Political Parties & Interest Groups Guided Notes Interest Groups What are they? Associations or organizations of individuals who share a particular view in What do they do? Use their collective strength to their How do they impact politics? Can place their Offer Can concerned with politically behind a candidate to a candidate for office public officials to take actions on the issues the group is Interest Groups you may have heard of: PETA NAACP ASPCA Political Parties: What do they do? Promote a Select Finance election campaigns government to influence government policy and citizens for 2 “Big Tent” Parties Both Republicans and Democrats are considered “Big Tent” parties because there are many that support unrelated issues who associate with the same party. Different people with different views supporting the Often in American politics parties limit their interests to a . For example, the Green Party is a political party that puts environmentalism at the center of its agenda. Fun Fact! Both parties were combined into one party known as the Democratic-Republican Party Democratic-Republican Party broke apart around due to opposing views within the group The History of Democrats political party in the U.S. Formed in the 1830’s from the Democratic-Republican Party Formed by Originally opposed and tolerated slavery th Underwent transformation in the mid-20 century and became more of what we know today as the Democrat party – first Democrat president of the U.S. Andrew Jackson - the first elected President Andrew Jackson, The President of the US He was the presidential candidate to run as a Democrat. History knows him as the first President to frequently laws passed in Congress. Jackson was responsible for enfranchising all white males (giving them the ), large Indian removal projects and the distribution of land to white southern farmers. Jackson’s Democrats were also considered the party in of slavery and as a result typically won elections in southern states. Where did the Democrat Donkey come from? Andrew Jackson used a donkey to symbolize his working class roots and ever since the Democrats have been known as the part of the donkey. Democrats evolved into the party that represented mainly the North and predominantly white classes of cities in the in the South until 1932. Transforming the Democrats Franklin D. Roosevelt Took presidency in Led the United States out the Great Depression by expanding government services like , social security, and to a lesser extent supporting civil rights laws. John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson continued the tradition set by FDR in pushing forward civil rights laws such as the and expanding the (a type of government designed to take care of its citizens) Democrats Today Today the Democrats are commonly perceived as the party of government, civil rights, women’s rights, environmentalism, the poor and pacifism (slow to go to war). Our is from the Democrat Party History of the Republicans The Republicans were born in with support of (people against slavery) and those who supported a strong federal government. Known as the GOP or the because they were the party that “won the war” during the Civil War was the first Republican to be elected President. Later, in the late 1880s Republicans became known as the party of business. They favored government, Were taxes Thought that the economy could take if left to its own devises. Where did the Republican Elephant come from? Republicans came to be associated with elephants due to the political cartoons of Thomas Nast in 1874. Transforming the Republican Party The modern Republican Party was born out of Richard Nixon’s Nixon appealed to southern white voters by proclaiming his support of states’ rights and promised to make the US safer. Today the Republican Party stands for many of the issue Richard Nixon supported such as , small government, the rights to , pro-life policies, a strong military and a smaller . Republicans Today! The Republican party today Tend to support public policies that the of government and . Typically support the Are generally to the legalization of abortion (pro-life) Usually vote against programs to increase the size of the welfare state. What are the differences between Republicans and Democrats today? Republican vs. Democrat The Economy and Taxes Democrats Are generally in favor of large government and a progressive tax system in which the wealthy pay a than the poor Tend to believe in a and are willing to taxes if needed Tend to make laws to American from international competition Republicans Are generally in favor of a government Vehemently raising taxes even if it means a budget deficit Tend to believe in and don’t tend to protect US businesses from international competition What side do you agree with? National Defense and Security Democrats Tend to the military budget Generally want to American military intervention unless supported by the United Nations Tend to believe in diplomacy (solving problems without ) and are slow to go to war Republicans Believe in a strong military and are willing to pay for it with government money Believe in confronting American enemies with or without Believe in using military intervention when American or is threatened more quickly than Democrats What side do you agree with? Entitlements- Welfare, Medicaid, Social Security, Health Care Democrats Republicans Generally think that the government should Generally think the government should provide a broad safety net (health care, education, Or welfare, food stamps) for the the “safety net” for the poor. and others. They believe that private businesses and non They generally think these policies help the profit can provide common good and are compassionate the same services What side do you agree with? Crime and Punishment Democrats Tend to focus on programs over long prison sentences for convicted criminals Usually a the death penalty Focus on rights of the accused Republicans Tend to focus on prison sentences as a deterrent to crime Usually for the Usually for stiffer convicted criminals for What side do you agree with? Environmental Protection Democrats Favor stricter regulations on businesses to the environment Believe global warming is a Republicans Favor fewer restrictions on businesses in the hopes that wealthier companies will be able to be more environmental Many global warming is a real threat What side do you agree with? Abortion and Stem Cell Research Democrats Tend to be believe that a woman should always have the right to to have an abortion Tend to stem-cell research Republicans Tend to be - do not believe that women have a right to have an abortion and instead call abortion a form of murder Tend to be against stem-cell research What side do you agree with? Same Sex Marriage and Civil Rights Laws Democrats Tend to support the right for same-sex couples to Republicans Tend to right for same-sex couples to marry the What side do you agree with? Education Democrats Oppose using for school choice (vouchers and charters) Republicans Favor using tax money for school choice (vouchers and charters) What side do you agree with? Immigration Democrats Favor immigration Some favor “Amnesty” for illegals already in the country Republicans Favor laws Some favor or for illegals already in the country What side do you agree with? immigration