New Departure (United States) facts for kids

The New Departure was a new plan used by the Democratic Party in the United States after the Civil War (which ended in 1865). The goal was to help the party move away from its past support of slavery and groups like the Copperheads. These groups had wanted the Union to lose the war.

The Democrats wanted to attract more people to their party. They decided to focus on new issues, especially economic problems. The New Departure idea also suggested that the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution had already given women the right to vote. However, courts in states and at the federal level did not agree with this argument.

Why the Democratic Party Needed a New Plan

Before and during the Civil War (1861–1865), the Democratic Party was very strong in the southern United States. It had supported states leaving the Union (called secessionism), slavery, and the Confederate States of America.

After the war, the party faced a big problem. Republicans often said that most Democrats had wanted the Union to lose the war. They accused Democrats of supporting "Copperheads," who were people against the war. The Republicans claimed they had won the war, saved the country, and ended slavery. This gave them a big advantage.

In 1866, a group called the Radical Republicans gained control of Congress. They were very tough on the Southern states that had rebelled. During the time known as Reconstruction, they took away power from former Confederate leaders. They also used the army to support Republican parties in the South. Democrats did not like this "Radical Reconstruction," but they couldn't stop it.

The "New Departure" Strategy Begins

By 1870, many Democrats realized they needed to change. They stopped fighting against Reconstruction and many Republican policies. This new way of thinking was called the "New Departure."

Democrats started saying they were just as loyal to the United States as the Republicans. They also began to support some civil rights. They pushed for economic improvements and recovery, especially in the South. Democrats argued that the Republican-led state governments were wasteful and corrupt.

As cotton prices dropped, the South faced a difficult economic time. Democrats blamed Republicans for high taxes and for not being able to fix the economy.

Examples of New Departure Success

A good example of the New Departure working was in Virginia. William E. Cameron was elected as the Governor of Virginia. Also, William Mahone, a former Confederate general, became a U.S. Senator from Virginia. Both Cameron and Mahone were leaders of the "Readjuster Party." This party was a mix of Democrats, Republicans, and African Americans. They wanted to reduce Virginia's large debt from before the war.

In Tennessee, Democrats who supported the New Departure, called "Redeemers," even backed the Republican governor, DeWitt Senter.

New Departure in Georgia

In Georgia, Democrats started calling their plan the New Departure in 1872. That year, they took full control of the state government again. The party was traditional on issues of race. However, they strongly supported Henry W. Grady's idea of a "New South." This idea focused on making the economy modern through business, railroads, banking, stores, and factories.

The New Departure policy helped Georgia become friends again with businesses in the North. This made it easier for northern companies to invest money in the state. This period ended around 1890 when a farmers' group called the Farmers' Alliance took over the Democratic Party in Georgia.

New Departure in Ohio

On May 18, 1871, Democrats in Montgomery County, Ohio, held a meeting. They chose people to go to a state meeting. A group led by Clement Vallandigham created a "New Departure" plan with fifteen points.

This plan called for leaving behind Civil War issues like:

• The right of states to leave the Union.
• Slavery.
• Not being equal under the law.
• Not having equal political rights.

The plan said that since Reconstruction was finished, all states were back in the Union. It also supported states' rights, meaning states should have power over their own affairs.

The Ohio plan was against the government in Washington having too much power. It wanted to make sure all people, both white and Black, had equal political rights. It also called for paying off the national debt quickly with fair taxes. It wanted taxes to be based on wealth, not just the number of people. The plan also supported a fair tax on imported goods (a "strictly revenue tariff").

The plan said that money should be based on gold or silver (called "specie"). It wanted to return to this system without hurting people who owed money. It also stated that workers and business owners could get along.

Regarding public lands, the plan was against giving away more land to companies. It said these lands should be given to settlers as homesteads or sold cheaply to individuals. This would encourage people to move there quickly. The plan also supported adding new territories to the United States.

Finally, the Ohio Democrats opposed certain laws passed by Congress. They felt these laws interfered with state issues. The plan ended by saying that the "Radical party" of 1871 was not the true Republican party and deserved to be criticized.

Salmon P. Chase, a well-known politician, supported Ohio's New Departure plan on May 20, 1871. It's not fully clear if this Ohio plan was the very first idea for the national New Departure policy.

Challenges and Disagreements

The "New Departure" plan was not liked by everyone. Many Democrats in the Deep South strongly disagreed with it. They wanted to stay loyal to the memory of the Confederacy.

Republicans also criticized the Democrats. They said the Democrats were not truly serious about reform. Republicans argued that Democrats still cared more about states' rights than about national unity. They also accused Democrats of supporting white supremacy instead of civil rights for all.