Jonah Patel
The Democratic Party has a complex history with constitutional amendments in the United States. While some Democrats have supported amendments that further racial equality, others have opposed them. For example, during the Reconstruction era, Democrats opposed the Fifteenth Amendment, which aimed to protect the voting rights of African American men, and none voted in favour of it. In the 1930s, the Democratic Party's state convention in Texas instituted a rule that only whites could vote in its primary elections, which was ruled as constitutional by the Court in Grovey v. Townsend (1935). However, this ruling was later undermined and overturned in subsequent cases, including Smith v. Allwright (1944), where the Court ruled that denying non-white voters a ballot in primary elections violated the Fifteenth Amendment. With regards to the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, there was also opposition from Democrats, with arguments based on federalism and states' rights. However, several notable Democrats, including Representative James Brooks and Senator Reverdy Johnson, supported the amendment, and it ultimately passed with the support of some Democratic members of Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Violation of the Fifteenth Amendment | Denying non-white voters a ballot in primary elections |
| Violation of the Fourteenth Amendment | Poll taxes in state elections |
| Violation of the Fifteenth Amendment | Organising whites-only pre-primary elections |
| Violation of the Fifteenth Amendment | Gerrymandering to exclude black areas |
| Violation of the Fifteenth Amendment | Ancestry-based voting |
| Opposition to the Thirteenth Amendment | Abolishing slavery |
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What You'll Learn
- Democrats opposed the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery
- Democrats opposed the Fifteenth Amendment, which protected black male voters
- Democrats argued the Thirteenth Amendment violated the spirit of the Constitution
- Democrats' support for the Thirteenth Amendment was a political calculation
- Democrats' voting rights violations in Texas
Democrats opposed the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery, was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865. While the amendment was a significant step towards abolition and equal rights, it faced opposition, particularly from Democrats.
The vote on the Thirteenth Amendment in the Senate was largely along party lines, with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing it. The House of Representatives initially failed to pass the amendment in June 1864, due to Democratic resistance. Democrats who opposed the amendment, including Representative Chilton A. White, argued that it violated the spirit of the Constitution and that it would lead to full citizenship for blacks. They rallied behind the notion of states' rights, suggesting that the amendment would infringe upon federalism.
However, as slavery became politically untenable, some Northern Democrats shifted their stance and voiced support for the amendment. This group included Representative James Brooks, Senator Reverdy Johnson, and the influential New York political machine known as Tammany Hall. Despite this shift, many Democrats remained steadfast in their resistance to the amendment.
The 1864 election, which returned Lincoln to the presidency and resulted in Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, set the stage for the amendment's eventual passage. Lincoln, preferring bipartisan support, worked to build consensus. The amendment ultimately passed with a slim majority in the House, with several Democrats abstaining.
The opposition of Democrats to the Thirteenth Amendment highlights a complex chapter in American history. While the amendment's passage was a pivotal moment in the abolition of slavery, it faced resistance along partisan lines, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation at the time.
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Democrats opposed the Fifteenth Amendment, which protected black male voters
The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed on February 26, 1869, and ratified on March 30, 1870, was a significant step towards racial equality in voting rights. The amendment states that "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, colour, or previous condition of servitude."
Despite the amendment's clear aim to protect the voting rights of African Americans, particularly black men, there was significant opposition from Democrats during its proposal and ratification. In the House of Representatives, 144 Republicans voted to approve the 15th Amendment, while not a single Democrat supported it, with 39 no votes and seven abstentions. Several Southern states with Democratic governments initially resisted ratifying the amendment, but were eventually left with no choice as Congress ruled that accepting the Fifteenth Amendment was a condition for readmission to the Union.
Following the amendment's ratification, Democrats continued to find ways to suppress black voters. From 1890 to 1910, the Democratic Party in the South adopted new state constitutions and enacted "Jim Crow" laws that created barriers to voter registration, such as poll taxes and literacy tests, from which white male voters were often exempt. They also employed violent intimidation tactics through groups like the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) to prevent blacks from voting.
In the Texas primary cases, there were several instances where the Democratic Party was directly involved in discriminating against black voters. In Nixon v. Herndon (1927), Dr. Lawrence A. Nixon sued the Democratic Party after being denied a ballot in a primary election due to his race. The Court ruled in Nixon's favour, but the Democratic Party in Texas quickly changed its rules to allow only whites to vote in its primary elections, which the Court upheld as constitutional in Grovey v. Townsend (1935). However, this ruling was later undermined, and in Smith v. Allwright (1944), the Court ruled that denying non-white voters a ballot in primary elections violated the Fifteenth Amendment.
