Party Changes

Both the Democratic and Republican Parties of today are different than they were in the past. In the early years, the Grand Old Party was not conservative in the sense we know today. The northern Republican abolitionists wanted progressive changes and supported the social programs of the Reconstruction. According to an article published by The Claremont Institute, titled “Not Your Father’s Republican Party,” the party changed somewhat over the next several years, but basically “remained in a general way the party of activist government and progressive causes at least through the presidency of Teddy Roosevelt.” During this time period, and during the period of the New Deal, the Democratic Party had more conservative elements than the Republican Party.
After World-War II the term “conservative” began to be associated with the Republican Party, at first in the intellectual sense of a party that would hold on to traditional lifestyle and libertarian political principles. This new conservatism would be a party of limited government and free markets. There would be federalism and local control, and support for entrepreneurs and business.
During the 1950’s the “Dixi-crats” of the South, who were opposed to the civil rights movement, joined the Republican Party. The Democratic Party became the party which wanted change and social progressive policies. They wanted government involvement in addressing fairness in business, employment, housing, school, etc.
In the 1970’s the Republican Party embraced religious and tax reform movements. Between 1976 and 1988, there was a political realignment, in which evangelicals and fundamentalists moved to the Republican Party. They did more than vote for Republican candidates; they became heavily involved in political activity. The present-day Republican Party courts the religious vote, wants traditional family values to be part of public policy, and favors big business. According to the Claremont article: “Today, the Republican Party is America’s “nationalist” party, in opposition to an increasingly “provincial” Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party of today is struggling with a balance between being liberal and keeping their moderate support. The party favors progressive reforms, and more individual and states rights.