History of the Democratic Party

Early History

• Originated from the Democratic-Republicans, dominant in early U.S. politics.
• Key figures: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe.
• Disagreement in 1824 over James Monroe’s successor led to division.
• Andrew Jackson's supporters formed the base of the Democratic Party.

Formation

• Established as a major political force since 1828.
• Officially named "Democratic Party" in 1844.
• Donkey symbol adopted from 1828 election; became official symbol in 1870s.
• Rooster symbol occasionally used, still appears on ballots in some states.

Division and Civil War

• 1850s: Split over slavery.
  • Northern Democrats opposed slavery; some joined Republicans.
  • Southern Democrats supported slavery, led by "Fire Eaters."
  • Fire Eaters broke from the party and contributed to the formation of the Confederate States.

Post-Civil War Era

• Lost prominence: Only two Democratic presidents from 1869-1932 (Cleveland, Wilson).
• "Solid South" became a Democratic stronghold.
• Opposed imperialism, corruption, high taxes.
• Supported Free Silver movement; William Jennings Bryan a key advocate.

The New Deal and Mid-20th Century

• Franklin D. Roosevelt's election in 1932 marked resurgence.
• Dominated U.S. politics from 1932 to 1968 (7 of 9 presidential elections).
• John F. Kennedy (1960): Emphasized space program, NASA, Peace Corps.
• Strong supporters of Civil Rights Movement; African Americans shifted to Democrats.
• Lyndon Johnson’s "Great Society" programs garnered low-income support.
• Congressional dominance: Senate majority for 52 years, House for 58 of 62 years.

Modern Era

• Loss of Congressional dominance in 1994.
• Barack Obama elected in 2008 as first African American president.
• Hillary Clinton became first female presidential nominee of a major party in 2016.

Current Status

• Remains influential in U.S. politics.
• Numerous elected officials across various government levels are Democrats.
• Approximately 75 million registered Democrats in the U.S.