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Democrats argued the Thirteenth Amendment violated the spirit of the Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for a crime). It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865. The Amendment was the first of three Reconstruction Amendments adopted following the American Civil War.
While the Amendment was ultimately passed, it faced opposition from Democrats during its journey through Congress. On June 15, 1864, the House failed to pass the Amendment, with 93 in favor and 65 against—13 votes short of the two-thirds vote needed for passage. The vote largely split along party lines, with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing.
During the House debate, senators argued over the constitutionality of uncompensated emancipation, the nature of federalism, and the adoption of the first constitutional amendment in 60 years. While a few radicals sought to empower freedmen with civil and economic rights, most senators agreed that abolition was the sole objective. Missouri senator John Henderson stated: "We give the [black man] no right except his freedom. [We] leave the rest to the states."
In the Plessy v. Ferguson case of 1896, attorneys argued that racial segregation involved "observances of a servile character coincident with the incidents of slavery", violating the Thirteenth Amendment. Plessy's lawyers wrote in their Supreme Court brief that the "distinction of race and caste" was inherently unconstitutional.
In conclusion, while Democrats did not directly violate the Thirteenth Amendment, they did oppose its passage, arguing that it violated the spirit of the Constitution by overstepping the federal government's role and infringing on states' rights.
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Democrats' support for the Thirteenth Amendment was a political calculation
The support of the Democrats for the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the US, was indeed a political calculation. While the Amendment was passed in the Senate in 1864, it initially failed in the House due to Democratic resistance in the name of states' rights. However, Lincoln's reelection in 1864, along with significant Republican majorities in both houses, shifted the political landscape.
Lincoln preferred bipartisan support for the Amendment, and as slavery became politically untenable, several Northern Democrats, including Representative James Brooks, Senator Reverdy Johnson, and the Tammany Hall political machine, announced their support. Lincoln himself had kept his position on the Amendment ambiguous before his reelection, as he considered it politically dangerous.
The Amendment ultimately passed by a narrow margin, with 14 Democrats voting in favour. This support from Democrats can be understood as a political calculation influenced by the changing political climate and the growing public sentiment against slavery.
The Democrats' shift in position was significant, as the Amendment's passage increased the political power of former slave-holding states by increasing their share of seats in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College. This dynamic may have influenced the Democrats' calculations, as they weighed the political benefits of supporting the Amendment against the potential consequences for their party's influence.
In conclusion, the Democrats' support for the Thirteenth Amendment was a complex political calculation influenced by shifting political tides, the evolving public opinion on slavery, and the potential impact on their party's standing in a changing congressional landscape.
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Democrats' voting rights violations in Texas
Voting rights violations in Texas have been a contentious issue, with accusations leveled against both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. In the specific case of the Texas Democrats, there have been allegations of voting rights violations, particularly regarding their efforts to stall votes on redistricting plans.
In 2021, Democratic lawmakers in Texas fled the state for three weeks, breaking quorum on a state election law overhaul. This action was seen as a civil violation of legislative rules and an attempt to prevent a vote on a redrawn congressional map. The map, sought by former President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott, aimed to give Republicans an advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2026 midterm elections.
Texas Democrats argued that the new map would illegally disempower Black and Hispanic voters, violating the Voting Rights Act. They also criticized Republicans for not prioritizing votes on disaster assistance and flood response after catastrophic Texas floods. In response to the Democrats' absence, Governor Abbott and other Republican leaders took steps to pressure them to return, including issuing civil arrest warrants and threatening fines.
The situation escalated further, with Abbott alleging that absentee Texas House Democrats may have violated bribery laws by "soliciting or receiving funds to evade conducting legislative business and casting votes." He also sought to remove the absent Democrats from their legislative seats, citing abandonment of duties. However, legal experts questioned the interpretation of "abandonment," suggesting that the lawmakers' absence was tied to the legislative debate over redistricting.
The standoff ended when the Texas Democrats returned to the state, allowing the vote on the redistricting map to proceed. While their walkout temporarily prevented a vote on the map, it drew national attention to voting rights issues and prompted Democratic-run states to initiate their own redistricting efforts.
In summary, the Texas Democrats' actions, while controversial, brought attention to the potential violation of voting rights for minorities and highlighted the ongoing political battle between red and blue states over redistricting.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. The Democratic Party's state convention instituted a rule that only whites could vote in its primary elections. This was ruled as a violation of the Fifteenth Amendment in Smith v. Allwright (1944).
Yes. Democrats who opposed the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, argued that it would lead to full citizenship for blacks.
Yes. In Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections (1966), the Supreme Court ruled that state poll taxes violate the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
The Court found in Nixon's favor on the basis of the Fourteenth Amendment.
