It has been said that the "two-party system" in Georgia did not truly exist until the late 20th century. Why was this the case?

The state of Georgia, like many other states in the American South, was dominated by one political party for a significant portion of its history, which is why the "two-party system" did not truly exist until the late 20th century. Specifically, from the end of Reconstruction in the 1870s until the latter part of the 20th century, Georgia was dominated by the Democratic Party. There are several reasons behind this one-party dominance.

1. Historical Legacy of Reconstruction: After the Civil War and the period known as Reconstruction when the Republican Party advocated for the rights of African Americans including their right to vote, many white Southerners associated the Republican Party with the Civil War, defeat, and the subsequent federal occupation of the South. As a result, white Southern loyalty turned almost exclusively to the Democratic Party as the "party of the South."

2. Voting Restrictions: After the end of Reconstruction, many Southern states, including Georgia, enacted laws and policies such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses, which were designed to disenfranchise African American voters. Because the Republican Party was seen as the party of Lincoln and emancipation, its potential base of African American support in the South was largely unable to vote.

3. The Solid South: The term "Solid South" refers to the South's nearly unwavering support for the Democratic Party from the end of Reconstruction until the mid-20th century. This political loyalty meant that in many parts of the South, including Georgia, Democratic primaries became the de facto elections, with the general elections merely a formality since Republican candidates stood little to no chance of winning.

4. National Democratic Party Policies: For much of this time, the Democratic Party's platform included policies that favored agricultural interests and local autonomy, which were key concerns for many Georgians.

It wasn't until the Civil Rights Movement and the passage of significant civil rights laws in the 1960s that the political landscape began to change. As the national Democratic Party became associated with civil rights and progressive social policies, and as African Americans regained the right to vote with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the political dynamics in Georgia and the rest of the South began to shift. Over time, many white conservatives transitioning from the Democratic to the Republican Party, eventually leading to the emergence of a competitive two-party system in Georgia by the late 20th century.

Extra: Understanding the two-party system requires some background in American political history. The United States' political framework has largely centered around two major political parties at any given point in time since its early years—initially the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, followed by the Democrats and Whigs, and eventually stabilizing into the current Democrats and Republicans by the time of the Civil War.

In a two-party system, while other smaller parties might exist (often referred to as "third parties"), they typically have a minimal impact on the overall power structure, which is dominated by the two major parties. The two-party system encourages a political landscape where parties often need to gravitate towards the center to appeal to a broader base of voters to win elections, even as factions within the parties may push for more ideologically driven agendas.

This dynamic in Georgia changed slowly over the latter half of the 20th century. Factors such as demographic changes, economic development, the changing platforms of the national parties, and the realignment of political loyalties all contributed to the emergence of a more competitive Republican Party in Georgia.

A competitive two-party system is indicative of differing political views within the populace having sufficient traction to influence state policies. This shift in the political structure can lead to more debate and discussion on policy issues and ideally results in a government that is more representative of its diverse population.