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Democratic Party (United States) facts for kids

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Democratic Party
Chairperson Donna Brazile
Secretary Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (MD)
President of the United States Barack Obama (IL)
Vice President of the United States Joe Biden (DE)
Senate leader Minority Leader
Harry Reid (NV)
House leader Minority Leader
Nancy Pelosi (CA)
Founder Andrew Jackson
Founded 1801
Ideology Liberalism
Progressivism

The U.S. Democratic Party is one of the two biggest political parties in the United States. The other is the Republican Party. The U.S. also has several smaller political parties known as "third parties." Supporters of this party are known as Democrats.

Every four years the party holds a National Convention where they agree on their candidate for President. The Democratic National Committee coordinates most of the activities of the Democratic Party in all 51 United States. There have been 15 Democratic presidents, the most recent being Barack Obama, who became President in 2009.

History

See History of the United States Democratic Party.

Philosophy and role in government

Some Modern Democrats are called "the left", "liberals" or "progressives", even though not all Democrats are left-wing or liberal. In the United States, each of the political parties are large coalitions that cover many different kinds of ideology. A mostly Democratic state is sometimes called a "blue state", this original color scheme was based on Great Britain's political system, which used red to denote the more liberal party and was first used in the 1976 presidential election campaign.

Democratic beliefs

Generally Democrats support:

  • Progressive income tax, increasing overall tax income
  • Higher corporate taxes and recapturing income from overseas profits
  • Expanding spending on government programs
  • Spending on business, education, infrastructure, clean-energy
  • Limited rights to Abortion
  • Restrictions of weapons use through government oversight
  • Universal healthcare
  • Regulating business and the economy
  • Same-sex marriage

Most support for Democrats comes from states in the Northeast, Northwest and Pacific Coast areas of the USA, but there are Democrats elected to office in all other states too.

Symbols

Democrat
The symbol of the Democratic Party is the donkey.

The symbol of the Democratic Party is the Donkey. Since the election of 2000, the color blue has become a symbol for Democrats.

Democratic Presidents

Presidents during the 19th century
James Monroe White House portrait 1819
President James Monroe was a famous 19th century Democrat.
Bill Clinton
President Bill Clinton
Presidents during the 20th century
Presidents during the 21st century

Other famous Democratic Politicians

President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama
Joe Biden
Vice President Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton official Secretary of State portrait crop
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Daniel Inouye
Former senator Daniel Inouye

Former Democrats

Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981
Republican Ronald Reagan was once a Democrat

Related pages

Images for kids

  • Breckinridgelong2

    The three leaders of the Democratic party during the first half of the 20th century: President Woodrow Wilson (nominated in 1912 and '16) Sec. of State William J. Bryan (nominated in 1896, 1900 and 1908), Josephus Daniels, Breckinridge Long, William Phillips, and Franklin D. Roosevelt (nominated for VP in 1920 and for president in 1932, '36, '40 and '44). Photo taken June 14, 1913

  • FDR in 1933

    Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States (1933–1945).

  • John F. Kennedy, White House color photo portrait

    John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States (1961–1963)

  • Lbj2

    Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States (1963–1969)

  • Eleanor Roosevelt at the Democratic Nationall Convention in Chicago, Illinois - NARA - 195997

    Eleanor Roosevelt at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago

  • Obama signing health care-20100323

    President Barack Obama signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law at the White House on March 23, 2010.

  • Shirley Chisholm

    Shirley Chisholm was the first major party African-American candidate to run nationwide primary campaigns.

  • Immigration Bill Signing - A1421-33a - 10-03-1965

    President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Immigration Act of 1965 as Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sen. Robert Kennedy, and others look on.

  • Jerry Brown rally G

    Jerry Brown at a campaign rally in Sacramento two days before the election

  • Fig 109 - does someone in house belong to union

    left

  • Photograph of President William Jefferson Clinton Greeting People in a Large Crowd at a "Get Out the Vote" Rally in Los Angeles, California, 11 02 2000

    Bill Clinton at a Democratic "Get out the vote" rally in Los Angeles

  • CarlVenneANDBarackObama-May19-2008

    Carl Venne, Crow Indian Tribal Chairman, shows support for Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama in 2008.

  • Obama and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

    Democratic President Barack Obama, at a Conference with Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

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