What issue created tension between fdr and southern democrats?

One significant issue that created tension between Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and Southern Democrats was the issue of civil rights, particularly during the New Deal era in the 1930s and 1940s. The New Deal was a series of programs and policies implemented by FDR to address the economic challenges of the Great Depression.

While the New Deal was aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform, some Southern Democrats were opposed to certain aspects of it, especially those related to racial equality. The Southern Democrats, also known as Dixiecrats, were concerned that some New Deal initiatives, such as those promoting fair labor practices and equal pay, might lead to greater rights and opportunities for African Americans.

The tension escalated with the appointment of African Americans to positions within the New Deal administration and the pressure for anti-lynching legislation. Southern Democrats, who held racist views and were committed to maintaining the Jim Crow system of segregation in the South, resisted these efforts. They were influential within the Democratic Party and exerted pressure on FDR to avoid policies that they perceived as threatening their racial and social hierarchy.

As a result, FDR had to navigate a delicate balance between the interests of Northern liberals who supported civil rights and the Southern Democrats who resisted efforts to advance racial equality. The compromise often involved diluting or avoiding strong civil rights measures to maintain Southern Democratic support for New Deal programs. This tension within the Democratic Party on racial issues persisted for many years and played a role in shaping the party's stance on civil rights in subsequent decades.