The Dixiecrats

The Dixiecrats were a Southern political party formed in 1948 by Democrats who opposed President Truman's civil rights initiatives. They wanted to maintain racial segregation and resisted federal efforts to promote racial equality. Running under the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission banner, they nominated Strom Thurmond for president, advocating for states’ rights to segregate. Although they gained limited support, their formation underscored the deep regional and racial divides within American politics at the time. The Dixiecrats eventually rejoined the Democratic Party, influencing the shift on civil rights issues in U.S. political history.