I thought it was best to get the definitions of the two parties. Both parties have seen changes in their basic beliefs while changing their party’s name. The Republican Party at its core beliefs can be defined by the label “conservative.”
Conservatism is a type of political belief that supports emphasis on traditions and relies on the individual to maintain society. In Western culture, for example, Conservatives try to maintain things like organized religion, property rights, parliamentary government, and family values. This has meant the party’s core beliefs have been virtually unchanged since the founding of the United States.
The Democratic Party is the oldest “named” party and can trace its roots back to 1792. In the mid-20th century, it became the party supporting organized labor, the civil rights of minorities, and progressive reform. The reason for the Democratic Party restructuring was the fact that from 1863 to 1899, manufacturing production rose by more than 800 percent. But that dynamic growth also generated profound economic and social ills that challenged the decentralized form of government that characterized the United States.
Before I go on, I would like to know if these broad definitions are ones you would apply to your political party. I don’t want to get into the fine details of either party. Drop me a note using the reply form at the bottom of the page if you would like to see the definitions changed in any way.
