African-Americans' Political Loyalty: The Party They Supported Until 1936

Until 1936, the majority of African-Americans in the United States were loyal supporters of the Republican Party, primarily due to the party's historical association with the abolition of slavery and the passage of key civil rights legislation during the Reconstruction era. This alignment dated back to the 19th century, when figures like Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party championed the cause of freedom for enslaved African-Americans. However, this political loyalty began to shift during the Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, as his New Deal policies and outreach to African-American communities laid the groundwork for a gradual realignment toward the Democratic Party.

Explore related products

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America―The New York Times Bestselling Retelling of US History Through the Experiences of Black Americans

$20.99 $32.5

The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt

$12.02 $20

African American Politics (US Minority Politics)

$25.83 $36.25

American Politics and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom

$54.09 $94.95

American Politics and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom

$300 $110

American Politics and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom (6th Edition)

$72.8 $88.6

Post-Civil War Alignment: African Americans initially supported the Republican Party for their role in emancipation

African Americans' political alignment in the post-Civil War era was a direct response to the Republican Party's pivotal role in their emancipation. The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was championed by the Republican Party under President Abraham Lincoln. This act of liberation forged a deep bond between the newly freed African Americans and the GOP. As a result, during the Reconstruction period, the majority of African Americans who gained the right to vote threw their support behind the Republican Party, seeing it as the party of freedom and equality.

Historical Context and Party Loyalty

The period between 1865 and 1936 witnessed a remarkable consistency in African American voting behavior. According to historical records, over 90% of African American voters supported the Republican Party during this era. This loyalty was not merely a symbolic gesture but a strategic decision based on the party's commitment to civil rights. The Republicans' support for the 14th and 15th Amendments, which granted citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, further solidified this alliance. Notable figures like Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington actively campaigned for the GOP, emphasizing its role in securing their freedom and rights.

Comparative Analysis of Party Platforms

To understand the strength of this alignment, consider the contrasting platforms of the two major parties. The Republican Party, during this period, advocated for equal rights, voting rights, and economic opportunities for African Americans. In contrast, the Democratic Party, particularly in the South, was associated with segregation, disenfranchisement, and the preservation of white supremacy. The "Solid South," a term used to describe the Democratic Party's dominance in the southern states, was built on policies that marginalized African Americans. This stark difference in party ideologies made the Republican Party the natural choice for African American voters seeking to protect their hard-won freedoms.

Practical Implications and Community Organizing

The support for the Republican Party translated into tangible community organizing efforts. African American leaders established local GOP clubs, hosted rallies, and distributed party literature to educate and mobilize voters. These grassroots initiatives were crucial in maintaining high voter turnout and ensuring that the African American voice was heard within the party. For instance, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African American Republicans played a significant role in electing candidates who supported anti-lynching legislation and federal protection of voting rights. This period also saw the rise of influential African American politicians, such as Oscar De Priest and Arthur W. Mitchell, who served in Congress as Republicans, advocating for their communities' interests.

Takeaway: A Legacy of Strategic Alignment

The initial and enduring support of African Americans for the Republican Party until 1936 was a strategic response to the party's role in emancipation and its subsequent commitment to civil rights. This alignment was not just a political choice but a survival strategy in a post-Civil War society fraught with racial tensions and discriminatory policies. By supporting the GOP, African Americans sought to secure their place in the nation's political and social fabric. This historical context provides valuable insights into the complexities of political loyalty and the importance of party platforms in shaping voter behavior. Understanding this era highlights the significance of recognizing and addressing the specific needs and histories of different voter groups in fostering meaningful political engagement.

Southern Disenfranchisement: Jim Crow laws suppressed Black voting, limiting political influence until the 1930s

Until the mid-1930s, African Americans overwhelmingly supported the Republican Party, a legacy of the party’s role in abolishing slavery and advancing Reconstruction-era civil rights. However, this allegiance was not merely a matter of historical gratitude; it was also a pragmatic response to the political landscape of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the South, where the majority of African Americans lived, the Democratic Party dominated and actively enforced policies of racial segregation and disenfranchisement. Jim Crow laws, enacted in the late 1800s, systematically stripped Black citizens of their right to vote through poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses. These measures were designed to maintain white supremacy and ensure Democratic control, effectively silencing Black political influence for decades.

The mechanisms of disenfranchisement were both insidious and widespread. Poll taxes, for instance, required voters to pay a fee to cast a ballot, a significant burden for impoverished African Americans. Literacy tests, often administered by biased officials, were used to disqualify Black voters under the guise of ensuring competency. The grandfather clause exempted individuals from these requirements if their grandfathers had voted before the Civil War, a loophole that exclusively benefited whites. These tactics reduced Black voter turnout in the South to near zero in many areas, rendering African Americans politically powerless. As a result, the Republican Party remained the only viable option for Black voters, even as its influence waned in the face of Democratic dominance.

