A brief history
The Democratic Party started a very long time ago, but the party as we know it today came into being in the middle of the 20th century. It was then that the party’s values shifted towards the citizen-friendly ones that now make up its core beliefs. Under the direction of the Democratic Party’s leadership, many positive changes were able to take place in American life. America would be a very different place had these changes not occurred. In 1920 Democratic President Woodrow Wilson ended the ban on women’s suffrage in government elections. President Theodore Roosevelt brought America out of the Great Depression in the 1930s, and shortly after that, in 1935, he passed the Social Security Act to protect the country’s old, poor, and weak. In 1964, Democratic President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act, which promised equality for people of all races, and was the catalyst that would end racial segregation. In recent years similar positive changes have taken place in America as a direct result of the Democratic Party’s leadership. Some of these changes include a new health care system that was put into place by President Barack Obama, multiple Democratic presidents facilitated several reversals of severe economic downturns, and some of the longest stretches of peacetime that America has ever seen have happened under the watch of the Democratic Party.
Core beliefs
Looking at the core beliefs of the Democratic Party helps one understand why and how the party has done so many positive things for American life throughout its history. For one thing, to believe in the democratic process, one needs to respect the power of the individual, and understand that every citizen should have the right to be a part of the decisions made by the government. Democracy can be seen as the opposite of oligarchical tyranny, as citizens under its rule do not have to revolt in order to spark a change in policy. All members of the Democratic Party have a few common beliefs concerning how people should live their lives. For one thing, leaders in the democratic system recognize the individual’s potential to understand what is best for himself and his countrymen. Democratic Party leaders often make decisions based on the idea that the common citizen has the ability to carry out his life in a responsible way. Another common value shared among members of the Party is the belief that human equality is extremely important. From race to sexual orientation to ethnicity to religion, the Democratic Party leader works to provide equal rights for everyone. Education is also important. Many of the most effective educational reforms in America’s history have been the doing of the Democratic Party. While all of these beliefs and values are important, the list does not end there. The Party’s focus is mainly on the quality of life for the citizens of the country. Social Security for the elderly, as well as for disadvantaged youth and other underprivileged members of society has always been a central focus for the leaders of the Democratic Party.