Reply #11: Here is how the weekly reader describes the difference between [View All]

[prayin4rain]

democrats and republicans



Dear Professor Paul E. Tics,

What is the difference between a Republican and a Democrat?

Connor

Dear Connor,

That's an excellent question Connor. In fact, a lot of your friends have asked me the same thing.

Let's talk first about what political parties are. Political parties are now the dominant institutions in American politics. Those who belong to a political party generally agree on what that party stands for.

But did you know the U.S. Constitution doesn't mention political parties? In fact, George Washington believed that political parties would damage the new nation by dividing the country.

The modern Republican Party arose in 1854 over the issue of slavery. Republicans did not believe in slavery. Abraham Lincoln, elected in 1860, became the first Republican president. Several Southern states could not accept his views opposing slavery, and split from the Union.

The Republican Party has gone through a lot of changes over the years. Today, most Republicans are labeled as conservatives on fiscal and social issues. They tend to believe people in the community can solve problems better than the government can.

Like the Republicans, the Democratic Party has also gone through many changes. Thomas Jefferson founded the Democratic Party in 1792. The party was actually called the Democratic-Republicans. The two groups split during the administration of Andrew Jackson (1829-1837), becoming the Democratic Party and the National Republican Party, which later became the Whig Party.

Today, Democrats tend to believe that government should help the less fortunate. They tend to be more liberal on social issues.

http://www.weeklyreader.com/election/professor03.asp