Answer:
During the Gilded Age, which spanned from the 1870s to the early 1900s, immigrants and working-class Catholic and Jewish voters tended to support the Democratic Party for a variety of reasons:
Immigration: Many immigrants who arrived in the United States during this period were from countries that were experiencing economic hardships and political turmoil. They saw the Democratic Party as more supportive of their interests and more likely to advocate for policies that would benefit them.
Labor Rights: The Democratic Party was seen as more sympathetic to the concerns of working-class voters, including labor rights, worker protections, and fair wages.
Religion: Many of these voters were Catholic or Jewish, and they perceived the Democratic Party as more supportive of religious freedom and tolerance.
Political Machines: In many urban areas, the Democratic Party had developed powerful political machines that provided social services and job opportunities to immigrant and working-class communities. This created a sense of loyalty to the party.
Populism: The Democratic Party was also seen as more populist during this period, advocating for greater government intervention in the economy to address the needs of ordinary citizens.