Date of Completion

Spring 5-2020

Thesis Advisor(s)

Frank Costigliola

Honors Major

History

Disciplines

American Politics | History | Political History

Abstract

Existing literature highlights the political interaction between the Republican party and civil rights, how civil rights impacted the white ethnic revival, and the appeals made by the Republican party to keep their new voters happy. Many are familiar with the history of discrimination against Eastern European immigrants, yet the process through which they adopted white identity politics is another matter. The role of right-wing activists and leaders during the Wallace Presidential campaign was instrumental in connecting these dots for the Republican leadership, however this too goes largely unnoticed. My thesis will complement existing literature by tracing the involvement of these right-wingers to the political realignment of many white ethnic voters, newly incorporated into ‘white’ America.

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