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==The "Solid South"==

==The "Solid South"==

From the end of the Civil War to the 1960 election, the "Solid South" as political pundits called it, nearly always supported Democratic candidates. The Solid South began to break down in the 1964 election, when five southern states voted for Republican Barry Goldwater. In 1968, the region split (with the exception of Texas) its electoral votes between Republican candidate Richard Nixon and Independent George Wallace. 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.. In 1980, Ronald Reagan carried very state in the region with the exception of Jimmy Carter's home state of Georgia. Bill Clinton won some of the Southern states in the 1992 and 1996 elections. <http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/>

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 Presidnetial 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. 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, Tennesse, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/>

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

A 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.”<Tinadall & Shi, America: A Narrative History, 7th ed.(New York Norton, 2007):616-618.>

The South also tends to lag behind the rest of the nation academically. Reading and math scores of students in the region have remained below the national average. <http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/>

The South also tends to lag behind the rest of the nation academically. Reading and math scores of students in the region are somewhat slightly below national averages. <http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/>