The Personal Website of Mark W. Dawson


Containing His Articles, Observations, Thoughts, Meanderings,
and some would say Wisdom (and some would say not).

Slavery and Discrimination Rooted in Party Politics

The Civil War - Slavery vs Freedom. North vs South, Industrial vs Agricultural, Union vs Succession are the common reasons given for the Civil War. There is great truth in these reasons, but the commonality of these reasons is Democrat vs. Republican party politics.

The “Democratic Party” was founded by the Jeffersonian principles that were based on States’ Rights, agrarian interests, and the protection of slavery. The “Republican Party” was founded upon the collapse of the “Whig Party” that was based on the “Federalist Party” principles of Federal power, commercial interests, and anti-slavery. There were Democrats and Republicans that spanned across all geographic areas in the United States as well as other divisions of interests, but the primary differences were as stated previously. My personal opinion as to the different eras of Slavery and Civil Rights in American history are as follows, and are somewhat based on “Constitutional Amendments and Major Civil Rights Acts of Congress Referenced in Black Americans in Congress”.

Pre-Constitutional EraTOC

Prior to the adoption of the Constitution (1778) there were no formal parties but loose associations, and the differences between the peoples were in their attitudes toward North vs. South, Big States vs. Small States, Commercial vs. Agrarian, and Slavery vs. Anti-slavery. There was also a Religious propensity as the New England States were more Puritanical, the Mid-Atlantic States were more tolerant of different religious beliefs, while the Southern States were more accepting of State Sanctioned Religion. Slavery and discrimination existed in all the Colonies ranging from light in the New England region, to modest in the Mid-Atlantic region, and heavier in the Southern region.

Constitutional EraTOC

The Constitutional era (1788 t0 1848) was dominated by the Federalist/Whigs vs. Democrat Parties that began after the Constitution was adopted. Parties began to be formed based on Federalism. The Federalist/Whigs were more supportive of a strong federal government, while the Democrats were more supportive of States Rights. At the beginning of this era, the Federalists rallied behind Alexander Hamilton while the Democrats rallied behind Thomas Jefferson. As the Democrats gained more political power the Federalists began to fade and eventually disappeared and were replaced by the Whigs. The popularity of the Democratic  “Jacksonian democracy” politics eventually led to the demise of the Whigs. Throughout all these changes the Federalist, Whigs, and Republican Parties have retained their anti-slavery biases, while the Democratic Party had been for the protection of slavery. Slavery in the South saw explosive growth during this era as I have explained in my Article “Slavery in the United States Constitution”.

Civil Unrest and Civil War EraTOC

The Civil Unrest and Civil War era (roughly 1849 to 1865) was the era were the issue of slavery dominated and became the central focus of politics and society. And this era was delimitated between the Democrat and Republican Parties. Abraham Lincoln identified four Americans that he described as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse of Slavery during this era:

As can be seen from this list three of these persons were northern Democrat leaders. While the fourth, Chief Justice Roger Taney, was officially a southerner due to the Mason-Dixon line placing Maryland in the south. It was also true Maryland was highly divided in its sympathies between North and South, and Taney was very partisan toward the South.

It can also be said that no Republican ever supported slavery, and no Republican ever owned a slave, unlike the members of the Democrat Party. Slavery was not tolerated in the Republican Party, and no Republican ever reached out to a Democrat on slavery except to convince them of the error of their ways and to free their slaves and help abolish slavery.

The Republicans were such anti-slaves that they sought to restrict slavery to the South with the hopes of eventually eliminating slavery. The Democrats were protectionists of slavery and worked to extend slavery in the new western territories. There was violence on both sides to achieve each side's goal. With the “Dred Scott” decision of the Supreme Court in 1857, the issue of slavery reached a boiling point. From this decision forward the country hastened into a “Civil War” in 1861 with the election of a Republican President – Abraham Lincoln.

The Democrat Party supported the Dred Scott decision, while the Republican Party opposed this decision. Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying upon hearing of this ruling “This decision will not stand”, and he became even more active and dedicated abolitionist. Through all the trials and tribulations of the Civil Unrest and Civil War Era Republicans stood fast against slavery, while the Democrats stood fast for the protection of slavery. Succession to protect slavery was led by Democrats while the Republicans opposed succession. Democrats who remained loyal to the Union (and there were less and less of these Democrats) agitated for compromise and peace during the Civil War, a compromise and peace that would allow slavery to continue.

The question of slavery was finally decided by the defeat of the south in the Civil War. The elimination of slavery in the United States was finally achieved by the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution at the beginning of the Reconstruction era.

