Southern Democrats

Southern Democrats are a political group in the United States, primarily from the southern states, who historically supported conservative policies and emphasized states' rights. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, they upheld segregation and resisted civil rights for African Americans. Over time, especially in the 1960s, many Southern Democrats began transitioning to the Republican Party as a response to the Democratic Party's civil rights initiatives. Today, the term often refers to the more conservative factions within the Democratic Party in the South, reflecting a complex relationship with national party norms and regional values.