The party switch in the United States, referring to the significant ideological and voter base shifts between the Democratic and Republican parties, was not a single event but instead a gradual process that took place roughly over a century, especially during the 20th century. Key points in the timeline include:
- Around the turn of the 20th century, Democrat William Jennings Bryan began emphasizing the role of government in social justice, blurring traditional party lines.
- The New Deal era in the 1930s solidified Democratic support for big government, social programs, and liberal policies, while Republicans tended to favor conservatism and limited government.
- The transition into the modern Democratic Party was cemented in 1948 when President Harry Truman introduced a pro-civil rights platform, leading to a walkout by some Southern Democrats (Dixiecrats).
- The 1960s were pivotal, as civil rights legislation such as the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, largely supported by Democrats under Lyndon Johnson, intensified racial and political realignment.
- The Republican Party adopted the "Southern Strategy," successfully attracting many white conservative Southern voters who had traditionally been Democrats.
- By the early 1990s, the switch was essentially complete: Republicans had become the conservative party, and Democrats the liberal party.
Initially, Democrats were the party of the South and segregation, while Republicans were the party of abolition and the North. Over the 20th century, these roles reversed as political, social, and racial issues reshaped party coalitions and ideologies.
