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?

The southern politicians decided to frame their arguments for their policies in the form of law and order because outright racism is politically unattractive. In the 1960 election between JFK and Richard Nixon the strategy was to go former southern Democrats to convince them that the policies of civil rights was going to be adverse to their way of life.  A way of life that is left from their remnant of slavery and the continuation of reconstruction era. The phrasing of law order is an ability to whitewash your words so that they come off in a certain way, but truly you mean a completely different thing. This gives you a great advantage because not only can you speak to your main demographic, but you can also speak to those who fall victim to a message.

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

Yes, the southern strategy is still influencing the American political system. A main component of this would be the right leaning states versus left leaning states.  These right leaning states typically tend to be more conservative rural and southern.  Typically with a larger base of a white majority.  I think that the southern strategy to focus on “the silent majority” is a powerful thing because the left seems to be very loud and makes a lot of noise, but doesn’t seem to have much power where the right who’s typically the ones part of this “southern strategy” is typically quiet (until the 2020 and 2024 elections) they had the ability to appeal to the “normal people” of America.