Political Parties

Using the Internet, research for a minimum of 15mins- the history of the two major political parties in our government.
Report your findings for both the Republicans and the Democrats.
Then share which party you see yourself supporting in the past, present and future and why you feel you support that party or parties.
When finished you should have around 3-4 paragraphs.

The Democratic party was started many years ago.  Thomas Jefferson started the first political party because he thought that the federal government was having too much power.  It became known as the Democratic party after Andrew Jackson became president.  The Democratic convention is the longest running political organization in the world.  The symbol of the donkey has become the "mascot" of the Democratic party.

The Republican party was started because of the conflicts about slavery spreading to the western territories.  The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 split the two major parties of the time, Democrats and Whigs.  There were conventions held to protest the Nebraska act and free soldiers, democrats, and whigs attended.  They became the Republican party because they said they were decendents of Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican party.  The Republican party is also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP.

From what I have seen and reseached I think right now I would be considered a Republican.  I based this on issues that matter to me like abortion.  Most Republicans are opposed to abortion and I agree with that.  I don't know much about the money issues yet and will base my decision in the future on what I learn.  So I think my ideas could change as I get older and more knowledgable.