Realignment Examples: Shifting Political And Social Landscapes

Political realignment refers to a significant shift in the political party system, usually marked by changes in voter loyalty and coalition. In the United States, this often involves power changes between the Republican and Democratic parties, resulting in ideological shifts. Realignments can occur over several elections, even if there is one critical election that defines the new alignment. For example, the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 is considered a critical election that shifted power from the Democratic-Republican Party to the Republican Party. Another example is the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, which brought together different factions in the Democratic Party, including African Americans and ardent segregationists, and marked a massive overhaul of American politics.

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The New Deal Democratic Coalition united African Americans and segregationists in 1932

The 1932 election is widely considered the most well-known realignment election in US history. The election took place during the Great Depression, which resulted from the 1929 Wall Street Crash. The Democratic Party's candidate, Franklin D. Roosevelt, won a landslide victory over the incumbent Republican president, Herbert Hoover. Roosevelt's New Deal programs aimed to aid recovery from the economic crisis, focusing on the economic struggles faced by many, including African Americans.

The New Deal coalition was a significant force in American politics for the next thirty years. It was largely opposed by the Republican Party, the business community, and wealthy Protestants. Roosevelt's coalition-building efforts were focused on creating a powerful nationwide coalition and keeping his partners united. The New Deal coalition's strength was due to the social, political, economic, and cultural changes brought about by the Great Depression, the New Deal, and World War II.

The 1932 election marked a critical realignment in American politics, with the Democratic Party gaining dominance over the Republican Party. This shift in power was characterized by changes in voter loyalty and coalition-building, as well as ideological changes in both issues and party leaders. The New Deal coalition's ability to appeal to diverse voter demographics, including African Americans and segregationists, played a key role in shaping the political landscape of the time.

Evangelical Christians abandoned the Republican Party in 1976

In the context of US politics, a realignment refers to a significant shift in the political party system, usually marked by changes in voter loyalty and coalition. An example of this is when evangelical Christians abandoned the Republican Party and voted for Jimmy Carter, a Southern Baptist and Democrat, in 1976.

Carter nearly split the evangelical vote, though his opponent Gerald Ford won a slight majority, with 51% of the vote. Carter's support for gay rights, feminism, and international efforts for women's equality alienated many evangelicals, who saw these as a threat to traditional gender roles. Abortion was also becoming a major issue for evangelicals in the 1970s, with the Republican Party becoming increasingly opposed to it, while the Democratic Party was becoming more in favor.

Carter's policies on civil rights may also have contributed to the shift in evangelical support. Baptist minister Jerry Falwell, a segregationist, organized evangelicals politically to try to stop the IRS from removing tax exemptions for segregated private schools. These schools, known as "segregation academies," were founded as a reaction to the Brown v. Board Supreme Court decision, which outlawed the segregation of public schools.

The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 marked a significant shift in evangelical support, with Reagan winning 67% of the white evangelical vote. Reagan, like Nixon, courted evangelicals, speaking at Liberty University, an evangelical school run by Falwell. This became a tradition for Republican presidential candidates. Reagan's focus on a military buildup against the Soviets also appealed to evangelicals. By 1984, Reagan had won an astounding 80% of the white evangelical vote.

The 1896 election set the stage for future campaigning

The 1896 United States presidential election was held on November 3, 1896, between former Governor William McKinley, the Republican nominee, and former Representative William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic nominee. The election was a realigning election, ending the Third Party System and beginning the Fourth Party System. It set the stage for future campaigning in several ways.

Firstly, it marked the start of the rural-urban voter divide. Bryan's campaign courted the rural vote, appealing to America's farmers and the working class, while McKinley attracted urban progressive voters. This divide was exacerbated by the economic issues at the time, with farmers and rural communities suffering financially and facing debt and mortgage payments. Bryan's support for free silver, or currency inflation, threatened to hurt wage-earning, rent-paying factory workers in urban areas. McKinley, on the other hand, supported the gold standard, which was favoured by urban institutions and businesses.

Secondly, the 1896 election demonstrated the importance of campaign funding and messaging. McKinley's campaign was well-funded, raising a record-breaking $3,500,000 to $4,000,000, with significant contributions from businesses and protectionist manufacturers. This funding allowed him to print and distribute pamphlets and attack Bryan's campaign, portraying him as a dangerous radical and a religious fanatic. In contrast, Bryan's campaign had fewer funds but relied on his populist messaging and oratorical skills to attract large crowds and gain significant electoral support.

