Democratic
The Democratic party is one of the oldest political parties operating in the United States today. Democrats maintain that the party is the oldest in the United States and the oldest democratic party in the world. Established around 1790, the democratic party was known as the Anti-Administration party and the Anti-Federalists. Thomas Jefferson is a noted democratic idealist and helped organize this party with the help of James Madison. The democratic party used newspapers to spread the word on various policies and issues that they stood by. This was an essential step to becoming one of the strongest political parties in the United States today. Democrats first made their bid for presidency with Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson did not win the election however, as he came in second to John Adams, whom he strongly opposed views with. Democrats have had a long history of presidential candidates and elected officials. Some of the earlier issues that the Democratic party opposed was high tariffs, a navy, military spending, a national debt, and a national bank. Democrats have changed their stance on many issues and in 1812, the party split on many of the Federalist issues.
• In 1828-1854 the Democratic party became a coalition of farmers, city-dwelling laborers and Irish Catholics. The Whig party was the Democrats main source of competition. The issue of slavery was prevalent in this era.
• During 1860, the Democrats tried to stop the election of Abraham Lincoln because the feared that the Civil War would begin. From 1860-1880, the Republican party ruled the White House. The Democratic party took a hit when slavery ended, but it did not completely end the Democratic party.
• From 1896-1932 Democrats gained some of the popularity the lost during the Civil War. During this time Woodrow Wilson was elected and this led to stronger antitrust laws, new programs for farmers, hours and pay benefits for railroad workers, reduced tariffs, and the outlawing of child labor. During a Democratic National Convention, the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan was denounced thus drastically altering much of the American landscape.
• Between 1933-1945, World War II was the major story concerning Democrats and Republicans in the United States. Another huge story of course would be the stock market crash which led many people homeless and without jobs. Franklin D. Roosevelt won the election of 1932 in a landslide promising “Relief, Recovery, and Reform.” During this time, Democrats were hugely popular among the American public because there was hope for great depression to come to an end.
Democrats had a huge role in shaping our country today. They continue to mold and develop the landscape of the United States. Democrats helped for some of the laws and polices will still serve by to this day, while incorporating and modifying new guidelines and policies as times change. The Democratic party is one of the integral entities in not just our country, but the world as well.