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From white supremacy to Barack Obama: The history of the Democratic Party
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From white supremacy to Barack Obama: The history of the Democratic Party

The Evolution of the Democratic Party

Origins and Early History

  • The modern Democratic Party emphasizes government intervention to combat economic inequality and discrimination, a significant shift from its historical roots in white supremacy and slavery.
  • Founded in the mid-1820s, the party initially supported Andrew Jackson's candidacy, who was seen as an outsider challenging political elites.
  • Jackson adopted the donkey as a symbol of determination after critics called him a "jackass," leading to its association with the party during his 1828 landslide victory.

Expansion and Controversy

  • Jackson's administration enforced policies like the Indian Removal Act (1830), forcibly relocating Native Americans westward.
  • The doctrine of "manifest destiny" emerged in the 1840s under President James K. Polk, promoting territorial expansion at the expense of Mexico and indigenous peoples.
  • Post-Civil War, Democrats gained popularity in the South by opposing federal intervention for black citizens' rights, becoming synonymous with racial oppression.

Shift Towards Progressivism

  • As reformers pushed for progressivism in response to corporate power, Woodrow Wilson's presidency marked a turning point for Democrats embracing government regulation.
  • The Great Depression solidified this identity; Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal expanded government roles significantly to address economic crises.

Civil Rights Movement

  • By 1964, progressive reformers within the party began steering it away from its racist past towards supporting civil rights legislation despite Southern Democrats’ opposition.
  • This period saw a demographic shift where black voters increasingly supported Democrats while white Southerners moved away due to race issues and distrust of big government.

Modern Demographics and Political Landscape

  • The changing demographics of America have benefited Democrats; increased Hispanic voter turnout has contributed to their resurgence since losing influence among white voters.
Video description

The party completely flipped. Watch the history of the Republican Party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8VOM8ET1WU Correction: A previous version of this video incorrectly indicated that the republican candidate in 1912 was James K. Polk. It was William Taft. We regret the error. Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO The Democratic Party is the longest-existing political party in the US, and arguably the world. But in its over 180 year existence, it's completed a remarkable ideological and geographic transformation. Originally a staunch defender of Southern slavery, the party now wins the support of most nonwhite voters. Once an advocate of rural interests against coastal elites, the party now draws much of its strength from cities and coastal areas. This video tells the tale of the Democratic Party's origins, its various metamorphoses, and the sources of its strength — and weaknesses — today. Hispanic immigration data comes from the Pew Research Center Hispanic Trends Project http://www.pewhispanic.org/interactives/hispanic-population-by-county/ Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com to get up to speed on everything from Kurdistan to the Kim Kardashian app. Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE Follow Vox on Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H Or on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o