegation that northern Democrats, including "Doughfaces" like Pierce and Buchanan, and advocates of [[popular sovereignty]] like [[Stephen A. Douglas]] and [[Lewis Cass]], were accomplices to the [[Slave Power]]. The Republicans meant by Slave Power the conspiracy of slaveholders to seize control of the federal government and block the "progress of liberty." | | During the [[Third Party System]] (1854-1896) the Democrats became the minority in the face of the newly formed Republican Party (formed by former Whigs and Free Soil [[abolition]]ists), which controlled nearly all northern states by 1860, bringing a solid majority in the Electoral College. A powerful Republican issue was the allegation that northern Democrats, including "Doughfaces" like Pierce and Buchanan, and advocates of [[popular sovereignty]] like [[Stephen A. Douglas]] and [[Lewis Cass]], were accomplices to the [[Slave Power]]. The Republicans meant by Slave Power the conspiracy of slaveholders to seize control of the federal government and block the "progress of liberty." |
| | [[File:371px-Scourged back by McPherson & Oliver, 1863, colourised.jpg|left|275px|thumb|''Another definition of [[Progressive|Progressivism]]:'' Prior to the end of slavery and suppressing the vote for 100 years, then later keeping Blacks dependent on [[entitlement]]s, Democrats used the whip to keep Blacks in line.]] | | [[File:371px-Scourged back by McPherson & Oliver, 1863, colourised.jpg|left|275px|thumb|''Another definition of [[Progressive|Progressivism]]:'' Prior to the end of slavery and suppressing the vote for 100 years, then later keeping Blacks dependent on [[entitlement]]s, Democrats used the whip to keep Blacks in line.]] |
| | + | The Republican Party was beginning a 50-year era of dominance (1858-1910). During the war, Northern Democrats divided into two factions, [[War Democrats]], who supported the military policies of President Lincoln, and [[Copperheads]], who strongly opposed them. Historian Kenneth Stampp has captured the Copperhead spirit in his depiction of Democratic Congressman Daniel W. Voorhees of Indiana: |
| | + | {{quotebox|There was an earthy quality in Voorhees, "the tall sycamore of the Wabash." On the stump his hot temper, passionate [[partisan]]ship, and stirring eloquence made an irresistible appeal to the western Democracy. His bitter cries against [[Protectionism|protective]] [[tariff]]s and national banks, his intense [[race prejudice]], his suspicion of the eastern Yankee, his devotion to personal liberty, his defense of the Constitution and state rights faithfully reflected the views of his constituents. Like other Jacksonian agrarians he resented the political and economic revolution then in progress. Voorhees idealized a way of life which he thought was being destroyed by the current rulers of his country. His bold protests against these dangerous trends made him the idol of the Democracy of the Wabash Valley.<ref>Stampp, 211.</ref>}} |
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| | In 1860 the Democrats were unable to stop the election of Republican [[Abraham Lincoln]], even as they feared his election would lead to civil war. The party was divided between North and South. The northern wing nominated Douglas, and the southern wing nominated Vice President [[John C. Breckinridge]]. Douglas campaigned across the country and came in second in the popular vote, but carried only Missouri. Breckinridge carried 11 slave states. | | In 1860 the Democrats were unable to stop the election of Republican [[Abraham Lincoln]], even as they feared his election would lead to civil war. The party was divided between North and South. The northern wing nominated Douglas, and the southern wing nominated Vice President [[John C. Breckinridge]]. Douglas campaigned across the country and came in second in the popular vote, but carried only Missouri. Breckinridge carried 11 slave states. |
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| | Only a fraction of Union troops occupied the South after the war, and the balance mustered out according to length of service. Because blacks were not admitted into ranks until the middle of the war, they were retained at a higher rate, making the occupying force "blacker" than the one that won the war. The roughly 200,000 black Americans who served in the Union Army comprised an estimated 10 percent of the North's total fighting force. But by the last quarter of 1865, blacks made up about one-third of the occupation army. Many Southerners took this as a deliberate Republican insult.<ref>https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/02/what-reconstruction-and-its-end-meant-for-black-americans-who-had-fought-for-the-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms.html</ref> | | Only a fraction of Union troops occupied the South after the war, and the balance mustered out according to length of service. Because blacks were not admitted into ranks until the middle of the war, they were retained at a higher rate, making the occupying force "blacker" than the one that won the war. The roughly 200,000 black Americans who served in the Union Army comprised an estimated 10 percent of the North's total fighting force. But by the last quarter of 1865, blacks made up about one-third of the occupation army. Many Southerners took this as a deliberate Republican insult.<ref>https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/02/what-reconstruction-and-its-end-meant-for-black-americans-who-had-fought-for-the-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms.html</ref> |
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| | + | The Democrats lost consecutive presidential elections from 1860 through 1880 (but 1876 was in dispute); 1884 was their next victory. The Democrats were weakened by "The Cause" in the Civil War but benefited from resentment toward Republicans for its effort to promote equality for blacks in Reconstruction. The Republicans received the eternal hatred and hostility of Democrats, and shied away from social issues for the next 150 years, focusing instead on its original purpose of preserving the Union through national security, and on economic issues. The [[Redeemers]] gave the Democrats control of every Southern state. [[Ku Klux Klan|Democratic terrorism]] at first was focused on Republicans; once the Republicans had been chased out, the lynching of Blacks peaked about 1892 with over 150 victims, or about one every two days. |
