Reply #7: You're not understanding the meaing ... [View All]

[RoyGBiv]

Political realignment isn't about changing parties. That's one reason why the 1980 cycle is so controversial. What happened then is traditional Democrats voted Republican. Does that constitute a realignment? By itself, no.

African Americans were once largely Republican. Why is clear. That was the party of Lincoln. Their interests didn't change at all, but as of 1936, their voting behavior did. Why did it change?

The traditional answer is that the parties switched their platforms so that blacks were more attracted to Democrats, but that's not a complete explanation, nor even true. In 1936, the South was still "solid" in its support of the Democratic party, but not because of the black vote. Blacks voted for Democrats because of some other reason.

And that reason, loosely stated, is that the Democratic party changed to incorporate powerful interests that were not opposed to labor or minority rights.