For years, the Republicans and Democrats have been the two major parties dominating the United States’ political landscape. Both parties boast diverse beliefs, the main subject of most political debates.
Today, the majority of Americans are either Democrats or Republicans. Both parties have produced several top leaders and look set to do the same in future elections.
As supporters or potential supporters of the Republicans or Democrats, it’s essential to understand what both parties stand for. So, here, we will discuss the beliefs of Democrats and Republicans. Read on!
Republican Vs Democrat Beliefs
The Republican Party’s position or beliefs have evolved over the years. The party’s fiscal conservation now comprises small government conservatism, lower taxes, free trade, free market capitalism, restrictions on labor unions, and deregulation of corporations.
In contrast, the Democratic Party boasts different beliefs or holds a different position. The party promotes labor unions, social programs, workplace safety regulation, consumer protection, disability rights, equal opportunity, racial equity, criminal justice reform, and regulation against environmental pollution.
So, these are the beliefs of the Republican Party Vs Democratic Party. Their beliefs are different, as you can see or already know.
The Republican Party – Right Wing
The Republican Party, also called the GOP (Grand Old Party), is one of the heavyweights in America’s political landscape. It’s the party of Abraham Lincoln, Reagan, and the Bush dynasty.
You can trace the Republican Party’s roots to 1850, a period when anti-slavery groups joined hands to bring about the end of slavery. They fought hard to see that slavery didn’t expand to territories like Arkansas and Nebraska.
The Republicans were successful in their attempt to end slavery in the land. But one man took the fight to the slavers. His name is Abraham Lincoln.
On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued the “Emancipation Proclamation,” declaring any person held as enslaved in any state or within the US territory forever free.
The GOP, or Right Wing, stands for more conservative social policies and economic freedom. Furthermore, they oppose greater governmental regulation of the economy.
We will list some US presidents who have emerged from the Republican Party. But before we go that route, let’s have a brief look at the history of the Republican Party.
The Republican Party And Its Historical Rise
The Republican Party remains one of the most influential parties in the United States. Since its inception, they have produced several great leaders who have had great impacts in the United States and the world.
You can trace the party’s roots back to 1792. Thomas Jefferson’s supporters adopted the term Republican Party. Jefferson strongly believed in having a decentralized government with limited power to intervene in issues regarding states or the country’s economy.
The Republican Party was formed in 1854 to expand its authority to oppose slavery in the land.
At the Republican Party’s founding in Ripon, Wisconsin, it attracted anti-slavery activists in the country. It also attracted Free Soilers, former Whigs, and abolitionists determined to stop slavery expansion into newly acquired territories.
Abraham Lincoln is the Republican Party’s first presidential candidate. He was chosen to fly the party’s flag in 1860, a move that marked the party’s rise.
Abraham Lincoln won the election and became the President of the United States of America. He won the 1860 election in a landslide.
Lincoln won both the popular and electoral votes. Political observers call the 1860 election the first of three critical elections in the United States of America’s political history.
During the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, the Republican Party made its presence felt. It played a crucial role in the abolishment of slavery.
The party still made its mark after the Civil War ended. It helped in the legislation and passing of the Reconstruction Acts, which was established to protect enslaved people who had been granted freedom according to the law. The “Acts” gave new enslaved people the protection they needed.
The GOP followed their previous successes by broadening their platform to include limited government intervention in the economy, support for business interests, and conservative values.
A Handy Tip: The Republican Party has evolved over the years. They are associated with strong national defense, fiscal conservatism, and conservative social values.
The US Republican Presidents Since the Party’s Inception
The GOP has produced more US Presidents than the Democrats, but this shouldn’t be a big deal. Why? Both parties might become level in the future. Or, one might continue to lead the other.
It is the American people who decide who becomes their President. They are the ones who will determine whether to vote for a Right Wing candidate or a Left Wing.
So far, the Republicans have produced 19 presidents and governors for over 88 years.
A Handy Tip: Some previous presidents didn’t complete their terms. Others didn’t win their second-term elections.
