The Democratic Party began its history as “The Party of the Common Man” founded by Thomas Jefferson in opposition to the Federalist Party, which he and his supporters considered elitist. Established in 1792, the party first bore a semblance of its current name when it was dubbed the Democratic-Republican Party in 1798. Under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson, the party was able to garner its first victory at the polls in 1800, when Jefferson became the first Democratic president of the United States (Democratic Party).This was followed by several decades in which the Democratic-Republican Party held the presidency, and its status grew and strengthened especially under the leadership of Andrew Jackson. During the era of turmoil in which slavery was in question and subsequently became abolished, the Republican Party began its evolution.
Disgruntled persons from the earlier Federalist (Whig) Party made up the core members of this party (along with some Democrats and Soilers), and its major tenets included increased power for the states and reduction of the level of central (Federal) power.A major player in the formation of the Republican Party, Alan Bovay, is credited with the naming of the Party, and its 1856 slogan of “Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Freemont” was followed four years later by victory for the presidency led by Abraham Lincoln (Republican Philadelphia). Current ideas about the difference between the Republican and Democratic Parties respectively define the one as Conservative and the other Liberal.Prevailing conceptions promote the idea that Republicans are interested in lower taxes and lower governmental input while Democrats are interested in higher taxes, high spending on social programs, and more localized government (Republican Philadelphia).
Historically, these ideas have only partially held true. During the era of the War of 1812 occurred the disengagement of the Republicans from the Democratic-Republican, and this rift came about because of what might be considered one of the major historical differences between the two parties.While the Republicans favored strong state power, the Democrats showed themselves to be in favor of a stronger centralized or Federal government (Democratic Party; Republican Philadelphia). Republicans are traditionally known as the party that defends the way of life of Americans.
It has historically promoted itself as the party that seeks to defend the country from outsiders and to uphold the democratic (non-communist) ideals of the nation’s founding fathers.Democrats have long been considered the working class party, as shown in their initial label of the “common man” party (Democratic Party). They are known historically for the claim of upholding civil liberties and the rights of the individual. However, while Democrats are widely believed to have been the party that first stood against slavery, it was in fact the Republican Party which centered much of its business on abolition issues during its inception in the 1850’s (“Difference”).The labels of “conservative” and “liberal” have also become associated with denoting the difference between the two parties.
Democrats have generally been considered supportive of such issues as abortion and the rights of homosexuals/lesbians—and this has been seen as connected with their emphasis on human rights and those of the common man. On the other hand, Republicans have become associated with such ideas as the rights of the unborn child and the maintenance of traditional (heterogeneous) two-parent families.Democrats have also been associated with the communist party or been denoted as having tendencies toward the Left, as can be seen in the domestic and foreign conflicts dealt with by such democratic presidents as John F. Kennedy.
This view has also arisen from the Democrats’ avowed commitment to social programs for the working class. However, the differences between the two parties have never been cut and dried, as Republicans have also historically shown themselves to be in favor of strengthening the position of the working class (“Difference”).
