Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party (2016) Plot Summary Explained

The film opens with scenes of Dinesh D'Souza at a halfway house, a result of his conviction for making an illegal political contribution. From there, the documentary transitions into a critical examination of the Democratic Party's history, spanning from the era of Andrew Jackson to the modern day. D'Souza is depicted entering a basement archive at the DNC Headquarters to uncover what he describes as the party's hidden secrets.

The narrative provides an interpretation of the party's origins, specifically focusing on the racism of President Andrew Jackson. It details how Jackson and the Democratic Party implemented legislation that brutally expelled Native Americans from their ancestral lands and established the reservation system. The film further analyzes the party's historical record in both the North and South, alleging they supported the institution of slavery and sought to expand it into western territories. D'Souza suggests that the Republican Party was founded specifically as a reaction to these Democratic policies and their defense of fugitive slave laws.

Additionally, the film argues that the Democratic Party opposed the Reconstruction Amendments and maintained close ties to the Ku Klux Klan throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Specific accusations are leveled against President Woodrow Wilson, claiming he supported racial segregation, opposed anti-lynching laws, and manipulated New Deal legislation in the 1930s to exclude African Americans.

A significant portion of the film is dedicated to rebutting the theory that the two parties "switched positions" regarding civil rights. D'Souza argues that very few Southern Democrats actually changed parties. He further examines the use of social welfare programs and machine politics in urban centers, characterizing it as a "new plantation system" used to exploit residents.

The documentary also explores the influence of radicals like Saul Alinsky on figures such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, while questioning Clinton's ethics and motivations. The film concludes with patriotic musical renditions and stock footage of Americana. In a final post-credits scene, D'Souza is shown teaching English to immigrants as community service, where he tells the class:

> "So how will you know when you have become an American? You'll know, when you become a Republican"