TRUE

Historical records and academic sources confirm that Southern Democrats were the driving political force behind the establishment and enforcement of Jim Crow laws 1 11. Following the Reconstruction era, Democratic Redeemer governments regained power across the South and enacted statutes to legalize racial segregation and disenfranchise Black citizens 4 13. These laws were rooted in a theory of white supremacy and served as a direct reaction to the advancements made during Reconstruction 3. Sources indicate that the Democratic Party historically oppressed African Americans through these measures and actively blocked anti-lynching legislation for decades 12. In the early 20th century, Democratic campaigns were often built on the goal of forcing voters to choose sides based on race to protect White political interests 5. As late as 1947, party organizations like the Mississippi Democratic Party issued specific rules to ensure complete white supremacy at the polls 16. While the party's platform shifted during the mid-20th century, its role in creating the original Jim Crow system is a matter of historical record 2 10.