Camille DOHET

T h e R e p u b lica n a n d th e D e m o cra tic

English - ESCP Europe

Pa rty
British and American Institution

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 R e p u b lica n s a n d D e m o cra ts

 The Republican Party

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 The origins
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§ Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854
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§ The name "Republican“ refered to equality + Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican
Party
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§ July 6th, 1854 : first official Republican meeting in Jackson, Michigan.
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§ 1856 : Considered a "third party" because the Democrats and Whigs represented the two-
party system at the time but Fremont was nominated for the presidency with 33% of the
vote ("Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men, Fremont.“)
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§ 1860 : Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican to win the White House.

§ 1861-1865 : Civil War : Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the
slaves
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§ 1860-1932 : The Republican Era
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 The Republicans


§ Philosophy : conservative


§ Party's platform : right of center in the United

States political spectrum


§ Symbols : elephant, red



§ Famous presidents : Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald

Reagan, George Bush, Abraham Lincoln,
Richard Nixon
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§ Economic Ideas : Pro poor, favor minimum
wages and increase taxes on wealthy
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§ Often called the Grand Old Party (GOP)
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§ 2nd biggest party today
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 The Democrats


 The origins
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§ Early 1790's : The Democratic Party evolved from Anti-Federalist factions
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§ 1800 : Elections lead the Democratic-Republican Party to power
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§ After the War of 1812, Democratic-Republicans split over the choice of a successor to
President James Monroe, and a party faction becomes the Democratic Party.
§
§ Civil War : Northern Democrats divided into War Democrats and Peace Democrats and
Southern Democrats formed their own party => the Democrats loose power


§ The Democrats remained competitive though : the party was dominated by pro-
business Bourbon Democratsled by Samuel J. Tilden and Grover Cleveland, who
represented mercantile, banking, and railroad interests; opposed imperialism and
overseas expansion; fought for the gold standard; opposed bimetallism; and crusaded
against corruption, high taxes, and tariffs. 
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 The Democratic Party



§ Philosophy : Liberal
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§ Party’s platform : Center-left
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§ Symbols : Donkey, blue
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§ Famous Presidents : Franklin Roosevelt, John
F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Woodrow Wilson,
Jimmy Carter
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§ Economic Ideas : Neutral, believe taxes
shouldn't be increased for anyone and
wages should reflect free market.
§
§ The party contains the most registered
voters of any political organization in the
world as of 2004 (72 million voters) =>
roughly 35% of American voters self-identify as
Democrats
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