Democratic Party
Background Synopsis
The Democratic Party of the United States is one of the two major political parties in the country. Founded in 1828, it is the oldest active political party in the world. The party's ideology is rooted in liberalism and progressivism, advocating for social equality, environmental protection, and a mixed economy. Democrats traditionally support a strong federal government to regulate and guide economic and social policies, with a focus on expanding civil rights, providing universal healthcare, and ensuring a social safety net. The party's symbol, the donkey, and its color, blue, are widely recognized in American political culture.
History
According to Wikipedia, the Democratic Party officials often trace its origins to the Democratic-Republican Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other opponents of the Federalists in 1792. Nonetheless, historians argue that the modern Democratic Party was first organized in the late 1820s with the election of war hero Andrew Jackson of Tennessee. It was predominately built by Martin Van Buren, who assembled a wide cadre of politicians in every state behind Jackson.
Since the nomination of William Jennings Bryan in 1896, the party has generally positioned itself to the left of the Republican Party on economic issues. Democrats have been more liberal on civil rights since 1948, although conservative factions within the Democratic Party that opposed them persisted in the South until the 1960s. On foreign policy, both parties have changed positions several times.
Source: Wikipedia