Republicans vs. DemocratsBell-work

BELL-WORK

Name the last 2 presidents and the political party each belonged to!

Answer

• George W. Bush Republican

• Barack Obama Democratic

Democrats

• Origins:• James Madison and Thomas Jefferson (TJ) opposed the idea of a strong

central government proposed by George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton.

• Democrat as a name was not adopted until after the 1828 election of Andrew Jackson. The previous names of the party were • Republican Party Democratic-Republican Party Democratic Party

• Generally considered to be the oldest political party in the world!

Jeffersonian Democracy

• Core Beliefs:• States’ Rights, Civil Liberties, Limited Executive Authority, Strict interpretation

of the Constitution, minimal regulation of business.

• Favored:• Farmers, Common Folk, and the Working Class over the Educated and Elite

Party Split of 1860

• In 1860, the issue of slavery caused a split in the Party resulting in the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President!

• Bitterness over the Civil War and the resultant Reconstruction Period caused the Southern States to vote Democratic for the next 100 years.

Early 1900s Democratic Party

• Party has changed from its original values!• Wants more governmental oversight and regulation of business and economic

interests. • Woodrow Wilson (1913-1920) Began the movement called the Progressive

Movement which focused in on governmental involvement in the economy!• FDR (Great Depression) The New Deal

• A massive social and public works program meant to help people with jobs but also a big governmental step into the U.S. Economy.

• A general move towards a liberal interpretation of the Constitution.

20th Century Democratic Party

• 1900s domination• Controlled the House of Representatives for 66 years.• Controlled the Senate for 58 Years• Controlled the Presidency for 48 Years

• Civil Rights• Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson forced an end to publicly sanctioned

discrimination and segregation in 1964

Democratic Core Beliefs

• “Democrats believe that we're greater together than we are on our own—that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, when everyone plays by the same rules. Our party, led by President Obama, is focused on building an economy that lasts—an economy that lifts up all Americans.”

- www.democrats.org/about/our_party

Quiz

• Who started the Democratic Party?

Republicans

• Origins:• 1850s Anti-slavery activists believed Government should grant western land

to settlers for free! • Republican name was chosen because the members believed it breathed life to equality

and Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party.

• 1856 Republicans became a national party under the slogan, “Free soil, Free labor, Free Speech, Free Men”• Still considered a third party at the time because the Whigs and Democrats were the 2

biggest parties

• 1860 Abraham Lincoln becomes the first Republican elected to the Presidency

The CIVIL WAR

• 1861 Civil War begins and lasts for 4 years. Many Americans die.

• During this time, Lincoln signs the EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION• Freed the Slaves

• 13th Amendment Outlawed Slavery

• 14th Amendment Guaranteed equal protection under the laws

• 15th Amendment Secured voting rights for African Americans

• REPUBLICANS lead the drive to secure the rights for African Americans.

Women's’ Rights

• 1896 Republicans were first political party to favor women’s suffrage.

• 19th Amendment Gave women the right to vote• 26 of 36 states that voted for it were under Republican Control

• Jeanette Rankin First woman elected to Congress was a Republican from Montana.

20th Century Republicans

• From 1952 – 1992, Republican presidents sat in the White House for 28 of the 40 years. • Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Bush

• Reagan and Bush were President while the United States prevailed over Communist Russia (U.S.S.R.) in the Cold War• Became the world’s only superpower and freed millions from Communistic

oppression.• EASTERN EUROPE

REPUBLICAN CORE BELIEFS

• Individuals, not government, can make the best decisions;

• All people are entitled to equal rights;

• Decisions are best made close to home.