Reconstruction EraTOC

During the “Reconstruction era” (1865–1877) after the Civil War it had become apparent that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights had become inadequate to protect the "Natural, Human, and Civil Rights" of all the people within the United States, specifically former slaves and free blacks. Whether by the creation of laws, misinterpretations of law, or machinations by government officials, the Civil Rights of the newly freed slaves, and the previously free negro people, were being violated. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments to the Constitution were passed by Republicans to extend civil rights to blacks and to end these Laws, misinterpretations and machinations, and to explicitly state the Civil Rights of blacks. The vote for these amendments in Congress was almost entirely along party lines, with the Republicans supporting them while most Democrats opposed these amendments.

The Republican Party and its supporters were at the forefront of combating these injustices, while the Democrat Party and it supported often lead these injustices. The Ku Klux Klan was formed, led, and supported by Democrats for most of its entire history. Any Republican who had any association with the Ku Klux Klan was condemned and ostracized from the Republican Party. The Republican Party always spoke out against, condemned, and acted against the activities of the Ku Klux Klan, while many Democrats supported the Ku Klux Klan.

Discrimination EraTOC

As the fervor of the Civil War subsided so did the fervor of Civil Rights subside. The Discrimination Era (1878-1954) started with the final withdrawal of Federal Troops from the South, which begat the re-rise of the Democrat Party in the South and the passage of Jim Crow Laws by southern Democrats. This culminated with the “Plessy v. Ferguson” Supreme Court ruling of 1896. This ruling was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities as long as the segregated facilities were equal in quality – a doctrine that came to be known as "separate but equal". This decision legitimized the many Jim Crow and segregation laws that had been passed in the American South during the Discrimination Era that established racial segregation. This decision ushered in the era of formal discrimination that lasted until the Civil Rights era began with the Supreme Court ruling in “Brown vs. the Board of Education” in 1954.

The Party in support of slavery, the party supporting discrimination and Jim Crow laws, and the party supporting the Ku Klux Klan, was the Democratic party. The Republican party has always stood against slavery and discrimination as can be seen by the events of the Civil Unrest and Civil War Era, and the Reconstruction and Discrimination Eras.

Civil Rights EraTOC

With Brown vs. the Board of Education Supreme Court decision the Civil Rights Era (1954 to 1988) began. In this era, the Civil Rights of black Americans once again came to the forefront of American politics and society. Legal challenges to civil rights violations and demonstrations and protests against discrimination became commonplace. And when these demonstrators and protestors were confronted these confrontations were led by the leaders and supporters of the Democrat Party. Legal briefs in support of discrimination were often filed by the leaders and supporters of the Democrat Party.

If ever there was an example of "Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave" it is in the statistics of Congressional voting for Civil Rights legislation. The Republican vs. Democrat Support for Civil Rights Legislation is fiercely contested, and both sides are right, and both sides are wrong! Specifically, the legislation of:

has been argued Ad Nauseam.

Congress at the time of these votes was divided between the parties in that the House in 1964-1968 was about 60% to 40% in favor of the Democrats (258-176 in 1964 and 248 to 187 in 1968). The Senate was slightly more, ranging from 68% to 32% in favor of the Democrats in 1964 to 57% to 43% in favor of the Democrats in 1968. There were, therefore, many more Democrat votes than Republican votes.

In raw numbers, more Democrats voted for these legislations than Republicans. As a percentage, more Republicans than Democrats voted for this Legislation. In the combined votes for these legislations, they were overwhelming voted in favor. So, who should get credit for these legislations being passed? In my opinion, the only credit goes to the American people. The American people by a large majority decided to put a wrong right, and the politicians followed suit. Let us not argue over the numbers but be satisfied the Americans started the correction of the problems of Civil Rights for all Americans.

This change in American beliefs, in my opinion, was brought about as a result of World War II. For the first time, all Americans of all races, nationalities, religions, ethnics, States, etc. fought side by side and were exposed to their differences. They learned some understanding and tolerance of their differences, and how to work together. They also observed firsthand to horrors of racism and intolerance from the NAZI, Fascists, and Imperial Japan actions. They knew this to be wrong, and they understood that they needed to correct these types of wrongs in America. This transformation did not occur overnight, but it did occur and occurred within a generation or so.

President Johnson was born, raised, lived, and died a racist in his private life[i]. In his public life, he started out a racist and then supported Civil Rights. But his support was primarily based on political pragmatism. He realized that the countries' attitudes on Civil Rights were changing, and he changed to avoid the loss of votes and political power. He also wished to position the Democrat Party for future votes by black Americans’.  At the same time, he wished to retain the votes of Southern Democrats and sought to temporize the pace and scope of Civil Rights. In this, he succeeded.

