Final answer:
The political history of Georgia post-Civil War illustrates a struggle between the Republican and Democratic parties, with the Republicans briefly gaining control and advancing black rights before Democrats regained power and rolled back those advances. Battles over amendments and military intervention played significant roles in this time period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political Dynamics in Georgia Post-Civil War
The political history in Georgia after the Civil War was tumultuous and marked by significant events that shaped the future of the state's governance. After the Civil War, the Republican Party achieved a victory in Georgia's state legislature in 1868, but the conservative whites, who were principally ex-Confederates, resisted by expelling the elected black members. The Johnson administration failed to take action. Subsequently, Republicans and anti-black suffrage Democrats in Georgia joined forces to prevent the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment, hoping to press Congress into acting in support of black rights and the Republican Party in Georgia. Although Congress did not seat Georgia's representatives, no further action was taken.
To address these wrongs, President Ulysses S. Grant intervened in 1869, lobbying Congress to re-establish military control in Georgia until the problems were resolved, including the seating of black legislators and ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment. The military supported the Republicans in reinstating the black legislators and returning Georgia to the Union in 1870. Yet, this victory was short-lived as in 1871, the Democratic Party regained control and began dismantling the progress made towards racial equality.
The balance of power between the Democratic and Republican parties has been a persistent issue in U.S. politics, particularly in the South where Republican legislatures dominate. As illustrated by the partisan composition in 2021, political ideologies continue to influence party control, with Republicans primarily holding power in Southern and Midwest states, while the Democratic Party leads in New England and the West Coast.