A Brief History of the Democratic Party
The world's oldest political party is over 200
years old and still the largest in the United
States with more that 43% of Americans calling
themselves Democrats. It was founded in 1792 as
a congressional caucus to fight for the Bill of
Rights, the first ten amendments to the United
States Constitution, and to fight against the
elite Federalist Party. Notable founders
include three U.S. Presidents: Thomas Jefferson
(authored the Declaration of Independence),
James Madison (Father of the U.S.
Constitution), and James Monroe. Fifteen Other
Democratic Presidents: John Quincy Adams,
Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler,
James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan,
Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin
Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy,
Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Bill
Clinton. First political party in Utah
established along national party lines in 1884.
Prominent Utah Democrats include: Joseph
Rawlins who introduced the enabling act for
statehood; prominent LDS Church leaders Wilford
Woodruff, Heber Grant, B.H. Roberts, Hugh B.
Brown, James Faust, Marlin Jensen and Hugh
Nibley; former members of Congress Frank "Ted"
Moss, Gunn McKay, Wayne Owens and Bill Orton;
actor Robert Redford; composer/musician Kurt
Bestor; authors Terry Tempest Williams and
Wallace Stegner; publisher Gibbs Smith; banker
Marriner Eccles; businessmen O.C. Tanner and
Sam Skaggs; Salt Lake City Mayors Ted Wilson,
Palmer DePaulis, Deedee Corradini and Rocky
Anderson; Attorneys General Paul VanDam and Jan
Graham; Salt Lake County Commissioners Randy
Horiuchi and Jim Bradley; Martha Hughes Cannon
- the first woman to ever to serve in any State
Senate; Christine Durham - the first woman to
serve on the State Supreme Court; Reva Beck
Bosone and Karen Shepherd - Utah's first two
women to serve in Congress; and, Jean Westwood
- the first woman ever to serve as chair of a
national political party. Peter Corroon - Salt
Lake County Mayor. Six Democratic Governors
of Utah: Simon Bamberger (1917-21), George
Dern (1925-33), Henry Blood (1933-41), Herbert
Maw (1941-49), Calvin Rampton (1965-77) and
Scott Matheson (1977-85). Dern, Maw, Rampton
and Matheson would also serve as Chair of the
National Governor's Association. Five
Democratic U.S. Senators from Utah: Joseph
Rawlins (1897-1901), William King (1917-41),
Elbert Thomas (1933-1951), Abe Murdock
(1941-47), and Frank "Ted" Moss (1959-1977).
Sixteen Democratic members of the U.S. House
of Representatives from Utah: William King
(1897-99), Brigham H. Roberts (1899-1901),
James H. Mays (1915-21), Milton H. Welling
(1917-1921), Abe Murdock (1931-39), J. Will
Robinson (1931-47), Walter K. Granger
(1941-53), Reva Beck Bosone (1949-53), David S.
King (1959-63 and 1965-67), N. Blaine Peterson
(1961-63), Gunn McKay (1971- 81), Wayne Owens
(1973-75 and 1987-93), Allen Howe (1975-77),
Bill Orton (1991-97), Karen Shepherd (1993-95),
Jim Matheson (2001-present). Utah Democrats had
the majority in the State House during the
following periods: 1897-1901, 1917-21. 1933-47,
1949-53, 1959-63, 1965-67, 1971-73, and
1975-77. Utah Democrats had the majority in the
State Senate during the following periods:
1897-1903, 1917-21, 1933-53, 1959-63, 1965-67,
and 1975-79. Accomplishments under
Democratic Presidents: Overturned the Alien
and Sedition Acts thereby guaranteeing the
right to free speech and political opposition.
Doubled the size of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase.
U.S. won War of 1812, negotiated the Treaty of Ghent and strengthened the armed forces.
Presided over the "Era of Good Feelings" when the U.S. had only one political Party and Monroe was elected unopposed.
Eliminated the first Federal Deficit in 1817.
Adopted the Monroe Doctrine to distance the Americas from influence by Europe.
Jackson founded the modern Democratic Party with the theme of trusting the people and their right to self-rule (i.e. elections).
Under Jackson, Democrats created the national convention process, the party platform, and reunified the Party on the issue of states' rights.
Eliminated the second Federal Deficit in 1835.
Officially adopted the name "Democratic Party" in 1840. Before that it was known as the Democratic-Republicans.
Adopted the policy of "Manifest Destiny" to acquire all land to the Pacific Ocean for the U.S.
Annexed Texas and the Oregon Territory into the U.S.
Won the Mexican War and lands that would include Utah and annexed California.
The Party survived the Civil War after failing to negotiate peace through the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Act as champions for States Rights.
The Democratic Party was at its weakest point after the Civil War when the Party's souther base was disenfranchised by the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Presided over the Industrial Revolution and the Gilded Age.
Reformed the Civil Service system for government employees, reducing the number of jobs awarded on the basis of political patronage.
Adopted the Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
Attempted to increase the money supply by abolishing the Gold Standard to help labor and farmers through the Sherman Silver Purchase Act with William Jennings Bryan stating, "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this cross of thorns, you shall not crucify man upon a cross of gold."
Admitted Utah to the United States.
Adopted the Clayton Anti-Trust Act, established the Federal Reserve, the Federal Trade Commission, the progressive income tax, abolished child labor, and mandated the eight hour work day.
Supported the direct election of United States Senators.
