American Political Parties Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is American Political Parties?
Political parties play a central role in the American system of government. In the United States, two major parties dominate political life: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Democrats and Republicans have held power throughout most of American history, although third-party candidates occasionally gain attention.The Democratic Party traces its origins to the mid-1800s and is often identified with President Andrew Jackson’s Democratic-Republican party. It is considered to be more liberal than its counterpart, advocating for progressive reforms such as a higher minimum wage, improved healthcare access, and greater environmental protection. Historically, it has supported social welfare programs for those in need and increased government regulation of business practices. It has also been a supporter of civil rights legislation and affirmative action efforts dating back to Lyndon Johnson’s presidency.The Republican Party began in 1854 as an anti-slavery movement opposed to the expansion of slavery into new territories in America’s westward expansion. Today, it tends to be more conservative than the Democratic Party; traditionally advocating for lower taxes, reduced government spending on social services, opposition to abortion rights, support for gun ownership rights over gun control initiatives and restrictions on immigration. At times it has also embraced traditional values such as religious faith or patriotism while opposing same sex marriage or other issues relating to personal liberty and freedom from government interference into private lives.