states' rights democratic party: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical, Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “states' rights democratic party” mean?
A historical political party in the United States, also known as the Dixiecrats, that broke away from the Democratic Party in 1948 in opposition to federal civil rights legislation and advocated for racial segregation under the banner of states' rights.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical political party in the United States, also known as the Dixiecrats, that broke away from the Democratic Party in 1948 in opposition to federal civil rights legislation and advocated for racial segregation under the banner of states' rights.
The term is often used metonymically to refer to the mid-20th century segregationist movement in the Southern United States, and more broadly to political movements prioritizing state autonomy over federal authority, particularly on social issues.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Exclusively an American historical and political term. It is not used in British political discourse except when discussing US history.
Connotations
In American usage, it is strongly associated with the history of racial segregation and political realignment in the South. In any usage, it carries a heavy historical and negative connotation.
Frequency
Virtually never used in contemporary British English. In American English, frequency is limited to historical, political science, and civil rights discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “states' rights democratic party” in a Sentence
The [States' Rights Democratic Party] + [verb in past tense] + [historical event].A member/supporter of the [States' Rights Democratic Party].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in history and political science to describe the 1948 election and the political realignment of the South.
Everyday
Extremely rare in everyday conversation, except perhaps in historical discussion.
Technical
Used as a precise historical term in political history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “states' rights democratic party”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “states' rights democratic party”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “states' rights democratic party”
- Omitting the apostrophe in 'states'' (it is plural possessive).
- Capitalizing 'rights' and 'democratic' inconsistently.
- Confusing it with the modern concept of states' rights, which is broader.
- Referring to it as a current or ongoing party.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it was a short-lived party active primarily during the 1948 presidential election. It disbanded afterwards, though its ideology influenced later political movements.
'Dixiecrat' is a portmanteau of 'Dixie' (a nickname for the Southern US) and 'Democrat'. The media and public used this term to easily identify the segregationist, southern faction of the party.
No. Their presidential candidate, Strom Thurmond, won 39 electoral votes from southern states but lost the national election to Harry S. Truman.
'States' rights' is a broad political principle about the balance of power between state and federal governments. The 'States' Rights Democratic Party' was a specific historical party that used this principle as a rallying cry for its primary objective: maintaining racial segregation in the South.
A historical political party in the United States, also known as the Dixiecrats, that broke away from the Democratic Party in 1948 in opposition to federal civil rights legislation and advocated for racial segregation under the banner of states' rights.
States' rights democratic party is usually historical, formal, academic in register.
States' rights democratic party: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪts ˌraɪts ˌdɛm.əˈkræt.ɪk ˈpɑː.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪts ˌraɪts ˌdɛm.əˈkræt̬.ɪk ˈpɑːr.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There are no common idioms for this proper noun.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of STATES wanting their RIGHTS, forming a separate DEMOCRATIC PARTY in 1948. The acronym SRDP can be remembered as 'Southern Rights Democratic Party'.
Conceptual Metaphor
STATES' RIGHTS AS A SHIELD (used to defend or protect a regional way of life, often negatively framed as a shield for injustice).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary political goal of the States' Rights Democratic Party?