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'''History''' '''History'''


The modern Democratic Party arguably dates back to the beginning of the ]. However, the modern Democratic Party was formed from a faction of the Democratic-Republicans, led by ]. Following his defeat in ] despite having a majority of the popular vote, ] set about building a political coalition strong enough to defeat ] in the ]. The coalition that he built was the foundation of today's modern Democratic party. The modern Democratic Party arguably dates back to the beginning of the ]. However, the modern Democratic Party was formed from a faction of the Democratic-Republicans, led by ]. Following his defeat in ] despite having a majority of the popular vote, ] set about building a political coalition strong enough to defeat ] in the ]. The coalition that he built was the foundation of today's modern Democratic party.


In the ], following the disintegration of the Whig Party, the Democratic Party became increasingly associated with the continuation and expansion of ], in opposition of the newly formed ]. Democrats in the northern states opposed this new trend, and at the 1860 nominating convention ''(see the article on the ] of that year)'', the party was split and nominated two candidates. As a result, the Democrats went down in defeat - part of the chain of events leading up to the ]. After the war, the Democrats were a shattered party, but eventually gathered enough support to elect ] to two terms in the ]. In the ], following the disintegration of the Whig Party, the Democratic Party became increasingly associated with the continuation and expansion of ], in opposition of the newly formed ]. Democrats in the northern states opposed this new trend, and at the 1860 nominating convention ''(see the ] of that year)'', the party was split and nominated two candidates. As a result, the Democrats went down in defeat - part of the chain of events leading up to the ]. After the war, the Democrats were a shattered party, but eventually gathered enough support to elect ] to two terms in the ].


The Democratic Party was again driven into the opposition by ]'s election in ]. It did not regain the presidency until ] guided it onto a ] platform in ]. The Republicans again took the lead in ] by championing ]. ] then soundly defeated ] in ], paving the way for two decades of Democratic domination. FDR's ] program has been the basis of Democratic platforms ever since: ] policies involving high taxes, activist government involvement, and quasi-] social welfare programs. ''See also ].'' The Democratic Party was again driven into the opposition by ]'s election in ]. It did not regain the presidency until ] guided it onto a ] platform in ]. The Republicans again took the lead in ] by championing ] regulatory policies. ] then soundly defeated ] in ], paving the way for two decades of Democratic domination. FDR's ] program has been the basis of Democratic platforms ever since: ] policies involving high taxes, activist government involvement, and quasi-] social welfare programs. ''See also ].''


The Democrats' view on ] has evolved over the life of the party, which resulted in the Democrats' fall from dominence in the South. Southern Democrats were generally against any legislation governing civil rights, and the party machine in the south worked to disenfranchise African-American voters during the latter part of the ] and well into the ]. A division grew in the party between Southern Democrats and those in the rest of the nation (the Northeast and the West). This rift became acute in ], when ] (a Southern Democrat turned ]) ran against ] (a Midwestern Democrat running on a pro-civil rights platform) in the general election. It came to a head when ] (a Southerner) successfully pushed the ] through Congress. The ] wing of the party was furious, with ] leading the defection of these politicians to the ]. The Democrats' view on ] has evolved over the life of the party, which resulted in the Democrats' fall from dominance in the South. Up until the ], Southern Democrats were generally against any legislation governing civil rights, and the party machine in the south worked to disenfranchise African-American voters during the latter part of the ] and well into the ]. A division grew in the party between Southern Democrats and those in the rest of the nation (the Northeast and the West). This rift became acute in ], when ] (a Southern Democrat turned ]) ran against ] (a Midwestern Democrat running on a pro-civil rights platform) in the general election. It came to a head when ] (a Southerner) successfully pushed the ] through Congress. The ] wing of the party was furious, with ] leading the defection of these politicians to the ].


On ], ] a political ] appearing in '']'' titled "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" by ], for the first time symbolizes the Democratic Party with a ]. On ], ] a political ] appearing in '']'' titled "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" by ], for the first time symbolizes the Democratic Party with a ].

Revision as of 06:41, 11 May 2003

The Democratic Party is a United States political party. From 1833 to 1856, it was opposed chiefly by the Whig Party. From 1856 onward, it has been opposed chiefly by the Republican Party.

History

The modern Democratic Party arguably dates back to the beginning of the Democratic-Republican Party. However, the modern Democratic Party was formed from a faction of the Democratic-Republicans, led by Andrew Jackson. Following his defeat in the election of 1824 despite having a majority of the popular vote, Andrew Jackson set about building a political coalition strong enough to defeat John Quincy Adams in the election of 1828. The coalition that he built was the foundation of today's modern Democratic party.

In the 1850s, following the disintegration of the Whig Party, the Democratic Party became increasingly associated with the continuation and expansion of slavery, in opposition of the newly formed Republican Party. Democrats in the northern states opposed this new trend, and at the 1860 nominating convention (see the article on the election of that year), the party was split and nominated two candidates. As a result, the Democrats went down in defeat - part of the chain of events leading up to the Civil War. After the war, the Democrats were a shattered party, but eventually gathered enough support to elect Grover Cleveland to two terms in the presidency.

The Democratic Party was again driven into the opposition by William McKinley's election in 1896. It did not regain the presidency until Woodrow Wilson guided it onto a Progressive platform in 1912. The Republicans again took the lead in 1920 by championing laissez-faire regulatory policies. Franklin Delano Roosevelt then soundly defeated Herbert Hoover in 1932, paving the way for two decades of Democratic domination. FDR's New Deal program has been the basis of Democratic platforms ever since: left-liberal policies involving high taxes, activist government involvement, and quasi-Socialistic social welfare programs. See also New Deal Coalition.

The Democrats' view on civil rights has evolved over the life of the party, which resulted in the Democrats' fall from dominance in the South. Up until the 1960s, Southern Democrats were generally against any legislation governing civil rights, and the party machine in the south worked to disenfranchise African-American voters during the latter part of the 19th century and well into the 20th century. A division grew in the party between Southern Democrats and those in the rest of the nation (the Northeast and the West). This rift became acute in the election of 1948, when Strom Thurmond (a Southern Democrat turned Dixiecrat) ran against Harry S. Truman (a Midwestern Democrat running on a pro-civil rights platform) in the general election. It came to a head when Lyndon B. Johnson (a Southerner) successfully pushed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress. The Dixiecrat wing of the party was furious, with Strom Thurmond leading the defection of these politicians to the Republican Party.

On January 15, 1870 a political cartoon appearing in Harper's Weekly titled "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" by Thomas Nast, for the first time symbolizes the Democratic Party with a donkey.

Democratic Party Presidents:

  1. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
  2. Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
  3. James Knox Polk (1845-1849)
  4. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
  5. James Buchanan (1857-1861)
  6. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889)
  7. Grover Cleveland (1893-1897)
  8. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
  9. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945)
  10. Harry S Truman (1945-1953)
  11. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
  12. Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969)
  13. Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
  14. Bill Clinton (1993-2001)

Presidential candidates:

External link