Democrats & Republicans?

Question

I don't know anything in US politics but would like to learn what is the differance between the left and right wing parties, and also wich of the Democratic party and Republican party is right or left....

Answer 1

Usually Republicans are considered on the right, and Democrats on the left. Republicans tend to believe in an uncontrolled economy with minimal government involvement. Democrats tend to believe that the economy needs to be regulated to keep it functioning and that government should make sure that public health and well-being is protected. Republicans are usually considered to be the party of business, and Democrats the party of working people. Republicans, the party of wars and prisons, Democrats the party of peace and prosperity.

Answer 2

When the nation was first starting two of the founding fathers had very different views they were pushing as to how the nation should be run.

Alexander Hamilton was what was called a Federalist. They believe in a strong central government. Economicly they tend to favor large businesses and the wealthy. Their foreign policy tends to be more militant and more involved with other countries. They have a weak domestic policy. They are not as interested in the average person. They feel that the elite know better what is good for everyone much as was the case in England. The Federalist party fell apart early on and reformed in a more liberal way calling itself the Whig Party. The reason for Whig is that the party of the loyal opposition in England were known as Whigs where supporters of the King were Torries.
In the 1850's the Whig Party was falling apart. There was an anti-slavery movement happening in the USA. Since most Whigs were in the North (Hamilton was from New York) most Whigs and some disgruntled Democrats formed a new party called the Republican Party. The Republican's first presidential candidate was John C. Fremont but because there were still some people clinging to the remnants of the Whig party Democrat James Buchanan was elected. Unfortunately Buchanan was one of the worst presidents.

Thomas Jefferson of Virginia led the Democratic Republican Party whose name was later changed to Democratic to keep people from confusing it with the Republican Party. Democrats tend to favor a smaller federal government with more power given to local and state governments. They tend to be more concerned with domestic affairs rather than foreign affairs thus a weaker foreign policy and stronger domestic policy. Their economics tend to favor the working person over the big rich industrialists etc. The modern Democratic party came about as a result of policies of Andrew Jackson. At one time there were more Democrats in the South so when the South susceeded that left mostly Republicans in the North. After the war before the Southern states were readmitted radical Republicans tried to remove President Andrew Johnson from office and then controlled U.S. Grant through most of his 8 years in office. When President Grant realized he was a patsy for the radicals he decided not to run for a 3rd term.

Today the Republicans (conservative) tend to borrow and spend where the Democrats (liberal) tend to tax and spend or spend as you go.

Conservatives tend to interpret the Constitution to the letter where Liberals tend to interpret the Constitution to the spirit of the document. Hence the names conservative and liberal.

Basically the parties are not that far apart compared to the rest of the world. When we govern most of the time it is somewhere near the center. In the 1960's we were leaning far to the left or liberal side lately we have been more to the extreme right or conservative. It acts much like a clock pendulum swinging from left to right. Soon it will swing toward the left and eventually back right again. I hope this helps you understand.

Answer 3

The democrats are left-wing and the republicans are right-wing. Democrats tend to favor more government intervention and take pro-choice, pro gun control, pro-gay rights, and usually anti-war. The Republicans favor less government intervention and take pro-life, pro-gun, and right now are generally for the war in the middle east. An extreme democrat would be labeled a Communist and an extreme Republican would be labled a Fascist (sp?) Christians tend to be Republicans as the Republican point of view mainly agrees with Christian views.

To see if you are a democrat or republican take this quiz:
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

Answer 4

They are both part of one secret party whos goal is to make america into a totalitarian dictatorship. They use the words 'democrat' and 'republican' to trick the people into thinking they have a choice. The rights to be taken are split evenly amongst the two parties. While one pretends to protect certain rights the other takes the rights away. Always they will succeed in taking them away, because the otherside allows it as it is part of the master plan. America is a one party state

Answer 5

Wow, political science 101. The best thing you can do is get a PS101 textbook and read it. People on here will answer your question, but they will be biased. Just like I'd tell you that Democrats are left or liberal, they hate America and want to burn the constition and implement some socialist regime so they can save us from ourselves. Whereas, Republicans, conservative, RIGHT, believe in strong national defense, lower taxes, uphold the founding fathers intent of the constitution and reinforce the capitalist idea that made America so great. You work hard and get ahead, everyone has the right to be successful just as you are guaranteed the right to be a failure.

Answer 6

Democrats are considered the Left, that are also liberal, socialist and feel Government is the answer to everybodys problems

Republicans are considered the right. Thay are conservative and feel that people should be independent from Government.

Answer 7

Democrats Left, Republicans Right.

The Democrats believe you should be able to do what ever you want to do except be successful, make money, make your own decisions, etc....

The Republicans generally believe in less government. Allow people who work hard to reap the benefits of doing so. Let free markets decide what business enterprises are successful or not. Do not believe in twisting the Constitution to meet their own needs. (Roe vs Wade, 2nd Amendment, etc...)