What are political parties and why do we have them?
A political party is a group of people sharing similar views who organize to attain and exercise political power. This is accomplished by selecting candidates to run for political office. The selection process is often done through some type of nominating process, such as a political primary. According to the National Democratic Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, political parties are essential to the institutions of democracy. When people join political parties and volunteer time, they are participating in the democratic process and exercising their democratic rights.[1]
In the United States, political affiliations began forming during the time of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.[2] Those who supported the Constitution and a strong central government were referred to as Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton. Those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government in favor states rights were Anti-federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson.
The Democratic party is the nation’s oldest existing political party and dominated the South after the Civil War due to its opposition to the rights of African Americans.[3] The Republican Party began in 1854 with its supporters in the Northern states,[4] and in 1860, Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected President. In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring freedom for slaves held in those southern states in rebellion against the Union.[5] After the Civil War, the Republicans were dominant in the north and the Democrats remained dominant in the South.
After the crash of the stock market of 1929, Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Republican Herbert Hoover in 1932, becoming the 32nd President of the United States. He did this by promising to reverse the effects of the Great Depression with a series of government programs called the New Deal to address joblessness and the homelessness. The election represented a dramatic shift in the political alignment of the country[6], moving the Democratic party from a minority to a majority status.[7]
During the Great Depression, Black Americans were the first to be laid off and suffered from an unemployment rate of two to three times greater than White Americans.[8] Although Black Americans were not the intended beneficiaries of the New Deal programs, these programs made President Roosevelt popular with many Black Americans[9], causing a shift from a Republican party, the party of Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, a party that ignored them, to the Democratic party. With New Deal programs such as social security and a statutory minimum wage, President Roosevelt put together a broad coalition, including small farmers, northern city dwellers, organized labor, European immigrants, and liberals.[10]
Why is this important?
Why do we need to know this?
We live in a nation that is politically divided. According to the Pew Research Center, about half of registered voters or 49% identify as Democrats or lean toward the Democratic Party, while 48% identify as Republicans or lean Republican.[11] Now, Black voters who played a significant role in the 2020 elections, could do so again in 2024. However, recent numbers show an uptick in the number of Black men supporting the Republican candidate.[12] Surveys have shown an erosion in the party’s standing with traditional Democratic constituencies fueled in part by voter apathy.[13]
A significant number of Republican voters are dissatisfied with the Republican nominee and plan not to vote for him in the general election.[14] One reason is due to the pending criminal charges and possible conviction of party’s nominee.[15]
Over time, political parties change and with those changes, leadership changes and core issues change. Finally, constituencies change. A true democracy gives you the ability to change your mind and change party affiliation, and yes, to vote for the candidate of your choice.
Be Informed
Be Engaged
Be Involved
[1] https://www.ndi.org/who-we-are
[2] https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/creating-the-united-states/formation-of-political-parties.html
[3] https://www.history.com/topics/us-government-and-politics/democratic-party
[4] https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/republican-party-founded
[5] https://www.britannica.com/event/Emancipation-Proclamation
[6] https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1932
[7] https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/pages/instructors/setups/notes/new-deal.html
[8] https://www.britannica.com/topic/African-American/African-American-life-during-the-Great-Depression-and-the-New-Deal
[9] https://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/themes/fdr/
[10] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Democratic-Party
[11] https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/changing-partisan-coalitions-in-a-politically-divided-nation/
[12] https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/biden-trump-black-men-support-election-2024-poll-a7d9da22
[13] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/19/us/politics/trump-resistance-democrats-voters.html
[14] https://apnews.com/article/trump-primary-caucus-republican-voters-general-election-4a64d34b6d74e167cf6b256784c841c0
[15] https://apnews.com/article/trump-primary-caucus-republican-voters-general-election-4a64d34b6d74e167cf6b256784c841c0