Major Difference between Democrat and Republican: Democrats and Republicans are the two most notable political parties in the United States. These two parties control America’s political landscape but differ greatly in their philosophies and ideals ranging from taxes, the role of government, Medicare, gun control, immigration, healthcare, abortion and more. In this article, we will show you the major difference between democrat and republican.
Democrats and Republicans are still the two historically largest parties, which hold the majority of the seats in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. Democrats and Republicans have different views and positions on several key issues, including economic, political, military and social matters.
The History of Both Parties
The Democratic Party is associated with the prominent Democratic donkey, which first appeared during Democrat Andrew Jackson’s 1828 presidential campaign. However, after his opponent called him a donkey, Jackson decided to use the image of the animal which he believed to be smart, brave and strong-willed on his campaign posters. The symbol became very famous when the cartoonist Thomas Nast used the donkey in newspaper cartoons1.
The Democratic Party began in 1828 as an anti-Federal faction and grew to become one of the leading political forces of the United States. Whereas, the Republican Party is associated with the Republican elephant.
In the year 1874, Thomas Nast introduced the elephant in one of his cartoons and with time, the strong and noble animal became the symbol of the Republican Party2. The party is known as “GOP” Grand Old Party
The GOP began in 1854 which is a few years later than its Democratic counterpart to stop slavery, which was seen as unconstitutional.
Major Difference Between Democrat and Republican
Taxes
Democrats and Republicans have a main disagreement in the way they think tax payment should be made. However, Republicans believe that both rich and poor should pay the same share of taxes while Democrats have always insisted that tax cuts should only apply to low income and middle-income households.
Labor and Free Trade
Democrats also believe that corporations have too much power. They are in support of government intervention to even out the field. For instance, they also believe that a set minimum wage helps to bring more money to the pockets of all Americans which is good for the economy.
Republicans are pro-free markets as they don’t like to see increased government regulations or interference in the labor market. This is the reason the GOP is opposed to increasing the minimum wage arguing that businesses need to keep costs low so that they can excel to the benefit of all Americans.
Health Care
Republicans encourage private social insurance frameworks and agree that the tips of the national medicinal services framework ought not to be completely in the hands of the legislature.
Democrats also encourage public universal health care. They believe that the government should intervene to assist Americans who struggle to cover their health care expenses.
Death penalty
Republicans support the death penalty and believe it is a just punishment for some crimes while most democrats are against the death penalty and believe that capital punishment should be reduced into life sentences.
Social Programs
Democrats believed that it’s the job of the government to help the most ill-protected people in society. This is the reason they favor social programs like food stamps and Medicaid. While Republicans, on the other hand, have always believed the government should focus more on the basic necessity of all citizens.
Abortion
Democrats also believe at a sweet woman will have the rights to do abortion in reproductive health care service. While Republicans want to ban it from the constitution. Republicans are against the killing of a fetus.
Same-Sex Marriage Rights
Democrat’s party is in support of Same-sex marriage. Whereas, the Republican Party is against it. It is another major difference between the democratic and republican party.