After the civil rights movement, why did the segregationist Democrats switch to the Republican party?

Question

Prior to the Civil Rights movement, the Republicans were the liberal party and the Democrats were the conservative.

Yet, during and after the movement the Southern Democrats, or Dixiecrats, like Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, and others, who supported Jim Crow laws, opposed integration, or were members of the Klan, started to defect to the Republican party, hence making the Dems the libs and the Reps the cons.

My question is, if they opposed civil rights, why would they switch to the the liberal party that was more supportive of civil rights?

Answer 1

Didn't you kind of answer your own question there, Buba?

Answer 2

your only talking about a few people not the whole party. you would have to ask those that did it.  

Answer 3

Oh geeze.  This is too heavy.  I need another brew.

Answer 4

Because the Republicans supported segregation and racism.

Answer 5

Because the traditional Republican agenda of small government then supported their agenda which was to handle their affairs in their time honored and traditionally racist manner without interference from Federalist interventionists like JFK and LBJ who were willing to send Federal agents to enforce orders of desegregation.  

Answer 6

they sided with the people who had the same, prejudiced opinions as they did.