President Nixon, however, was never a racist and supported Civil Rights in both his personal and political life. His “Southern Strategy” was not a racist strategy, despite contrary public opinion. Nixon recognized that the South was changing, both sociologically and economically. Racial equality was being more accepted, and the southern economy was changing from agrarian to industrial. More businesses and people were moving from the north to the south and to the urban areas of the south. Nixon targeted these urban areas for votes and did not reach out to the rural areas which he regarded as racist. He did not try to gather votes on a racial basis but on an economic basis (i.e. The Republican Party was better for businesses and economic growth). This can be seen from the voting patterns after the Southern Strategy. The rural areas continued to vote Democratic, while the urban areas split their vote or were slightly favorable to Republicans. This can also be seen in that only two Dixiecrats (who were primally racially motivated) ever changed their party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. All other Dixiecrats lived and died as Democrats.

Despite all these machinations, from both Democrats and Republicans, Civil Rights became the law and the norm in both American politics and society.

Modern EraTOC

The modern era (1989 to Present) of Democrat and Republican Parties Civil Rights legislation record is a very mixed bag. Generally, Democrats believe that civil rights legislation can be utilized to recompense those persons or groups that have suffered due to past discrimination. Republicans, however, generally believe that civil rights legislation should be utilized to assure that all are treated equally under the law i.e. no person or group has an advantage, no person or group has a disadvantage, and every person or group is treated equally under the law. Republicans are also concerned about the negative impacts of civil rights legislation would have on government, society, and the economy i.e. excessive burdens on the judicial system or regulatory agencies, the restructuring of society into favorite groups, and the over-regulation or impositions on commercial activities. Democrats worry that without recompensing the previously disadvantaged group that they may not be able to “catch-up” and be full and equal beneficiaries of today’s society.

The Republicans' opposition to certain pieces of Civil Rights legislation is not opposition to Civil Rights, but opposition to the individual civil rights legislation that they think is flawed or unnecessary. This often occurs because the Republicans believe that the legislation is being utilized by the Democrat party as a wedge issue or a weapon against Republicans. This legislation is often crafted by the Democrats in such a manner that it will not pass but can be used as a political club against Republicans.

Republicans also believe that modern Civil Rights legislation, as proposed by the Democrats, is being utilized to elevate one group over another, or disadvantage one group over another, thus there is unequal treatment under the law which is antithetical to their view of civil rights. Republicans wanted Civil Rights legislation that would be utilized to assure that all are being treated equally under the law.

ConclusionsTOC

So, why is this history not generally known and considered in today’s society? The wonderful western movie "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" has a line at the end of the movie that I think is appropriate - "This is the west. When the legend becomes fact print the legend". The legend was created by Democrats and their supporters to cover-up the shameful past of the Democrat Party, and to advance the current Democrat Party liberal/progressive objectives and hold on power. And this has been done for decades. Academia, artists, educators, entertainers, journalists, political commentators, sports personalities, and many others have a decidedly liberal/progressive viewpoint and a desire to see Democrat Party liberal/progressive policy agendas implemented. They know that this would be very difficult without the overwhelming support of the black electorate. So, the legend was created and promulgated to obscure the actual history of the Democrat Party to achieve solidarity of the black vote for the Democrat Party.

Therefore, we are now believing the legend when we should be examining the facts. And the facts are that in America life is better, safer and more affluent, and offers more opportunities for more people, than ever before in history. We are the least racist multiracial society in history, and we have been fighting white supremacy for decades, decades in which white supremacy has almost disappeared from American life. Civil Rights for all are expected and demanded by the American people, and enshrined in our Constitution, Laws, and Judicial rulings.

There are, of course, still vestiges of racism and discrimination in America. But these are the exceptions and not the norm. Whenever they are encountered in America, we all roundly condemn them, prosecute the offenders if the law has been broken, or change the laws to eliminate these vestiges. The main problems of civil rights today are a culture of government dependency which de facto enslaves the people, a poor educational system which does not allow people to escape their government dependency, and the maintenance of a growing economy that would allow all to participate and benefit. If we would focus on these issues, and solve them, it would go a long way to assuring civil rights for all.

 

[i] Lyndon Johnson was known to make racist remarks in private. Many such racist remarks have been ascribed to him, sometimes without attribution. One of the most notorious remarks “Did LBJ Say ‘I’ll Have Those N*****s Voting Democratic for 200 Years’?” is examined in the hyperlinked article.