The Dixiecrats, officially known as the States’ Rights Democratic Party, were a segregationist, Southern political party that emerged in 1948. The party was formed by Southern Democrats who opposed the national Democratic Party’s growing support for civil rights and racial integration.
Origins
- Founded: 1948
- Reason: Opposition to the Democratic Party’s civil rights platform, particularly President Harry S. Truman’s support for desegregation of the military and anti-lynching laws.
- Key Leaders: Strom Thurmond (Governor of South Carolina), Fielding L. Wright (Governor of Mississippi)
1948 Presidential Election
- Presidential Nominee: Strom Thurmond
- Vice Presidential Nominee: Fielding L. Wright
- Platform:
- Maintenance of racial segregation
- States’ rights over federal intervention
- Opposition to federal civil rights legislation
- Results:
- Won four Southern states: South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana
- Received 39 electoral votes and over 1 million popular votes
Legacy
- The Dixiecrats dissolved after the 1948 election, but their opposition to civil rights foreshadowed the later political realignment of the South.
- Many former Dixiecrats eventually joined the Republican Party as the national Democratic Party became more supportive of civil rights.
Further Reading
This document provides an overview of the Dixiecrats and their role in American political history.