(thread) To try to understand how we got to this point, I’ve been reading up on the history of the Republican Party.
Q: How did Abraham Lincoln’s anti-slavery, strong federal government party morph into the party of the Koch brothers & the KKK?
Here’s Part 1: 1854-1920.
Q: How did Abraham Lincoln’s anti-slavery, strong federal government party morph into the party of the Koch brothers & the KKK?
Here’s Part 1: 1854-1920.
2/ The Democratic Party was the pro-slavery party of the South & rural America. D’s wanted limited fed. government because they knew the North, if given the chance, would end slavery. D’s vetoed federal funds for canals and highways because they understood such infrastructure...
3/...would strengthen the industrialized North.
Partly because of the rule counting those enslaved as 3/5 of a person (giving Dem voters extra representation in Congress & the electoral college) Dems controlled all 3 branches of the federal government.
Partly because of the rule counting those enslaved as 3/5 of a person (giving Dem voters extra representation in Congress & the electoral college) Dems controlled all 3 branches of the federal government.
4/ 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. For that they needed federal legislation.
Republicans wanted a strong federal government because industry needed roads, canals, etc. to thrive. For that they needed federal legislation.
5/Republicans gave us our first income tax.
After the Civil War and the crushing defeat of the South, the Rs had the power to pass pro-industry legislation. As a result, the industrial revolution boomed.
Now the nation’s wealthiest people were railroad and business executives.
After the Civil War and the crushing defeat of the South, the Rs had the power to pass pro-industry legislation. As a result, the industrial revolution boomed.
Now the nation’s wealthiest people were railroad and business executives.
6/ A gap opened up between business tycoons and laborers, who worked 12 hour days in dangerous jobs at poverty wages with no protections.
States began passing Jim Crow laws and laws making it difficult (& dangerous) for blacks (who voted Republican) to vote.
States began passing Jim Crow laws and laws making it difficult (& dangerous) for blacks (who voted Republican) to vote.
7/ The Republican Party split into two factions. Progressives believed the R’s mostly stood for equality for all (the anti-slavery part). To keep wealth from accumulating into the hands of a few, they wanted estate taxes and worker protection regulations.
8/ The opposing faction, the Conservatives, argued everyone was better off when the business tycoons had wealth (trickle down theory).
Now that industry had roads & railroads, they no longer wanted a big government because regulations would cutting into THEIR wealth.
Now that industry had roads & railroads, they no longer wanted a big government because regulations would cutting into THEIR wealth.
9/ When SCOTUS upheld Jim Crow and voter restriction laws, fewer blacks voted. It was hard to get a national majority on a civil rights platform. R’s dropped racial equality from their platform.
Problem with democracy: How to keep the top 1% from further enriching themselves?
Problem with democracy: How to keep the top 1% from further enriching themselves?
10/ So by 1920, Democratic Party was the pro-labor, strong-federal government party. Their base consisted of Southern whites, rural America, and laborers.
Part II is here:
Part II is here:
