By Rachel Towle
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer
“There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great
parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution."
parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution."
– John Adams
Throughout my life, I have always been fascinated by history. I have had many opportunities to visit Boston, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. to learn more about my country and see the places where important events took place. As I began to participate in different political events, I started to wonder, why is America divided on so many issues, and where do I stand on each issue?
History of the Parties
Originally the Democrats and Republicans formed one party. Why did they split? How did they get their symbols? What major issues did the two parties disagree on in the past and what issues do they disagree on today? As a citizen of America, you must be informed on current issues and gain a better understanding of the history of each party and what they stand for, as well as determine where you stand.
Washington spoke about his concern with having opposing political parties in his farewell address, and eventually the Federalists disbanded after the War of 1812. In 1824, four Democratic-Republican candidates were running for president. Andrew Jackson was one of them, and because he did not win the majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives placed John Quincy Adams as president.
During the 1828 presidential election, Jackson formed the Democratic Party and won! The Whig party formed in opposition to the Democratic Party, and both would end up having control over the political system by the 1840s. The Republican Party was not founded until 1854 when the Kansas-Nebraska Act was proposed to allow slavery in new U.S. territories. Democrats were split. Some believed that slavery should extend to all territories, while others believed that each state should decide for themselves by popular vote.
The Whigs, Free-Soilers, and a few Democrats formed the Republican Party to stop slavery from expanding into westward territories. Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican candidate, was elected in 1860. This led to seven states seceding, which caused a civil war between the Republicans in the north and the Democrats in the south. History.com has more articles about how and why both the Democratic and Republican Parties were founded. Visit www.history.com/topics/us-politics/democratic-party and www.history.com/this-day-in-history/republican-party-founded to learn more.
Once the Union won the Civil War, Republicans controlled Congress. Democrats continued to fight against their attempts to protect the civil and voting rights of African- Americans. It was not until 1865 when the 13th Amendment of the Constitution was passed that slavery was abolished and the Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation were abolished with the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The elephant first made its appearance during the Civil War in a newspaper illustration. Nash used the animal to represent the Republican Party in many of his political cartoons, and other illustrators followed suit. If you would like to read more about how their symbols were implemented in American culture, be sure to check out www.history.com/news/how-did-the-republican-and-democratic-parties-get-their-animal-symbols.
Political Party Symbols
When it comes to their symbols, it was Cartoonist John Nash that made them popular. While running for president, Jackson was called a jackass by those who opposed him. Amused by this, he decided to use the animal itself in his campaign posters. The symbol did not start to catch on until the 1870s.
The elephant first made its appearance during the Civil War in a newspaper illustration. Nash used the animal to represent the Republican Party in many of his political cartoons, and other illustrators followed suit. If you would like to read more about how their symbols were implemented in American culture, be sure to check out www.history.com/news/how-did-the-republican-and-democratic-parties-get-their-animal-symbols.
Current Issues
Liberals support the idea that women should have the ability to choose whether or not to terminate their pregnancy. They argue that a fetus is not a human and therefore does not have any rights. Conservatives believe that an unborn baby is a human being with unalienable rights
and that taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund abortions. You can visit
www.studentnewsdaily.com/conservative-vs-liberal-beliefs/ to learn more about the difference between liberal and conservative views on various issues.
Gun control, climate change, and immigration are also examples of current issues that Democrats and Republicans disagree on. Does the U.S. contribute to global warming because they produce 25 percent of carbon dioxide, or are humans not contributing to climate change at all and it is just a change in temperature that has slowly been happening overtime? Should the government ban Americans from obtaining guns, or do we continue to protect our constitutional right to bear arms? Should the millions of immigrants who enter our country illegally be given the same rights as American citizens or should we strengthen our border to prevent them from infiltrating the country? The United States of America is a house divided against itself. Where will you stand?
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