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| | Across [[the South]] Republican parties were formed by African Americans. Black people were the original Republicans in the South. | | Across [[the South]] Republican parties were formed by African Americans. Black people were the original Republicans in the South. |
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| | The first 112 Black legislators elected in [[Mississippi]] were all Republican. The first 190 Black legislators elected in [[South Carolina]] were all Republicans. The first 41 Black legislators in [[Georgia]] were Republicans. The first 127 Black legislators in [[Louisiana]] were Republicans. | | The first 112 Black legislators elected in [[Mississippi]] were all Republican. The first 190 Black legislators elected in [[South Carolina]] were all Republicans. The first 41 Black legislators in [[Georgia]] were Republicans. The first 127 Black legislators in [[Louisiana]] were Republicans. |
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| | + | ====Birth of the Klan==== |
| | In 1866 [[Democrat]]s formed the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. Its purpose was to take control and return Democrats to power. The Ku Klux Klan started attacking Black Republican conventions. At the Republican convention in Louisiana, the Klan joined with [[New Orleans]] police and New Orleans' Democrat mayor. The New Orleans Republican convention was attacked. 40 Blacks and 20 whites were killed. Another 150 were wounded. | | In 1866 [[Democrat]]s formed the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. Its purpose was to take control and return Democrats to power. The Ku Klux Klan started attacking Black Republican conventions. At the Republican convention in Louisiana, the Klan joined with [[New Orleans]] police and New Orleans' Democrat mayor. The New Orleans Republican convention was attacked. 40 Blacks and 20 whites were killed. Another 150 were wounded. |
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| | In 1872 Congress held hearings on the Klan. Democrat leaders from Democrat States admitted under oath unequivocally that the Klan belonged to the Democrat party and their propose was to restore control in Southern states to the Democratic party. The Congressional Hearings make up 13 volumes. Black congressmen John Roy Lynch and Richard Cain went to Congress armed for fear of Klan attacks. Blacks testified that they instructed by the Klan and Democrats that, if they would stop voting the Republican ticket and would agree to vote the straight Democrat ticket, all the violence against Blacks would stop. | | In 1872 Congress held hearings on the Klan. Democrat leaders from Democrat States admitted under oath unequivocally that the Klan belonged to the Democrat party and their propose was to restore control in Southern states to the Democratic party. The Congressional Hearings make up 13 volumes. Black congressmen John Roy Lynch and Richard Cain went to Congress armed for fear of Klan attacks. Blacks testified that they instructed by the Klan and Democrats that, if they would stop voting the Republican ticket and would agree to vote the straight Democrat ticket, all the violence against Blacks would stop. |
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| − | The Republican Party was beginning a 50-year era of dominance (1858-1910). During the war, Northern Democrats divided into two factions, [[War Democrats]], who supported the military policies of President Lincoln, and [[Copperheads]], who strongly opposed them. Historian Kenneth Stampp has captured the Copperhead spirit in his depiction of Democratic Congressman Daniel W. Voorhees of Indiana:
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| − | {{quotebox|There was an earthy quality in Voorhees, "the tall sycamore of the Wabash." On the stump his hot temper, passionate [[partisan]]ship, and stirring eloquence made an irresistible appeal to the western Democracy. His bitter cries against [[Protectionism|protective]] [[tariff]]s and national banks, his intense [[race prejudice]], his suspicion of the eastern Yankee, his devotion to personal liberty, his defense of the Constitution and state rights faithfully reflected the views of his constituents. Like other Jacksonian agrarians he resented the political and economic revolution then in progress. Voorhees idealized a way of life which he thought was being destroyed by the current rulers of his country. His bold protests against these dangerous trends made him the idol of the Democracy of the Wabash Valley.<ref>Stampp, 211.</ref>}}
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| − | The Democrats lost consecutive presidential elections from 1860 through 1880 (but 1876 was in dispute); 1884 was their next victory. The Democrats were weakened by "The Cause" in the Civil War but benefited from resentment toward Republicans for its effort to promote equality for blacks in Reconstruction. The Republicans received the eternal hatred and hostility of Democrats, and shied away from social issues for the next 150 years, focusing instead on its original purpose of preserving the Union through national security, and on economic issues. The [[Redeemers]] gave the Democrats control of every Southern state. [[Ku Klux Klan|Democratic terrorism]] at first was focused on Republicans; once the Republicans had been chased out, the lynching of Blacks peaked about 1892 with over 150 victims, or about one every two days.
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| | Jim Crow and the disenfranchisement of black voters in most of the South took place 1890–1900. From 1880 to 1960 the "[[Solid South]]" voted Democratic in all presidential elections (except 1928). After 1900 the key election in southern states were white-only caucuses;<ref>The system remained in place until the [[McGovern-Fraser Commission]], which unseated white big city Democrat bosses at the national convention.</ref> victory in that primary was "tantamount to election." | | Jim Crow and the disenfranchisement of black voters in most of the South took place 1890–1900. From 1880 to 1960 the "[[Solid South]]" voted Democratic in all presidential elections (except 1928). After 1900 the key election in southern states were white-only caucuses;<ref>The system remained in place until the [[McGovern-Fraser Commission]], which unseated white big city Democrat bosses at the national convention.</ref> victory in that primary was "tantamount to election." |