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“The party founded by Thomas Jefferson…is to date the oldest political party in the United States and is among the oldest…in the world,” notes Heather Lehr Wagner in The History of the Democratic Party. From its origins as a party for ordinary Americans, the Democratic Party has undergone a dramatic transformation in both its nomenclature and its ideology.
Nearly two centuries old, it now boasts a diverse support base of immigrants and ethnic groups, including Indian Americans, and has nominated Kamala Harris as the first Black and Asian American woman to run for President of the United States. Yet, this party also carries the weight of its history of defending slavery, which led to the rise of its opposition — the Republicans.
In 1776, 13 colonies declared independence from Britain, establishing the foundation for the United States. This pivotal moment paved the way for the ratification of the US Constitution in 1788 and George Washington’s election as the first president in 1789. While the founding fathers were wary of the risks posed by political parties and a strong central government, intense debates in Washington’s cabinet over these issues ultimately led to the formation of America’s first political parties.
The Federalist Party, supported by Washington, represented landowners, merchants, and money-lenders who favoured a strong central government. In contrast, Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party advocated for greater state power and an agrarian economy. By the early 19th century, the Federalists began to lose influence, ultimately vanishing after the War of 1812, which left the Democratic-Republicans as the sole national political party.
Although it began as a party of the people, the Democratic-Republican Party soon fractured over the contentious issue of slavery. Northern Democrats actively opposed the institution while southerners argued that slavery was essential for their plantations. At its 1852 convention in Baltimore, the Democratic Party pledged to maintain slavery and refused to negotiate on the matter, whether in Congress or elsewhere.
This stance drove many disillusioned Democrats to leave in hopes of preserving the principles of individual freedom that Jefferson had originally envisioned. “This group formed the roots of what would become the modern Republican Party,” notes Wagner.
Since the late 1850s, the Republican Party has become the Democratic Party’s primary political rival, and together, they have shaped American politics.
The Democratic Party struggled to define its identity in the years following the US Civil War. However, divisions within the Republican Party in 1912 created an opportunity for the Democrats, led by Woodrow Wilson. “His pitch for a progressive party and the split between the Republicans brought enough votes for Wilson to become President,” notes Wagner.
Wilson’s campaign focused on several reforms, including a ban on child labour and women’s right to vote. This was followed by a brief period of Republican rule, which ended due to their failure to address the unemployment resulting from the Depression of 1929.
This crisis paved the way for Franklin Roosevelt, the governor of New York and a Democrat, who became the 32nd president of the United States. His presidency, which lasted four terms, would reshape the Democratic Party.
Roosevelt became a champion of a government that was responsive to the needs of the people. While his policies, termed the New Deal, did not fully rescue the country from the Depression, they helped the Democrats gain support from African Americans (who had previously backed Lincoln’s Republican Party), farmers, unions, the unemployed, and immigrants.
Historian Norman Lowe notes in Mastering Modern World History: “Never before had an American government intervened so directly in the lives of ordinary people; never before had so much attention been focused on the American president.”
Roosevelt facilitated a realignment between the parties, creating a clear divide – Republicans embraced conservatism while Democrats adopted liberalism. This shift led the Democratic Party to focus its base in northern cities, drawing support from immigrants, labour unions, and the African American community. In the 1950s and 1960s, responsive civil rights policies further enhanced the party’s appeal to African American voters, minority groups, and women.
The Democratic Party today promotes social equality and equal opportunity, advocating for voting rights and minority rights, including LGBTQ+ rights. It emphasises the importance of safe and legal abortion as a matter of reproductive choice. On immigration, the party generally supports a pathway to citizenship, a visa system that addresses economic needs, and family reunification.
To address crime and reduce homicide rates, the party has introduced various gun control measures, including the Gun Control Act of 1968, the Brady Bill of 1993, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
Originally known as “the party of the people,” the Democratic Party must find a way to stay relevant to the diverse hopes of Americans while adapting to changing times. As presidential candidate Kamala Harris navigates the current political landscape, one important question remains: can she win over the broader American electorate? Only November 5 will tell.
