Detailed Study Notes on Elections and Civil Rights

Turn of Events in Elections
  - The election of 1928 is noted as a crucial turning point in American politics.
  - The key candidates:
    - Herbert Hoover (Republican)
    - Al Smith (Democrat)
  - Why Hoover Won the Election
    - Review reasons behind Hoover's victory in the 1928 election.
    - Significance of the election relative to changes in party loyalty and regional voting patterns.
Cracks in the Solid South
  - The election of 1928 demonstrated the first signs of division in the historically Democratic "Solid South".
  - Key Event:
    - For the first time, five Southern states that were supposed to vote Democratic (blue) instead voted for Hoover, a Republican.
  - Future Contexts: Similar occurrences were seen in the elections of 1948 and 1968.
    - Chronology of significant election years:
      - 1928
      - 1948
      - 1968
Election of 1948
  - Causes for significant political shifts:
    - Third-party split involving the States' Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrats).
    - Conservative Southern Democrats were opposed to Truman due to his support of civil rights.
Key Figures Mentioned:
- Strong Thurmond: Key figure in the Dixiecrat movement.

Civil Rights Movement
  - In the 1960s, Lyndon B. Johnson played an essential role in pushing forth civil rights legislation.
  - Civil Rights Act:
    - The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 with significant implications for race relations in America.
    - Further legislation included the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
1968 Election Dynamics
- 1968 marked another notable election where a third-party candidacy influenced results, namely George Wallace's American Independent Party.
- Wallace's famous slogan: “Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”

Political Trends in the 1970s
  - Major shift by conservative Southern Democrats occurred in the early 1970s, moving away from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
  - This change contributed to the emergence of red states in the South.
  - Particular Strategies:
    - Nixon's Southern Strategy:
      - Aimed to attract Southern voters by signaling the Republican stance against civil rights implementations.
      - Utilized euphemistic references to avoid overt racism.
Crossover to Republicans
- The realignment solidified as Southern conservative Democrats admitted their Republican affiliation, which was visually represented in electoral maps with emerging red states.

Election of 1932
- Notable election: Hoover vs. FDR where FDR defeated Hoover in a significant landslide.
- A pivotal moment for African American voters, who began shifting from Republican support to Democratic allegiance due to FDR's New Deal policies.
Impact of New Deal on African Americans
  - Some New Deal agencies provided critical support to African Americans despite overall mixed results against systemic discrimination.
  - Key Agency:
    - Works Progress Administration (WPA):
      - Led by Harry Hopkins, notable for aiding African American employment significantly.
      - Over a million African Americans benefited from job opportunities funded by the WPA.
Statistics and Impact:
- Approximately 40% of African Americans received help from the New Deal programs, a notable improvement compared to previous administrations (Hoover, Coolidge).

Civil Rights Landscape
  - Increasing African American support for the Democratic party solidified in subsequent elections (e.g., Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson).
  - Legislative advancements:
    - Civil Rights Act of 1964
    - Voting Rights Act of 1965
FDR's Broader Influence
- FDR acknowledged essential minoritarian support, leading to continued Democratic remnants among specific demographics across his presidency.
Native American Rights
  - Significant legislative measures aided Native American communities, notably the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.
  - Importance of this act:
    - Abolished earlier assimilation policies (General Allotment Act of 1887).
    - Focus on restoring tribal culture and reservation systems.

Mixed Record of the New Deal
  - The New Deal had varying degrees of success for African Americans, Latinos, and women.
  - Advocates: Notably Eleanor Roosevelt supported minority rights and civil rights initiatives.
  - Need for improved support for Latinos and women during this period is emphasized.
Ongoing Challenges for Minority Representation
- Acknowledged the need for systemic changes in government policies towards minorities, particularly Latino and female rights advocacy amid stark contrasts to earlier policies.