Hi, @GOPLeader
Not this again. Sigh.
Right,⤵️ but today they'd be Republicans.
I think you could use a refresher on the history of the parties. I can recommend a few books, including @HC_Richardson's To Make Men Free (I'll put the covers in the next tweet.)
1/
Not this again. Sigh.
Right,⤵️ but today they'd be Republicans.
I think you could use a refresher on the history of the parties. I can recommend a few books, including @HC_Richardson's To Make Men Free (I'll put the covers in the next tweet.)
1/
How Lincoln’s anti-slavery, strong federal government pro-industry party morphed into the party of the Proud Boys is a little complicated, but I'll break it down.
Unless otherwise indicated, all facts taken from these books ⤵️
Ready, @GOPLeader?
2/
Unless otherwise indicated, all facts taken from these books ⤵️
Ready, @GOPLeader?
2/
During the Civil War, the Democratic Party was the pro-slavery party of the Confederacy & rural America.
In other words, these guys⤵️would have been Democrats.
Spoiler: Now they're Republicans.
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In other words, these guys⤵️would have been Democrats.
Spoiler: Now they're Republicans.
3/
The Democrats wanted a limited federal government because they knew the North, if given the chance, would end slavery.
Democrats vetoed federal funds for canals and highways because they understood such infrastructure would help the industrialized north.
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Democrats vetoed federal funds for canals and highways because they understood such infrastructure would help the industrialized north.
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Before the Civil War, Democrats had disproportionate control over the federal government. (Sort of like the Republicans now.)
They had advantages in the electoral college (which favors rural states) & the 3/5 rule gave slaveowners disproportionate power in Congress.
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They had advantages in the electoral college (which favors rural states) & the 3/5 rule gave slaveowners disproportionate power in Congress.
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The courts were packed with pro-slavery judges.
In 1855 the Republican Party, the “Freedom Party,” was born as an anti-slavery, pro-industry, pro-federal government party.
Republicans wanted a strong federal government because industry needed roads, canals, etc. to thrive.
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In 1855 the Republican Party, the “Freedom Party,” was born as an anti-slavery, pro-industry, pro-federal government party.
Republicans wanted a strong federal government because industry needed roads, canals, etc. to thrive.
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For that, the Republicans needed federal legislation.
Republicans gave us our first income tax.
After the Civil War and the crushing defeat of the South, the Republicans had the power to pass pro-industry legislation.
As a result, the industrial revolution boomed.
7/
Republicans gave us our first income tax.
After the Civil War and the crushing defeat of the South, the Republicans had the power to pass pro-industry legislation.
As a result, the industrial revolution boomed.
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Notice: When slaveowners had power, they voted to consolidate their power.
After the Civil War, industrialists did the same.
Sometimes (not always) people in power do that.
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After the Civil War, industrialists did the same.
Sometimes (not always) people in power do that.
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States began segregating blacks & making it harder for them to vote (helped by the KKK)
From Paxton ⤵️ The world’s first fascist group was the KKK.
The Republican Party split into two factions: The conservative pro-industry part and the liberal pro-labor part.
9/
From Paxton ⤵️ The world’s first fascist group was the KKK.
The Republican Party split into two factions: The conservative pro-industry part and the liberal pro-labor part.
9/
In 1896, when SCOTUS upheld segregation and voter restrictions, the GOP dropped racial equality and labor issues from its platform and became the conservative party.
By 1920, the Democratic Party base consisted of Southern whites, rural America, and white laborers.
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By 1920, the Democratic Party base consisted of Southern whites, rural America, and white laborers.
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Neither party championed racial equality: which ushered in a long period of relative harmony between the parties—they respected each other’s “differences” because they weren’t that different!
Both parties were basically ruled by white men.
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Both parties were basically ruled by white men.
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In 1920, Harding (a Republican) won the presidency & immediately deregulated business and repealed taxes. More money poured into the hands of the wealthy. Banks freely lent too much money.
The gap between the wealthy and laborers widened more.
Laborers had no protection.
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The gap between the wealthy and laborers widened more.
Laborers had no protection.
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Then, in 1929, the market crashed & the Depression hit.
Mostly, Republicans thought the best solution was to do nothing on the grounds that government control was socialist and anti-American.
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Mostly, Republicans thought the best solution was to do nothing on the grounds that government control was socialist and anti-American.
13/
Democratic FDR promised a New Deal: Protective legislation for laborers.
He drew blacks into the Democratic coalition, who liked his pro-labor stance.
FDR gave us social security, worker protections, etc, and regulations to keep businesses from cheating (they hated that).
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He drew blacks into the Democratic coalition, who liked his pro-labor stance.
FDR gave us social security, worker protections, etc, and regulations to keep businesses from cheating (they hated that).
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The GOP fought against the New Deal, calling it socialism and a welfare state.
White evangelicals also opposed government assistance: They didn’t want to elevate government over the church.
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White evangelicals also opposed government assistance: They didn’t want to elevate government over the church.
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In 1954, SCOTUS, in Brown v. Board of Education declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.
Resistance came mostly from the South. They used the same rationale that underlay the Confederacy: these things should be left to the states; it was federal overreach.
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Resistance came mostly from the South. They used the same rationale that underlay the Confederacy: these things should be left to the states; it was federal overreach.
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After the Democrats embraced Civil Rights in the 1960s, the GOP devised a way to expand their base by bringing the KKK types into the Republican Party.
It was called the Southern Strategy.
That's why this guy⤵️ is a Republican now.
So the parties turned 180 degrees.
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It was called the Southern Strategy.
That's why this guy⤵️ is a Republican now.
So the parties turned 180 degrees.
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I mean, really: What on earth does Donald Trump have in common with Honest Abe?
The parties have switched platforms, which is why the Democrats want to take down statues of Confederates and Republicans want to leave them up.
See?
18/
The parties have switched platforms, which is why the Democrats want to take down statues of Confederates and Republicans want to leave them up.
See?
18/
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