Taken from the web. "The Republican Party only came into existance in the 1850’s because the Democratic Party and Whig Party refused to abolish slavery or adopt progressive platforms. The Republican Party, at it outset, was EXTREMELY liberal. It remained pretty progressive right up until the early 1900’s. Teddy Roosevelt, the last liberal Republican president, decided to run against the Republican nominee in 1912 because he felt the nominee wasn’t liberal enough. Beginning around that time, Republicans began to align more with the wealthy. Up until the 1960’s the Democratic party had 2 branches – the very conservative racist Southern faction and the liberal northern faction. When liberal Democrats and Republicans pushed through Civil Rights laws in the 60’s, southern Democrats bolted the party and voted for George Wallace, a racist governor, rather than the Democratic nominee. Nixon capitalized on the division in the Democratic Party and won in 68 & 72 by pulling conservative southern Democrats into Republican ranks. The flip was made complete by Ronald Reagan, who’s stated support for ‘states rights’ was pretty much a code word for racist southerners who opposed school integration and black voting rights.It wasn’t until the conservative southern Democrats bailed on the Democratic party that the Democratic Party became THE liberal party, and the Republican Party THE conservative party.
Taken from the web. "The Republican Party only came into existance in the 1850’s because the Democratic Party and Whig Party refused to abolish slavery or adopt progressive platforms. The Republican Party, at it outset, was EXTREMELY liberal. It remained pretty progressive right up until the early 1900’s. Teddy Roosevelt, the last liberal Republican president, decided to run against the Republican nominee in 1912 because he felt the nominee wasn’t liberal enough. Beginning around that time, Republicans began to align more with the wealthy. Up until the 1960’s the Democratic party had 2 branches – the very conservative racist Southern faction and the liberal northern faction. When liberal Democrats and Republicans pushed through Civil Rights laws in the 60’s, southern Democrats bolted the party and voted for George Wallace, a racist governor, rather than the Democratic nominee. Nixon capitalized on the division in the Democratic Party and won in 68 & 72 by pulling conservative southern Democrats into Republican ranks. The flip was made complete by Ronald Reagan, who’s stated support for ‘states rights’ was pretty much a code word for racist southerners who opposed school integration and black voting rights.It wasn’t until the conservative southern Democrats bailed on the Democratic party that the Democratic Party became THE liberal party, and the Republican Party THE conservative party.