Despite their nominal allegiance to the Republican Party, African Americans faced significant barriers to meaningful political participation. The party’s ability to advocate for Black interests was limited by its declining presence in the South and its growing focus on appealing to white voters. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party, though hostile to Black rights, began to court African American support during the New Deal era of the 1930s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration implemented policies that provided economic relief to Black communities, laying the groundwork for a shift in political loyalties. However, this shift did not occur overnight; it was a gradual process fueled by the growing frustration with Republican inaction and the recognition of the Democratic Party’s potential as a vehicle for change.

The impact of Jim Crow disenfranchisement extended beyond the ballot box, shaping the broader social and economic conditions of African American life. Without political representation, Black communities were vulnerable to discriminatory policies in education, employment, and housing. The lack of voting power also hindered efforts to challenge segregation in the courts or advocate for federal intervention. It was not until the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century that these barriers began to crumble, thanks to grassroots organizing, legal challenges, and the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. By then, the political realignment of African Americans was well underway, marking the end of an era defined by Republican loyalty and Southern disenfranchisement.

Understanding this history is crucial for grasping the complexities of African American political identity. The shift from the Republican to the Democratic Party was not a sudden betrayal of historical allegiance but a calculated response to changing circumstances. Jim Crow laws did not merely suppress votes; they stifled the potential for Black political agency and forced African Americans to navigate a system rigged against them. By the 1930s, the seeds of change were sown, but the legacy of disenfranchisement continued to shape the struggle for equality. This period serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of systemic racism and the resilience of those who fought to reclaim their voice in American democracy.

New Deal Impact: FDR’s policies during the Great Depression began shifting Black support to Democrats

Until the mid-1930s, African-Americans overwhelmingly supported the Republican Party, a legacy of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the GOP’s role in advancing civil rights during Reconstruction. However, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies during the Great Depression marked a turning point. While not explicitly designed for racial equality, these programs provided unprecedented federal assistance to Black communities, which were disproportionately affected by economic hardship. Relief efforts like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) offered jobs to millions, including hundreds of thousands of African-Americans, easing their suffering and fostering a sense of inclusion in the nation’s recovery.

The New Deal’s impact extended beyond immediate relief. Programs like the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) and the National Recovery Administration (NRA) indirectly benefited Black sharecroppers and urban workers, though they often faced discrimination in implementation. More significantly, Eleanor Roosevelt’s advocacy for civil rights and FDR’s appointment of Black advisors, such as Mary McLeod Bethune, signaled a shift in Democratic engagement with African-American concerns. This contrasted sharply with the Republican Party’s growing alignment with the conservative South, which resisted racial progress. For Black voters, the New Deal represented not just economic survival but also a political party willing to acknowledge their struggles.

The 1936 election crystallized this shift. While African-Americans had begun moving toward the Democratic Party in 1932, FDR’s reelection campaign saw a dramatic increase in Black support. In cities like Chicago and New York, Black voters turned out in record numbers for the Democrats, driven by gratitude for New Deal programs and disillusionment with Republican inaction on racial issues. This realignment was not immediate or universal—many Black voters in the South remained disenfranchised, and the Democratic Party’s Southern wing continued to oppose civil rights. Yet, the groundwork for a lasting political shift had been laid.

Practical takeaways from this period underscore the power of policy in reshaping political loyalties. The New Deal demonstrated that even incremental federal intervention could address systemic inequalities, albeit imperfectly. For modern policymakers, this history highlights the importance of targeted economic relief and symbolic gestures of inclusion in building trust with marginalized communities. While the New Deal did not end racial discrimination, it showed that government action could begin to dismantle economic barriers, paving the way for the civil rights movement and the eventual solidification of Black support for the Democratic Party.

Explore related products

Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics

$6.33 $36

The Atlas of African-American History and Politics: From the Slave Trade to Modern Times

$55

Behind the Mule: Race and Class in African-American Politics

$37.99 $53

African American Political Thought: A Collected History

$3.99 $36.99

Conversations in Black: On Power, Politics, and Leadership

$12.77 $28

African American Politics in Rural America: Theory, Practice and Case Studies from Florence County, South Carolina

$49.99

Republican to Democrat: The 1936 election marked a significant turning point in Black political allegiance

Until the 1930s, African Americans overwhelmingly supported the Republican Party, a legacy of the party's role in abolishing slavery and advancing civil rights during the Reconstruction era. Figures like Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington aligned with the GOP, and Black voters saw the party as their primary ally against Democratic-backed Jim Crow laws and racial oppression in the South. However, this allegiance began to shift during the Great Depression, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies offered economic relief to millions, including Black Americans devastated by poverty and unemployment. The 1936 election crystallized this transformation, marking the moment when African Americans began to realign their political loyalty from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.

