Actually, the Southerners became Democrats after the Civil War because an honest Republican (in today’s Republican Party, that’s called an oxymoron) released a an executive order* called the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in Confederate held territory. All slaves were freed when the 13th Amendment was passed in 1865.

You couldn’t find a Republican in the south if you looked with a microscope for almost 100 years. Those white southern bigoted racists (a name I got from the Department of Redundancy Department) had long memories and deep grudges.

Then, in the1960’s a crazy (but effective) Democratic from Texas (who liked to pull up his dogs by their ears) pushed 2 bills through Congress - the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

Then, Lordy Lordy!!! It was a miracle! All those Democrat white southern bigoted racists became Republican white southern bigoted racists overnight. The only thing that changed was the name that the white southern bigoted racists called themselves. They always were, and continue to be, white southern bigoted racists.

Very consistent folks. Dead wrong, but consistent. Kind of like our MAGA posters here.

* Few Americans remember that Lincoln’s first Executive Order was to rename the Washington Monument the Lincoln-Washington Monument.