AHC: Left Wing Republican & Right Wing Democratic Parties

Now, both parties have had their fair share of politicians that have occupied both the left and right of the spectrum. As we know, today the Democrats occupy the left (sort of) and the Republicans the right however this wasn't always the case.

What would have to happen for a left-wing republican party and a right-wing democrats to rise. What would both these parties look like, what would their main issues be? Who would be their major bases (i.e. stronghold states, the people they would appeal to etc).
 
Well it all depends on what we are referring to as right vs left. If we are going purely on the stupidly simplified of free vs controlled market you may as well have this as they are currently. An interesting twist we could have (though not sure how this could develop plausibly) is the Democrats becoming a party of constitutional reform pushing for the creation of a more democratic system. This could hypothetical be centred upon modernising the pre-existing system or possibly having the states having a greater role in governance. So easily "State's Rights" could remain an important issue among Southern Democrats and spread nationally. Potentially this atl Democrats could also support the creation of further states. Maybe in the 20-30's the party and the Klan of which for a long time had been the de facto paramilitary wing of the party is able to get a more segregationist and an increased Nativist stance securing more industrial areas for the party. Certainly I can definitely see the Democrats becoming linked with worker's rights (and therefore unionism) due to a new industrial connection as well, segregationist, nationalist and potentially isolationist.

As for the Republicans it would be easy enough for them to remain the party of "big business", anti-segregationist and could be seen as wanting to push for a more globalist America. Certainly this would be in a naturally opposition to the Democrats unless the two-party system is broken.

American history really isn't my area but that is my two cents. The two parties will only change to oppose each other for the sake of opposition unless the t.p system is broken. That is something I wouldn't know how to do. Feel free to expand on this anyone.
 
Well it all depends on what we are referring to as right vs left. If we are going purely on the stupidly simplified of free vs controlled market you may as well have this as they are currently. An interesting twist we could have (though not sure how this could develop plausibly) is the Democrats becoming a party of constitutional reform pushing for the creation of a more democratic system. This could hypothetical be centred upon modernising the pre-existing system or possibly having the states having a greater role in governance. So easily "State's Rights" could remain an important issue among Southern Democrats and spread nationally. Potentially this atl Democrats could also support the creation of further states. Maybe in the 20-30's the party and the Klan of which for a long time had been the de facto paramilitary wing of the party is able to get a more segregationist and an increased Nativist stance securing more industrial areas for the party. Certainly I can definitely see the Democrats becoming linked with worker's rights (and therefore unionism) due to a new industrial connection as well, segregationist, nationalist and potentially isolationist.

As for the Republicans it would be easy enough for them to remain the party of "big business", anti-segregationist and could be seen as wanting to push for a more globalist America. Certainly this would be in a naturally opposition to the Democrats unless the two-party system is broken.

American history really isn't my area but that is my two cents. The two parties will only change to oppose each other for the sake of opposition unless the t.p system is broken. That is something I wouldn't know how to do. Feel free to expand on this anyone.

I guess both from a social and economic stance, probably moreso one leading to another ( I know the republicans were for the most part more progressive on social matters in the early 1900's than the democrats for example, maybe that leads to them also adopting a more left-wing economic policy?).
 

samcster94

Banned
What if the Dems did split after WWII and it was the left, not the right, that made a short lived third party??? I am imagining Wallace or Thurmond being the main nominee rather than a third party candidate.
 
What if the Dems did split after WWII and it was the left, not the right, that made a short lived third party??? I am imagining Wallace or Thurmond being the main nominee rather than a third party candidate.
That'd get you eternal nationalistic, center-left majorities of old left FDR-JFK-LBJ-HHH democrats, not rightist democrats.
 
Have the Democrats in power when the Great Depression hits with a President who is opposed to Keynesian/New deal Policies.

Elect a Republican in 1932 who enacts the New Deal (La Follette, or even La Guardia), the Republicans are in office for a generation dominating everywhere outside the South.

The Democrats become a southern rump party focused on defending segregation/states rights.

After WWII and civil rights comes to the fore, the Republicans who dominate the North take up the pro-civil rights cause.

By the 1960's, the Democrats attract conservatives across the country as the civil rights sceptics. Labor Unions migrate their support to the Republicans.

By the late 1960's the switch is complete;

Republicans = New Deal = Civil rights = Left

Democrats = States' Rights = Conservatives = Right
 
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