The New Deal's programs, such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), provided jobs to hundreds of thousands of Black workers, while Social Security offered a safety net for the elderly and disabled. Roosevelt's administration also took symbolic steps to acknowledge Black Americans, appointing prominent figures like Mary McLeod Bethune to advisory roles and quietly challenging racial segregation in federal agencies. These actions stood in stark contrast to the Republican Party's perceived indifference to Black suffering during the Depression. For instance, Republican President Herbert Hoover's failure to address the economic crisis effectively alienated many Black voters, who saw the GOP as out of touch with their struggles.

The 1936 election was a watershed moment, as African Americans voted overwhelmingly for Roosevelt, with estimates suggesting that up to 70% of Black voters supported him. This shift was particularly notable in northern cities, where Black voters had more political freedom than in the disenfranchised South. Roosevelt's landslide victory signaled a new era in Black political allegiance, as the Democratic Party began to position itself as the champion of economic and social justice for African Americans. The election also highlighted the growing influence of Black leaders like A. Philip Randolph, who leveraged their communities' support for Roosevelt to push for greater civil rights advancements.

However, this realignment was not without tension. Many Black Republicans, such as James Weldon Johnson, initially resisted the shift, arguing that the Democratic Party remained deeply entrenched in racism, particularly in the South. Yet, the practical benefits of the New Deal, combined with Roosevelt's willingness to engage with Black leaders, proved decisive. The 1936 election demonstrated that African Americans were willing to reward political parties that addressed their immediate needs, even if it meant breaking with historical loyalties. This pragmatic approach laid the groundwork for future civil rights activism, as Black voters increasingly used their political power to demand equality and justice.

In retrospect, the 1936 election was more than a political realignment; it was a turning point in the struggle for Black equality. It marked the beginning of a long-term partnership between African Americans and the Democratic Party, one that would eventually lead to landmark civil rights legislation in the 1960s. While the Democratic Party's commitment to racial justice has been inconsistent, the 1936 election remains a testament to the power of policy and leadership in reshaping political allegiances. For those studying political history or seeking to understand contemporary voting patterns, this shift underscores the importance of addressing the material needs of marginalized communities to earn their enduring support.

Civil Rights Catalyst: Democratic Party’s growing focus on civil rights further solidified Black support post-1936

Until the mid-20th century, African Americans overwhelmingly supported the Republican Party, a legacy of Abraham Lincoln’s role in abolishing slavery and the GOP’s early commitment to civil rights. However, this allegiance began to shift during the New Deal era, as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Democratic administration implemented policies that provided economic relief to Black communities devastated by the Great Depression. While these measures were not explicitly race-focused, they laid the groundwork for a reevaluation of political loyalties. The turning point came post-1936, when the Democratic Party began to explicitly champion civil rights, a strategic pivot that would reshape Black political alignment for decades.

The Democratic Party’s growing focus on civil rights was catalyzed by grassroots pressure and the moral imperative of the Civil Rights Movement. Key figures like Eleanor Roosevelt and liberal Democrats in Congress pushed for anti-lynching legislation, fair employment practices, and desegregation. The 1948 Democratic National Convention marked a watershed moment, as the party adopted a strong civil rights plank in its platform, a move that alienated conservative Southern Democrats but signaled a new commitment to racial justice. This shift was further solidified by President Harry Truman’s executive orders desegregating the military and federal workforce, actions that resonated deeply with African American voters.

The 1960s saw the Democratic Party fully embrace civil rights as a central tenet of its agenda, culminating in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. These landmark laws, which dismantled Jim Crow segregation and protected Black voting rights, were championed by Democrats and opposed by many Southern Republicans who had begun to court segregationist voters. Johnson’s declaration, “We shall overcome,” during his 1965 address to Congress, symbolized the party’s alignment with the aspirations of African Americans. This legislative and rhetorical commitment further cemented Black support for the Democratic Party, transforming it into the political home for civil rights advocates.

Practically, this shift had profound implications for Black political engagement. Voter registration drives, led by organizations like the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, were bolstered by the Democratic Party’s support for voting rights. For instance, in Mississippi, the number of registered Black voters increased from 7% in 1964 to 59% by 1968, a direct result of federal intervention and Democratic policies. This surge in political participation not only empowered Black communities but also ensured their voices were heard in shaping the nation’s future. To sustain this momentum, modern activists and organizations can replicate these efforts by focusing on voter education, combating voter suppression, and fostering alliances with political parties committed to equity.

In conclusion, the Democratic Party’s evolving focus on civil rights post-1936 was not merely a political strategy but a moral imperative that reshaped American politics. By championing legislation, amplifying Black voices, and confronting systemic racism, the party earned the enduring support of African American voters. This history serves as a blueprint for contemporary efforts to advance racial justice, reminding us that political change requires both policy action and unwavering commitment to equality.

Frequently asked questions