A lot of that occurred between 1990 and 2010. Keep in mind in 1990 a lot of Congressional representatives were representing opposite party territory.
As to what did it, social values, carbon taxation, universal health care, and Iraq. IE, fundamentally the size and scope of a swelling government.
I'm just going to leave this stand among the rest of the interesting historical discussion.
1896 is a good benchmark. What I want to know is who among us would consider Bryan of the 'cultural left'? A lot of things about him that today seem extremely conservative or reactionary were actually associated with the progressive movement in his time period.
