1. Why do think Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order”? What special advantages was this choice of words going to give them?

It was a political strategy, using “law and order” provided a more acceptable way to defend segregation. It allowed politicians a way to show their discriminatory views in a language that seems less racist and more aligned with principles of governance and societal order.  This allowed politicians to communicate their support for segregation to an audience without overly expressing racist views. They used “law and order” to “maintain the status quo.” They used segregation to appeal to conservative sentiments, it suggested that they were upholding legal structures in societal norms, which all conservatives’ voters loved.

2. Do you think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics? Give an example supporting your answer.

Yes, 100% yes. Today we see it with the Voter Id problems we’re having. They want to implicate some voter Id laws that will particularly affect African Americans. They say this law will be aimed at preventing voter fraud, but we know that’s not the case. These types of laws are supported by Republicans after an election didn’t turn out their way. They want to stop minorities from going out and expressing their right to vote.

1. Why do you think Souther racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order”? What special advantages was this choice of words going to give them?

In my opinion, I think the racist Southern politicians used the language “law and order” to give the perception that they would do the right thing for everyone. This was their way to make sense and justify their doings and this language also appealed to the people and brought them comfort.

2. Do you think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics? Give an example supporting your answer.

Yes, I do believe that the Southern Strategy is influencing American politics. An example of that is the difference of how someone of color is described when someone who is black commits a crime or dies as a result of a crime compared to someone who is white. I have noticed that blacks are usually described negatively and any negative involvement they might have had would be brought up versus someone who is white, they are described as “mentally ill” and their descriptions are softened.

1. Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order” because it provided them with several advantages:

a) Legitimacy: By invoking “law and order,” these politicians sought to give the impression that their segregationist policies were rooted in upholding the rule of law and maintaining societal order, rather than being based on racism or discrimination.

b) Appeal to the White Majority: Using the rhetoric of “law and order” allowed these politicians to appeal to the fears and biases of the white majority, framing the civil rights movement as disruptive to the existing social order and portraying themselves as defenders of stability and tradition.

c) Political Cover: By positioning segregation as a matter of law and order, these politicians could justify repressive actions, such as police crackdowns on civil rights protests, as necessary for maintaining public safety and preventing chaos.

d) Avoiding Explicit Racism: Framing segregation in terms of law and order provided a cloak of respectability and allowed these politicians to distance themselves from overtly racist language and actions, making their discriminatory policies more palatable to a broader audience.

In essence, using the language of “law and order” allowed Southern racist politicians to cloak their segregationist agenda in a veneer of legality and social responsibility, enabling them to maintain power and control while appealing to the sentiments of the white majority.

2. The Southern Strategy, a political strategy employed by the Republican Party to appeal to white Southern voters by exploiting racial tensions, has had a lasting impact on American politics. While the strategy has evolved over time, elements of it can still be seen influencing political dynamics today. One example supporting this claim is the continued use of racially charged rhetoric and policies that target minority communities, particularly in the context of immigration debates. Politicians sometimes use language that stokes fears about immigrants and crime, echoing themes from the Southern Strategy era to appeal to certain segments of the electorate. By playing on anxieties related to race and immigration, some politicians seek to mobilize support among certain groups of voters, similar to how the Southern Strategy operated to appeal to white voters in the South. While the political landscape has changed since the height of the Southern Strategy in the mid-20th century, its tactics and underlying themes can still be observed in contemporary American politics, particularly in how issues of race, identity, and immigration are framed and exploited for political gain.

1. Why do think Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order”? What special advantages was this choice of words going to give them?

I think the Southern racist politicians used the phrase “law and order” to justify racial segregation by making it seem like they were just following the rules and keeping things under control. This language helped them look like they were doing the right thing while also appealing to white people’s fears and prejudices. By saying they were defending “law and order,” they could make civil rights activists seem like troublemakers and keep segregation in place.

1. Do you think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics? Give an example supporting your answer.
   

Yes, the Southern Strategy continues to influence American politics. One example is the use of coded language and appeals to racial resentment by certain political figures to rally support from predominantly white, conservative voters. For instance, some politicians have employed rhetoric around issues like immigration, crime, and “law and order” to appeal to fears and anxieties among white voters, similar to strategies used during the era of the Southern Strategy. This demonstrates how elements of the Southern Strategy, particularly its focus on exploiting racial divisions for political gain, still resonate in contemporary American politics.

1.Why do think Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order”? What special advantages was this choice of words going to give them?

Southern rasist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order” because it brought a sense of legitimacy and justification. Segregation was projected as a correct way of maintaining law and order, but this brought more racism and separation. The southern politicians gain an advantage using these choices of words would appeal to the people, using these words brings a person’s mind the comfort of security. Another advantage they would gain is not facing to much criticism for racial segregation.

2.Do you think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics? Give an example supporting your answer.

Southern Strategies are still influencing American politics, yes alot has changed through american policies and laws but there are still polices still embedded into the system. Politicians will support those who only best suite their ideas and will find ways to get the right voters that think alike. racism could be watered down and translucent but its still there.

1. Southern racist politicians choose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of  “law and order” because it was a way for them to express their feelings towards minorities in a way that is ‘masked’. As vulgar racist remarks are not socially acceptable anymore, politicians use language of “law and order” to express their segregational policies. This careful choice of words gives them more power as people can resonate more with the reasoning of “keeping old traditions in place” rather than “we want segregation.”
2. I do believe the Southern Strategy is influencing American politics. There are many examples of this throughout history. A more recent event was when Donald Trump was president and made a series of racist remarks. This is along with his racist past dating back to the 70s. He even shared multiple tweets with loaded racist remarks and names. It is unfortunate to say that racism does still exist today, even in our government. 

I think that the southern racial politicians used “Law and order” to hide their defense of racial segregation because for them it was easier to demand law and order than to publicly announce to continue segregation against black people. Given this special advantage they were able to depict black people as criminals as a result of achieving civil rights. They used Martin Luther Kings philosophy as the leading cause of crime.

Yes, the southern strategy is still influencing American politics. For example, today we still show signs of the strategy when trying to make decisions to better us as a whole. Some decisions made by the current political parties are either for the minorities or against it. Even though its not exactly like how it use to be, there isn’t any signs of genuine equality.

1. Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order” because it was a slick way to appeal to racist sentiments without being openly racist. By shouting “law and order,” they could crack down on civil rights movements and black communities under the guise of fighting crime, without directly mentioning race. This not only kept their hands clean in the eyes of the law but also resonated with white folks who were scared of the social changes the Civil Rights Movement brought. It was a clever but dirty trick to keep racial control without saying it out loud.
   
2. I think the Southern Strategy hasn’t disappeared from today’s political scene. Take Trump’s comments in 2023, for instance, where he used terms like “poisoning the bad blood” and “make America clean again.” Those aren’t just offhand remarks; they’re loaded with implied language designed to fuel division. It is hard to say this is not a Deja Vu or continuation of “Law and Order” that was used by Southern racist politicians.