Changes

From the end of the Civil War to the 1960 election, the "Solid South" as political pundits called it, nearly always supported Democratic candidates. Since 1964, the South has become increasingly important to Presidential victors.   

From the end of the Civil War to the 1960 election, the "Solid South" as political pundits called it, nearly always supported Democratic candidates. Since 1964, the South has become increasingly important to Presidential victors.   

The Solid South began to break down in the 1964 election, when five southern states voted for Republican Barry Goldwater. The largest and President Johnson's homestate, Texas, remained Democratic. In 1968, Richard Nixon carried Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas, while and Independent George Wallace still carried the rest. Former Democratic Gov. George Wallace commenting on his 1968 Presidential bid declared, by using a base of electoral votes in the Solid South <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1968ec.gif 1968 Electoral Distribution]</ref> and adding a few Northern and Midwestern industrial belt states could accumulate enough electoral votes to win. The strategy was repeated 8 years later by Democratic contender Jimmy Carter effectively. <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1976ec.gif 1976 Electoral Distribution].</ref>  Since the 1972 election, candidates Richard Nixon (1972), Jimmy Carter (1976), Ronald Reagan (1984), George H.W. Bush (1988), and George W. Bush (2000 and 2004) carried every Southern state with the exception of 1980 President Jimmy Carter carried his home state of Georgia. Bill Clinton carried Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<ref>http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/></ref>

The Solid South began to break down in the 1964 election, when five southern states voted for Republican Barry Goldwater. The largest and President Johnson's homestate, Texas, remained Democratic. In 1968, Richard Nixon carried Florida, and the Carolinas, while Independent George Wallace carried the others with the exception of Texas, which remained Democratic. Alabama Gov. George Wallace commenting on his 1968 Presidential bid, thought by using a base of electoral votes in the Solid South <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1968ec.gif 1968 Electoral Distribution]</ref> and adding a few Northern and Midwestern industrial belt states he could accumulate enough electoral votes to win. This strategy failed for Wallace, succeded eight years later in the 1976 election for Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter. <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1976ec.gif 1976 Electoral Distribution].</ref>

 

  Since the 1972 election, candidates Richard Nixon (1972), Jimmy Carter (1976), Ronald Reagan (1984), George H.W. Bush (1988), and George W. Bush (2000 and 2004) carried every Southern state with the exception of 1980 President Jimmy Carter carried his home state of Georgia. Bill Clinton carried Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<ref>http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/></ref>

Large numbers of Southerners have served in the U.S. military. During the Civil War  southerners did not volunteer in large numbers.  Approximately twenty percent of all Confederate soldiers were draftees (compared to eight percent in the Union armies), and they were subject to “compulsory reenlistment.”<ref>Tinadall & Shi, ''America: A Narrative History'', 7th ed.(New York Norton, 2007):616-618.</ref>

Large numbers of Southerners have served in the U.S. military. During the Civil War  southerners did not volunteer in large numbers.  Approximately twenty percent of all Confederate soldiers were draftees (compared to eight percent in the Union armies), and they were subject to “compulsory reenlistment.”<ref>Tinadall & Shi, ''America: A Narrative History'', 7th ed.(New York Norton, 2007):616-618.</ref>