White Citizens Parties
Encyclopedia
The White Citizens Parties were autonomous local parties (often county based) in the greater Southern United States
, that served as the public face and often directly as what would today be considered Political Action Committee
s for racist
organizations like the Ku Klux Klan
. These groups flourished after Reconstruction when the Union
withdrew its troops from the South. These parties were pivotal in establishing and maintaining Jim Crow legislation at the local level, and offered coordinated support of the Democratic Party until it began opposing segregation
. Over time, many of the parties were subsumed into the Democratic Party and, in the late 20th century, the Republican Party. The Civil Rights Movement
overcame the system that supported the White Citizens Parties, and they have largely disappeared, although some of them survive under the name Citizens Party (no link with the Citizens Party
of Barry Commoner
) or Council of Conservative Citizens
, and occasionally field serious local candidates with positions to the right of their Republican and Democratic colleagues.
While the term White Citizens Party is common, these groups were never a cohesive third party.
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, that served as the public face and often directly as what would today be considered Political Action Committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
s for racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
organizations like the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
. These groups flourished after Reconstruction when the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
withdrew its troops from the South. These parties were pivotal in establishing and maintaining Jim Crow legislation at the local level, and offered coordinated support of the Democratic Party until it began opposing segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
. Over time, many of the parties were subsumed into the Democratic Party and, in the late 20th century, the Republican Party. The Civil Rights Movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
overcame the system that supported the White Citizens Parties, and they have largely disappeared, although some of them survive under the name Citizens Party (no link with the Citizens Party
Citizens Party (United States)
The Citizens Party was a political party in the United States. It was founded in Washington, D.C. by Barry Commoner, who wanted to gather under one umbrella political organization all the environmentalist and liberal groups which were unsatisfied with President Carter's administration. The Citizens...
of Barry Commoner
Barry Commoner
Barry Commoner is an American biologist, college professor, and eco-socialist. He ran for president of the United States in the 1980 US presidential election on the Citizens Party ticket. He was also editor of Science Illustrated magazine.-Biography:Commoner was born in Brooklyn...
) or Council of Conservative Citizens
Council of Conservative Citizens
The Council of Conservative Citizens is an American political organization that supports a large variety of conservative and paleoconservative causes in addition to white nationalism, and white separatism...
, and occasionally field serious local candidates with positions to the right of their Republican and Democratic colleagues.
While the term White Citizens Party is common, these groups were never a cohesive third party.