1)Southern racist politicians used the language of “law and order” because it allowed them to promote their racist ideas without sounding openly racist. After the Civil Rights Movement gained support across the country, it became somewhat less acceptable to be openly racist in public speeches and policies. So instead of directly attacking African Americans, politicians began to use phrases like “law and order” to make it sound like they were simply trying to keep peace and protect communities. This gave them several advantages. First, it helped them gain support from people who might not consider themselves racist, but who were scared of change or upset by protests. It made their message seem neutral or like reasonable, even though it targeted Black communities. Second, it gave them political power by making people feel afraid of crime and more willing to accept harsh laws and policing. By using “law and order,” these politicians could continue segregation and discrimination while pretending they were only trying to stop violence or keep things under control.

2) Yes I do think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics today. The Southern Strategy was a plan used by Republican leaders to gain support from white voters in the South by appealing to their fears and racial tensions without using openly racist language. Even though it started decades ago, some of the same ideas and tactics are still used in modern politics. For example, some political campaigns today still focus heavily on fear of crime, strict immigration enforcement, or complaints about “inner city violence.” These messages often suggest that people of color are dangerous or responsible for problems in society, even if they don’t say it directly (some of them). Politicians may talk about “cracking down on crime” or defending the police, especially when there are protests about racial injustice. This shows how the ideas behind the Southern Strategy using coded language to gain support while targeting minorities are still being used to influence public opinion and win elections.