Final answer:
Political realignment in the South has reversed historical allegiances, with Republicans now dominant in most rural and Southern areas, while Democrats hold urban areas and African American-majority regions. Historical events like the decline of Southern Populism and the Reagan Revolution have greatly influenced this shift.
Step-by-step explanation:
The political landscape of the South has undergone a significant realignment over the past fifty years. Originally solidly Democratic following the Civil War, Southern politics experienced a major shift as urban areas and the Northeast became more Democratic, while the South and rural areas increasingly voted Republican. This realignment has resulted in a current political system that favors Republicans in rural regions and parts of the Deep South, with Democrats holding sway in urban areas and in regions such as the Black Belt, where there is a majority African American population.
The shift in political allegiances can also be traced back to historical events. For instance, the decline of Southern Populism led to the end of significant independent black participation in Southern public life for many generations. Moreover, during the era of Reconstruction and the years following, the politico-economic structures and racial tensions greatly influenced voting laws and public policies.
The transformation of Southern politics continued through various periods, with the Democratic Party eventually losing ground in the South as battles over civil rights, social issues, and states' rights took center stage. The rise of the evangelical movement in politics and Republican strategies such as the Reagan Revolution successfully realigned Southern traditionalists from the Democratic to the Republican Party.