How did the Democratic Party support of the civil rights act of 1964 lead to a change in its membership? Would it be led to the withdrawal of many rule farmers it led to the withdrawal of urban workers it led to the withdrawal of many members in the north or led to the withdrawal of many members in the south.

1 answer

The Democratic Party's support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 led to significant changes in its membership, particularly resulting in the withdrawal of many members in the South.

Before the Civil Rights Act, the Democratic Party had a strong base in the Southern states, where many white Democrats opposed civil rights legislation. The passage of the Civil Rights Act, which aimed to end segregation and discrimination based on race, alienated many white Southern Democrats, often referred to as "Dixiecrats." This alienation was largely due to the perception that the federal government's push for civil rights was an infringement on states' rights and traditional social structures in the South.

As a result, many of these Southern Democrats left the party, some becoming independent, while others may have switched to the Republican Party, which began to attract disaffected white voters in the South during this period. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party increasingly aligned itself with civil rights causes, leading to a shift in its core constituency towards urban areas, African Americans, and progressive activists.

In summary, the Democratic Party's support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 primarily resulted in the withdrawal of many members in the South, significantly reshaping the party's demographic and political landscape.