Additionally, the 1896 election highlighted the impact of a candidate's speaking style and ability to connect with voters. Bryan's famous Cross of Gold speech galvanised his supporters and earned him the Democratic nomination. McKinley, on the other hand, chose to campaign from his front porch, delivering carefully prepared speeches to visiting delegations of Republicans. This "front porch campaign" strategy proved successful, allowing McKinley to reach a wide audience without the need for extensive travel.

The election also demonstrated the role of party coalitions and alliances. The Populist Party, seeking to organise and support farmers' interests, fused with the Democrats to nominate Bryan for President. McKinley's victory, however, led to the Populist Party's decline, with many of its members reverting to the major parties.

Finally, the 1896 election showed the significance of addressing economic issues and responding to voter sentiments. McKinley's commitment to protectionism and his popularity within the Republican Party, along with his stance on the gold standard, appealed to voters concerned about economic stability. Bryan's support for free silver and his appeal to farmers and the working class tapped into the discontent of the time, but ultimately could not broaden its support beyond its agrarian Democratic base.

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The 1860 election: Democrats split, then reunited by 1868

The 1860 election was a tumultuous affair, with a split in the Democratic Party leading to separate Northern and Southern party conventions. The incumbent president, James Buchanan, decided not to run for re-election, creating an opportunity within the Democratic Party. The party's convention in Charleston, South Carolina, failed to agree on a nominee, with Southern delegates led by William L. Yancey walking out. This split was caused by a divide over the issue of slavery, with Southern Democrats insisting on a federal slave code for the territories, which was rejected by most delegates.

The Democrats reconvened in Baltimore, Maryland, in June 1860, but the party remained divided. The Northern Democrats nominated Senator Stephen A. Douglas, who supported popular sovereignty, allowing each territory's settlers to decide locally on the status of slavery. The Southern Democrats, on the other hand, chose Vice President John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky as their candidate, with the support of President Buchanan. Breckinridge was branded as favouring secession during the campaign, though he denied this.

The split in the Democratic Party resulted in a complicated political landscape, with two Democratic candidates running against each other. This ultimately contributed to the victory of Abraham Lincoln, the candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party. Lincoln won with less than 40% of the popular vote, as the Democratic vote was split between Douglas and Breckinridge. Lincoln's victory further exacerbated sectional tensions, and seven Southern states seceded before his inauguration in March 1861, leading to the American Civil War.

In the years following the 1860 election, the Democratic Party remained divided, with Southern and Northern factions struggling to reunite. By 1868, however, the Democrats had managed to reconcile their differences and reunite as a party. This reunion may have been facilitated by the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the subsequent Reconstruction Era, during which the nation sought to heal its divisions and rebuild.

The 1824 election: John Quincy Adams elected, Andrew Jackson forms the Democrats

The 1824 election was a significant moment in US political history, marking the final collapse of the Republican-Federalist framework. It was also the first election where a large majority of electors were chosen by voters, rather than being appointed by state legislatures. The election saw John Quincy Adams elected as president, despite Andrew Jackson winning the popular and electoral vote. This outcome was due to Jackson failing to secure a majority of the electoral vote, resulting in the House of Representatives deciding the presidency.

The election was influenced by two key events: the Panic of 1819 and the Missouri Crisis of 1820. These events, along with others, increased the demand for greater democratic control. Social disaffection would also play a role in the revival of rival political parties in the near future, although this had not yet occurred by the time of the 1824 election. The candidates in the 1824 election were John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William Crawford. Clay and Jackson were particularly opposed to each other, with Clay stating of Jackson: "I cannot believe that killing 2,500 Englishmen at New Orleans qualifies for the various, difficult, and complicated duties of the Chief Magistracy."

Jackson, a military hero from Tennessee, was the most popular candidate, receiving over 150,000 votes. Adams came second with around 108,000 votes, and Clay and Crawford trailed far behind. Jackson won 99 electoral votes, taking Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Adams won 84 electoral votes, performing well in New England. On February 9, 1825, the House of Representatives elected Adams on the first ballot, with 13 states to Jackson's 7 and Crawford's 4. Kentucky's delegation, originally directed to vote for Jackson, instead voted for Adams, influenced by Clay.

Following Adams' victory, Clay was appointed secretary of state, leading Jackson's supporters to denounce an alleged deal between Adams and Clay as the "Corrupt Bargain". In the 1828 election, Jackson defeated Adams to become president. Some scholars argue that Jackson's 1828 victory marked the birth of the Democratic Party. However, others contend that the party was established in 1824 with Jackson's initial election.

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