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Party profiles
28/10/2004 12:13 - (SA)
Washington - Profiles of the Republican and Democratic parties, which have held the US presidency since the mid-19th century:
Colours and symbols
The Republican Party, whose symbol is the elephant and color is red, is also known as the Grand Old Party (GOP).
The Democratic Party's symbol is the donkey and its color is blue.
History
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 and opposed slavery. Republican icon Abraham Lincoln led the North against the pro-slavery South during the Civil War (1861-1865). The GOP dominated US politics until the Great Depression of the 1930s. Herbert Hoover, who was president from 1929-1933, was the last Republican in the White House until D-Day hero Dwight Eisenhower reclaimed the Oval Office in 1953. Party hero Ronald Reagan led the country through the Cold War in the 1980s. Although Lincoln led the fight against the South, the party's base of support is now in the southern states.
The Democratic Party was formed in 1833 in the pro-slavery southern states. The Democrats were dominated by the Republicans for decades until Franklin D Roosevelt, who lifted the country out of the Great Depression and led it through World War 2, ushered in a new era for the party. The Democratic Party emerged from World War 2 earning the support of African Americans with its stance on racial equality. Its last two presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, were from the southern states of Georgia and Arkansas, respectively.
Notable presidents
Republicans: Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865), Civil War General Ulysses Grant (1869-1877), Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909), Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961), Richard Nixon (1969-1974), Ronald Reagan (1981-1989).
Democrats: Andrew Jackson, hero of War of 1812 against Britain, (1829-1837), Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921), Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945), Harry Truman (1945-1953), John F Kennedy (1961-1963), Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969), Bill Clinton (1993-2001).
Politics
Republicans are generally white, religious and pro-business. They champion capitalism, low taxes and small government. They are generally socially conservative, opposing abortion and same-sex marriage.
Democrats, who lean to the left, mostly support government-funded social programmes and are supported by labour unions and minorities. Many are pro-choice on abortion.
Power
Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Republicans are governors in 28 of the 50 US states. Thirty percent of voters are registered as Republicans. The party's base is in rural areas and the south.
Democrats dominate big cities and the major states of New York and California. In the 2000 election, nine out of 10 African Americans and two out of three Hispanics voted for the Democrats. About 34% of voters are registered as Democrats (36% are independents).
- AFP
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