There were two major political parties during the early days of statehood, but one dominated more clearly than the other. Compare and contrast the two main parties and describe why the one party held more power than the other. What did this mean for the people of Arkansas?
(4 points)
During the early days of statehood in Arkansas, the two major political parties were the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. However, the Democratic Party clearly dominated the political landscape during this time.
The Democratic Party in Arkansas was popular among the majority of the population and held a strong base of support. It was primarily made up of conservative farmers, landowners, and rural residents. The party advocated for policies that favored agricultural interests and promoted states' rights. They believed in limited government intervention in the economy and were generally opposed to industrialization.
On the other hand, the Republican Party had a much smaller following in Arkansas during this period. The Republican Party in Arkansas consisted mainly of newly freed African Americans, scalawags (white Southerners who cooperated with the Republican Party during Reconstruction), and some northern Republicans who had moved to the state. The party supported civil rights for African Americans and advocated for industrialization and infrastructure development.
The main reason why the Democratic Party held more power than the Republican Party was due to its overwhelming support among the population. The Democratic Party maintained control over state and local government offices, which allowed them to shape policies and control the distribution of resources. They used their dominance to implement laws and practices that reinforced their political power, such as limiting the voting rights of African Americans through discriminatory practices like poll taxes and literacy tests.
This political dominance of the Democratic Party had significant implications for the people of Arkansas. The policies and practices implemented by the Democratic Party maintained the status quo and preserved the socioeconomic hierarchy. This meant that the interests of the majority agricultural population were prioritized, while the needs and concerns of other groups, such as African Americans and those advocating for industrialization, were largely ignored or suppressed.
Overall, the dominance of the Democratic Party in early statehood Arkansas meant that the majority of people were subject to the political agenda of a particular group, limiting the representation and power of minority groups and potentially hindering social and economic progress.