America is a country of conviction. Americans tend to be fully convinced that their view is right on pretty much every topic, and it’s often difficult to change people’s minds. Despite this rigidity, America has a very flexible, fluid political history. The Democrats and Republicans were not always so polarized, and were not always so different.
The Republican party has a surprising origin, emerging in 1854 to combat the spread of slavery. It was mostly composed of farmers and former Black slaves, and supported a national bank and high tariffs. The ideological shift in the Republican party occured in the early 1930s, when former President Franklin D. Roosevelt was rejected by the GOP. This caused many of Roosevelt’s supporters to leave the Republican party. Roosevelt then began to implement his New Deal, and more progressive Republican supporters left the party. This shift was cemented during the civil rights movement, and was even further emphasized when Republicans took an anti-abortion stance in the Roe v. Wade trial. The party transformed from social progressivism to right-wing populism, all because of one presidential candidate and the coinciding Great Depression.
The Democratic party had a similarly drastic shift. It originated as Thomas Jefferson’s party, the Democratic-Republicans. As a spiritual successor, Andrew Jackson’s supporters founded the Democratic party in 1828. Much like modern Republicans, they supported a limited government, low tariffs, and were incredibly pro-business. Like the Republicans at the time, they were anti-imperialist. They fought to expand slavery into new territories in 1854, which angered the more socially progressive Democrats who consequently joined the new Republican party. The Democratic party was incredibly divided during the Civil War, forming the War Democrats and the Peace Democrats. The War Democrats
Had youth voters been the only ones voting in the Presidential election of 2016, it is predicted that Hillary Clinton would have received 420 Electoral Votes to Trump’s 118. Donald J. Trump would not be President and many, many policies and US positions would be dramatically different. Youth voters have been shaped by events like the Parkland shootings and concern for racial and gender equality and LBGTQ rights and lean in favor of gun control, expanded civil rights, strong action on climate change, student loan forgiveness, and an increased minimum wage.
The Youth Vote can change the trajectory of the nation’s future. Staying informed, engaged, registered, and ready to vote as a Youth Voter means that you’re not just ready to be an active participant in democracy. It means you’re going to contribute to what will be written in the history books and what will change the future of the country.