So, here are the names of former United States Presidents who emerged from the GOP.
| S/N | Name | Year | Remark |
| 1. | Abraham Lincoln | 1861 – 1865 | He was assassinated |
| 2. | Ulysses S. Grant | 1869 – 1877 | |
| 3. | Rutherford B. Hayes | 1877 – 1881 | |
| 4. | James A. Garfield | 1881 – 1881 | He was unable to finish his first term in office. Death snatched him away. |
| 5. | Chester A. Arthur | 1881 – 1885 | |
| 6. | Benjamin Harrison | 1889 – 1893 | |
| 7. | William McKinley | 1897 -1901 | McKinley was assassinated |
| 8. | Theodore Roosevelt | 1901 – 1909 | |
| 9. | William Howard Taft | 1909 – 1913 | |
| 10. | Warren G. Harding | 1921 – 1923 | He died in office. |
| 11. | Calvin Coolidge | 1923 – 1929 | |
| 12. | Hebert Hoover | 1929 – 1933 | |
| 13. | Dwight D. Eisenhower | 1953 – 1961 | |
| 14. | Richard M. Nixon | 1969 – 1074 | He had to resign because of the Watergate Scandal. He had no other option than to leave office. |
| 15. | Gerald Ford | 1974 – 1977 | |
| 16. | Ronald Reagan | 1981 – 1989 | |
| 17. | George H W Bush | 1989 – 1993 | |
| 18. | George W Bush | 2001 – 2009 | |
| 19. | Donald Trump | 2017 – 2021 |
The Democratic Party
The Democrats claim they are fighting for a better and fairer future for all Americans. They also believe they can make America more prosperous and attractive than it has been.
Politics in America is about the Right Wing (Republicans) and the Left Wing (Democrats). They are the two parties dominating the political landscape in the United States of America.
So, when was the Democratic Party established? The party was founded in 1828 by Martin Van Buren.
Andrew Jackson is another crucial figure in the party. His ideas influenced the party.
The Democratic Party adheres to Modern American Liberalism. It is also one of the world’s oldest, active, and most recognized political parties.
The Democratic Party And Its Historical Rise
The Democratic Party, considered “Liberal,” emerged as a “faction” of the Democratic-Republican Party. The party was established to oppose the Federalist Party.
The Democratic Party or Democrats are the direct opposite of the Republicans. The Republicans did not support the slave trade and even fought against the expansion of the slave trade to Arkansas, Nebraska, and other newly acquired territories.
In contrast, the Democratic Party supported slavery states’ interests, including expansionism and expansive presidential authority. Unfortunately, the party’s strength was weakened from 1860 – 1910 following the departure of some of its key members.
The factions that emerged from the then Democratic-Republican Party formed a party that opposed the idea of high tariffs. The party also favored progressive reforms.
Andrew Jackson was the first Democratic President in the United States of America. He won the election and was inaugurated in 1829. Jackson left office in 1837.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, was elected President in 1932, and since then, the party has evolved to a socially liberal platform.
The Democratic Party promoted programs like Social Security and achieved landmark legislation with Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
The US Democratic Presidents Since The Party’s Inception
The Democratic Party has produced the second-highest number of presidents in the United States. As of the time of writing, the party has had 17 presidents.
The Democratic Party, like the Republicans, has also produced several governors and lawmakers in the over 85 years of its existence.
A Handy Tip: The Democratic Party has only had one President assassinated, while the Republican Party has had two.
