Shifting Political Climate: Early 1900s

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Black Voters Switch to the Democratic Party

In the late 1800s, African Americans who could vote typically aligned with the Republican party. However, as more time passed since Reconstruction, younger black voters didn’t feel the same allegiance towards the Republican party due to a lack of improvement socially, economically, and in the overall treatment of black citizens. This began a slow but steady change in demographics where support was shifted towards the Democratic party. More radical change in the face of Jim Crow laws and KKK violence was needed, and the Republican party had become stagnant in the face of race equality. The quotes below are featured in an article published shortly by the Chicago Defender after a 1911 election which showed losses for the Republican party. They offer a glimpse into the discontent young voters felt towards the lack of help from political parties, particularly the Republicans in this case.

“The Republican Bosses Who Demanded That They Pay Off the Colored Workers and Not Let the Colored Men in Charge Handle the Money is Another Cause for the Defeat of the Party on April 4.”

“The young wants the young white Republican leader to consider him a citizen and to be given the chance as such.”

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Increasing Violence

Violence fueled by white supremacy was a large source of fear and discontent towards political parties. Lynchings were common and publicized. The Ku Klux Klan also hit its peak of power after a controversial and extremely incendiary film, “Birth of a Nation”, came out. The years following this film’s debut saw a spike in racial violence. No major legislation was passed to protect black citizens. An anti-lynching bill was passed in the House in 1922, however Souther Democrats filibustered it, leaving no legal repercussions to such a gross crime.

Two African American Men Hang from Trees with a Crowd around them

 

The above photo was taken in 1930 in Indiana during a “Lynching Mob”. No information was given on the “crime” that the crowd had found the men guilty of, a common occurrence due to unfair trials.

 

 

Link to Image: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:bsc:&rft_dat=xri:bsc:multimedia:2664728