User:Emilyjcaperton/sandbox

Pre-Civil War
In 1789, the land that would later become Tennessee became a territory of the United States and was known as the "Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio." Even though Tennessee was not yet a state, the citizens of the territory still needed institutions to govern over them, therefore William Blount was named the first official governor of Tennessee, James White became the state's first representative in Congress, and Tennessee's political party history was started. The majority party in Tennessee began as the Democratic-Republican party and remained this way until 1828 when the Democratic-Republican party dissolved and the Democratic Party was formed. After 1828, the majority party in the Tennessee state government alternated between the Democratic Party and the Opposition Party until the American Civil War began in 1861. While these two parties fought for the majority during these years, the Know-Nothing Party, the Unionist Party, and the Constitutional Party all made appearances in the state government, but did not possess the majority of citizens' votes.

Civil War to WWII
From the Civil War until World War II, Tennessee was controlled by the Democratic Party. Prior to the Civil War the state was often in support of the Opposition party, although during the Civil War there was a major shift to the Democratic Party. It is important to note that the Democratic Party during this time was split into two, one section being the Northern Democrats and the other section being the Southern Democrat party. So, while there were differences in the different sections of the Democratic Party, Tennessee is still classified as in support of the Democratic party at this time.

World War II to Present Day
During the period from 1939 till about 1970 there was a large control of the Democratic party in Tennessee. This was primarily due to the racial tensions that were still in place in the South, during this time and the granted right to vote to African Americans in the United States. Since the Democratic party was for ending segregation, it makes sense that once African Americans were able to vote they would vote for the party that supported them most. Although, after 1970 to present there was a very noticeable shift in Tennessee back to a primarily red state. Even today Tennessee overwhelming votes Republican, although in the recent years there has been a change to the state towards more support for the Democratic Party. There has even been 3-4 congressional district in the 2016 election that voted Democratic as a district.