What were the Dixiecrats primarily formed to protest against in the Democratic Party?

The Dixiecrats were primarily formed to protest against the civil rights plank adopted by the Democratic Party in the mid-20th century. This group emerged in 1948 as a response to the increasing commitment of the Democratic Party to civil rights for African Americans, which included advocating for desegregation and anti-discrimination measures. Many Southern Democrats felt threatened by these changes and viewed them as a direct challenge to the social order in the South, which relied heavily on racial segregation and white supremacy.

The Dixiecrats aimed to preserve what they believed were the traditional values of the South, and, therefore, they broke away to form their own party, formally known as the States' Rights Democratic Party. This group sought to maintain the status quo in racial relations and opposed federal intervention in state matters, particularly regarding civil rights legislation. Their formation highlighted the tensions within the Democratic Party and the broader societal conflict over civil rights during that era.