So, without further ado, here are the names of US Presidents who have come from the Democratic Party to rule our dear country.
| S/N | Name | Year | Remark |
| 1. | Andrew Jackson | 1829 – 1837 | |
| 2. | Martin Van Buren | 1837 – 1841 | |
| 3. | James K. Polk | 1845 – 1849 | |
| 4. | Franklin Pierce | 1853 – 1857 | |
| 5. | James Buchanan | 1857 – 1861 | |
| 6. | Andrew Johnson | 1865 – 1869 | |
| 7. | Grover Cleveland | 1885 – 1889 and 1893 – 1897 | |
| 8. | Woodrow Wilson | 1913 – 1921 | |
| 9. | Franklin D Roosevelt | 1933 – 1945 | Franklin died in office. |
| 10. | Harry S. Truman | 1945 – 1953 | |
| 11. | John F. Kennedy | 1961 – 1963 | He was assassinated |
| 12. | Lyndon B. Johnson | 1963 – 1969 | |
| 13. | Jimmy Carter | 1977 – 1981 | |
| 14. | Bill Clinton | 1993 – 2001 | |
| 15. | Barack Obama | 2009 – 2017 | |
| 16. | Joe Biden | 2020 – Present |
A Handy Tip: You might be wondering why we said the Democrats have produced 17 US presidents but have only 16 on the list. Here’s why;
President Grover Cleveland served two terms, which weren’t consecutive.
The Differences Between The Republican Party Vs Democratic Party
The Republican and Democratic Party differ on many terms. Let’s discuss their differences.
| Main Difference | Republican Party | Democratic Party | |
| 1. | Philosophy | It is more aligned towards conservative philosophy and right-leaning. | It is more aligned with liberal philosophy and is left-leaning |
| 2. | Social and Human Ideas | Based on individual rights and justice | Based on the community, including social responsibility |
| 3. | Economic Belief | Republicans believe that taxes shouldn’t be imposed on citizens or companies and that the market should control wages. | The Democrats believe in progressive economic taxation where the rich pay higher taxes while the middle and lower classes pay lower. |
| 4. | Position on government regulation | The GOP thinks that government regulation will work against unrestrained market capitalism. | The Democrats believe that government regulation will help protect customers |
| 5. | Military action | Advocate for limited deployment of military personnel and more targeted strikes | Advocate for all-out military action against authoritarian regimes oppressing their people. |
| 6. | Military stance | Advocates for an increase in military spending | Advocates for a reduction in military spending |
| 7. | Stance on nonconventional ideas | Strongly against gay and lesbian marriages and believes abortion shouldn’t be legalized. | The party strongly backs gay and lesbian marriages and believes abortion should be legalized. |
| 8. | Color used as a means of identification | The color used to represent Republicans is red | The color used to describe Democrats is blue |
| 9. | Healthcare Policy | They oppose universal healthcare and believe private organizations can provide better healthcare and have better facilities than government organizations. | Strongly supports universal, affordable healthcare and programs like Medicare and Medicaid. |
| 10. | Gun laws | Does not advocate for stricter gun laws | Advocates for stricter gun laws |
| 11. | Election Symbol | In addition to the red color, the donkey represents the party during elections. | In addition to the blue color, the elephant represents the party during elections. |
| 12. | Stance on the death penalty | A large number of Republicans are in support of the death penalty. | While some support the death penalty among democrats, the majority are against it. |
| 13. | Strong in states | Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas | California, New York, and Massachusetts |
| 14. | Stance on immigration | Republicans oppose amnesty for undocumented immigrants. They fund decisive enforcement actions at the country’s borders. They also fought Barack Obama’s executive order that places a moratorium on the deportation of certain workers | The Democrats support offering a moratorium or pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants. These include people who don’t have a criminal record and have lived in the United States for 5+ years. |
| 15. | Membership (as of 2017) | 32.8 million people | 44.7 million people |
| 16. | Founded | 1854 | 1852 |
Conclusion
We have come to the end of the comparison between Republican and Democrat beliefs. One thing is clear: both parties have varied beliefs and values.
For instance, while Republicans favor higher military spending, the Democrats don’t. The Democrats support gay and lesbian marriages, but the Republicans don’t.
The Democratic and Republican Parties have been the two major political parties in the United States for years. They have produced diverse presidents who have shaped our country.
On a final note, each party’s supporters must scrutinize their party’s beliefs and values. Then, ask yourself, do your party’s beliefs align with yours?
