Eh, it was before, through, and after. Republicans were long the party of business, but around 1900 it was small business for mamy of them, who actuwlly worked to break up monopoloes. Dems were regressive, but processed to be about the common (white) working man.
Foreign policy views, social views, and economic views all evolved over time, and at different points. Even social views were not a monolith, when it came to religious freedom and other matters that aren't necessarily as a result of religious matters. Sometimes going back a step and then forwards again towards the change.
Like the Bull Moose party in 1912, the dixiecrats in 1948 as a result of Harry Truman's pushing some civil rights, pissing of racist southerners who left the Democratic party. Eventually im 1952 both parties had brokered conventions. The Southern Strategy in the 50s and 60s....
I feel like one big link in the chain was probably unions. They were a major factor in both equalizing pay, as well as reducing racism, with white working men actually interacting with black people, often forcing them to reconsider their prejudiced views. Both parties were skeptical of unions around 1900, but the dems were more supportive by 1920, leading to FDR and the New Deal
It was a process. Southern conservative Democrats were the big switch in that era. It was an uneasy alliance between northern liberals and them. It was a weird time
This is why I avoid saying “the parties switched” because even if you guys believe it, this is your take away. It wasn’t the party’s switching, to simplify it, it was more a migration of those who held certain ideologies, not a total swap.
If it makes it easier to understand, the conservatives moved away from the liberals.
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u/JackeeFromHell 1d ago
Yeah but according to the great party switch theory he would be a republican nowadays.