Democratic Party | History, Definition, & Beliefs

Quick Facts

• Date: c. 1830 - present
• Areas Of Involvement: Left politics

Overview

• The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States, alongside the Republican Party.
• Known for the donkey logo, popularized by cartoonist Thomas Nast in the 1870s.
• The oldest political party in the United States, tracing roots back to 1792.

Historical Development

19th Century

• Initially supported or tolerated slavery and opposed civil rights reforms post-American Civil War.
• By the mid-20th century, it realigned to support organized labor, civil rights of minorities, and progressive reform.
• The New Deal in the 1930s under President Franklin D. Roosevelt favored greater government intervention in the economy.

Early Roots

• Traced back to Thomas Jefferson’s followers in 1792, known as Republican emphasizing anti-monarchical views.
• Developed from Anti-Federalists who supported the Bill of Rights.
• Officially named Democratic Party in 1844.

Split and Realignment

• Early 1820s saw factions within the Democratic-Republicans due to new states and voting law changes.
• 1832 marked the first Democratic national convention.

19th-Century Bipartisan System

• Democrats dominated presidential elections but faced internal strains over slavery expansion in the 1840s-50s.
• The 1860 election split the Democrats and established a two-party system with Republicans.

20th Century Transitions

Progressive Era

• 1896 saw the party’s split over silver and populism.
• Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) embraced progressive economic reforms.

New Deal Coalition

• 1932 critical election after the Great Depression led to Democrats' dominance under Roosevelt.
• Roosevelt’s New Deal fostered a broad coalition that maintained Democratic control for decades.

Civil Rights Era

• Under Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson, the party championed civil rights, costing it Southern support.
• The 1960s civil rights legislation split the party regionally.

Late 20th Century to Present

Modern Elections

• Democrats struggled in presidential elections from 1972-1988 but controlled Congress.
• Bill Clinton regained the presidency in 1992 but faced opposition within his party.
• Al Gore and John Kerry narrowly lost presidential races in 2000 and 2004, respectively.

Recent Developments

• Barack Obama’s 2008 victory marked a significant milestone.
• The 2016 election saw Hillary Clinton win the popular vote but lose the presidency to Donald Trump.
• Joe Biden won the 2020 election amid the COVID-19 pandemic with a record voter turnout.

Key Beliefs and Values

• Historically shifted from pro-slavery stances to civil rights advocacy.
• Supports organized labor, progressive reforms, and government intervention in the economy.

Prominent Democrats

• Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, among others.

Conclusion

The Democratic Party has a complex and evolving history marked by significant realignments and ideological shifts, shaping its current platform focused on equality, civil rights, and economic reforms.