From 1876 through 1964. Arkansas voted for the Democratic Party candidate for the president of the United States. Why did Arkansas begin to vote for Republican Party candidates in the 1960s? Did this reflect a shift in the beliefs of political parties or the beliefs of most voters?
Arkansas began to vote for Republican Party candidates in the 1960s as a result of two main factors: the Civil Rights Movement and changes in southern politics. The Civil Rights Movement brought attention to racial inequality and caused tension between southern Democrats who supported segregation and northern Democrats who supported equal rights. This tension led to a realignment of southern politics, with many white southern Democrats switching to the Republican Party.
Additionally, the Republican Party worked to attract conservative white voters in the South with its "Southern strategy," which played on racial fears and sought to portray the Democratic Party as too liberal and supportive of civil rights.
Overall, the shift in Arkansas from voting for Democratic to Republican candidates was largely due to changes in southern politics and racial tensions rather than a widespread shift in the beliefs of most voters.