This article examines elite conflict on civil rights roll calls in the U.S. House from 1877 to 2011.

The study addresses challenges in comparing political polarization over time using traditional methods, pointing out that current measures often fail to consider policies and historical context.

Our approach incorporates policy details about civil rights votes during this period.

Key Findings:

* Elite disagreement on the persistent issue of civil rights is less extreme than commonly assumed.

* Polarization occurs in a narrower part of overall voting activity (civil rights roll calls).

* Using historical data shows significant differences from contemporary polarization patterns.

Why It Matters:

Roll call analysis reveals that perceived high polarization may overlook nuanced, iterative policymaking processes across long periods. This refined perspective offers clearer insights for comparing political conflict historically and improves understanding of legislative dynamics over time.