Changes

After 1945, the Civil Rights movement gained momentum and used federal courts to attack Jim Crow.  The Supreme Court declared legal, or ''de jure'', public school segregation unconstitutional in 1954, and it ended in practice in the 1970s.<ref>Michael J. Klarman, ''From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The  Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality'' (2006)</ref>  The court ruling did not stop ''de facto'' or informal school segregation, which continued in large cities. President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], building a coalition of liberal northern Democrats and conservative Northern Republicans, pushed Congress to pass the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] which used the [[Commerce Clause]] to end Jim Crow laws that segregated restaurants, hotels and theatres; these facilities (with rare exceptions) immediately dropped racial segregation.<ref name="Short History"/> In 1965 the federal [[Voting Rights Act]] ended discrimination in voting for all federal, state and local elections.

After 1945, the Civil Rights movement gained momentum and used federal courts to attack Jim Crow.  The Supreme Court declared legal, or ''de jure'', public school segregation unconstitutional in 1954, and it ended in practice in the 1970s.<ref>Michael J. Klarman, ''From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The  Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality'' (2006)</ref>  The court ruling did not stop ''de facto'' or informal school segregation, which continued in large cities. President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], building a coalition of liberal northern Democrats and conservative Northern Republicans, pushed Congress to pass the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] which used the [[Commerce Clause]] to end Jim Crow laws that segregated restaurants, hotels and theatres; these facilities (with rare exceptions) immediately dropped racial segregation.<ref name="Short History"/> In 1965 the federal [[Voting Rights Act]] ended discrimination in voting for all federal, state and local elections.

Since the 1960s, there has been large population growth and prosperity in the South compared to the U.S. as a whole,<ref name="About.com">[http://geography.about.com/od/specificplacesofinterest/a/sunbelt.htm Sunbelt]. ''About.com''. Retrieved October 9, 2016.</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia.com">[http://www.encyclopedia.com/places/united-states-and-canada/miscellaneous-us-geography/sun-belt Sun Belt]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved October 9, 2016.</ref> and the South's population grew 36 percent from 1970 to 1990.<ref name="EncycB">[https://www.britannica.com/place/Sun-Belt Sun Belt]. ''Encyclopedia Britannica''. Retrieved October 9, 2016.</ref> Many retirees moved to the South due to the warm climate and the development of [[air conditioning]], which made living more bearable in the humid summers.<ref name="About.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref name="EncycB"/> Many businesses relocated to the South, among other reasons, because of the pro-business policies of the Southern states, including [[right to work]] legislation, and the fact that [[labor union]]s were not strong there.<ref name="About.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/> The South prospered and experienced large population growth, even as the other regions, such as the [[Rust Belt]], declined.<ref name="About.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/> Much of the South is part of the [[Sun Belt]].<ref name="About.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref name="EncycB"/>

Since the 1960s, there has been large population growth and prosperity in the South compared to the U.S. as a whole,<ref name="About.com">[http://geography.about.com/od/specificplacesofinterest/a/sunbelt.htm Sunbelt]. ''About.com''. Retrieved October 9, 2016.</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia.com">[http://www.encyclopedia.com/places/united-states-and-canada/miscellaneous-us-geography/sun-belt Sun Belt]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved October 9, 2016.</ref> and the South's population grew 36 percent from 1970 to 1990.<ref name="EncycB">[https://www.britannica.com/place/Sun-Belt Sun Belt]. ''Encyclopedia Britannica''. Retrieved October 9, 2016.</ref> Many retirees moved to the South due to the warm climate and the development of air conditioning, which made living more bearable in the humid summers.<ref name="About.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref name="EncycB"/> Many businesses relocated to the South, among other reasons, because of the pro-business policies of the Southern states, including [[right to work]] legislation, and the fact that [[labor union]]s were not strong there.<ref name="About.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/> The South prospered and experienced large population growth, even as the other regions, such as the [[Rust Belt]], declined.<ref name="About.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/> Much of the South is part of the [[Sun Belt]].<ref name="About.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref name="EncycB"/>

"Southern culture and values became influential" during this time throughout the entire U.S.<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>

"Southern culture and values became influential" during this time throughout the entire U.S.<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>