Nominated Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish man to serve on the Supreme Court.
U.S. won World War I and negotiated the Treaty of Versailles to "make the world safe for democracy."
Established the League of Nations.
Supported the women's suffrage movement and adopted the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote.
Democrats helped to establish the first primary election system.
New Deal programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Works Progress Administration, and the National Industrial Recovery Act, lead the nation out of the Great Depression.
Established the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children.
Guided us victoriously through World War II.
Established the Marshall Plan which rebuilt Europe after World War II and the GI Bill here at home to find jobs and increase education for returning soldiers.
Established the Truman Doctrine calling for U.S. intervention where necessary to protect nations from communism.
Established NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that protects much of Europe from war today.
Negotiated a treaty banning atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, created NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), created the Peace Corps.
Passed the Civil Rights Act assuring access to public accommodations and housing regardless of race or religion.
Passed the Voting Rights Act allowing U.S. citizens the right to vote regardless of race or religion.
Created Medicare, Medicaid, and formation of the Great Society Programs and the War on Poverty like Head Start and WIC (the Women, Infants and Children program).
Negotiated the Panama Canal treaty and Camp David peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
First major political party to nominate a woman for Vice President.
Under Clinton, eliminated the largest federal deficit in United States history without one single Republican vote.
Other recent accomplishments include increased access to student loans for college, the National Service Act helping students pay tuition by serving the community, the National Voter Registration Act making it easier to register to vote while getting your drivers' license, a crime bill that puts 100,000 more police officers on our streets, and passing GATT and NAFTA the largest trade agreements in history.
Accomplishments under Democratic Utah Governors: Established the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Health, State Industrial Commission, State Securities Commission and a non-partisan judiciary.
Passed the Workers Compensation Act, the political Corrupt Practices Act, bills establishing the referendum and initiative process and direct primary elections, mandated compulsory high school attendance, and supported the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution on women's suffrage.
Ratified the Colorado River Compact that allowed for development of this important water resource.
Influential support to Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs especially the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Federal Aviation Administration. Gov. Dern was the first Utahn appointed to ever appointed to a Presidential cabinet as Secretary of War under Roosevelt.
Adopted a two-percent sales tax to get matching funds for relief programs during the Great Depression.
Created the Department of Public Welfare, the College of Eastern Utah, Salt Lake Community College, Utah Valley Community College, took state control of Snow College, and created the system of state-owned liquor stores.
In 1937 obtained the Thomas Kearns home for the Governor's mansion.
Created the Publicity and Industrial Development Department that built access roads to scenic attractions and film locations in southern Utah, the natural history museum in Vernal, Utah, and brought federal military installations like Hill Air Force Base, Tooele Army Depot and Dugway Proving Grounds.
Reapportioned legislative districts with one person - one vote rules.
Established the merit system to decrease political patronage in state government jobs.
Created the Little Hoover Commission to redesign state government into cabinet departments.
Adopted civil rights legislation regarding housing, public accommodations, and fair employment.
Started the first-ever bidding process for the Winter Olympics with 1966 Chicago presentation - America's choice to Rome.
Obtained land from Fort Douglas to create Research Park at the University of Utah.
Passed a state clean air act.
Instituted the practice of annual sessions for the legislature, instead of a session every two years, to help better fiscal management of the state.
Presided over the last rebracketing of the state's income tax in 1974 and nearly eliminated the state's portion of the property tax to help working class Utah families.
Promoted tourism by creating Lagoon, "This is the Place" monument, Wasatch State Park, Hardware Ranch, Deer Creek Reservoir, Bear River Bird Refuge, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion's National Parks, and oversaw the construction of the Salt Palace and Symphony Hall.
Successfully fought basing the MX missile program in Utah.
Initiated "Project Bold" to exchange lands between the federal and state government to raise funds for Utah schools.
Important federal legislation sponsored by Utah Democrats include: obtaining compensation for people downwind from open air nuclear testing who suffered health problems; introduced resolution declaring the Spanish-American War; and, legislation requiring warnings on tobacco products and banning tobacco advertising on television and radio.
Doubled the size of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase.
U.S. won War of 1812, negotiated the Treaty of Ghent and strengthened the armed forces.
Presided over the "Era of Good Feelings" when the U.S. had only one political Party and Monroe was elected unopposed.
Eliminated the first Federal Deficit in 1817.
Adopted the Monroe Doctrine to distance the Americas from influence by Europe.
Jackson founded the modern Democratic Party with the theme of trusting the people and their right to self-rule (i.e. elections).
Under Jackson, Democrats created the national convention process, the party platform, and reunified the Party on the issue of states' rights.
Eliminated the second Federal Deficit in 1835.
Officially adopted the name "Democratic Party" in 1840. Before that it was known as the Democratic-Republicans.
Adopted the policy of "Manifest Destiny" to acquire all land to the Pacific Ocean for the U.S.
Annexed Texas and the Oregon Territory into the U.S.
Won the Mexican War and lands that would include Utah and annexed California.
The Party survived the Civil War after failing to negotiate peace through the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Act as champions for States Rights.
The Democratic Party was at its weakest point after the Civil War when the Party's souther base was disenfranchised by the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Presided over the Industrial Revolution and the Gilded Age.
Reformed the Civil Service system for government employees, reducing the number of jobs awarded on the basis of political patronage.
Adopted the Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
Attempted to increase the money supply by abolishing the Gold Standard to help labor and farmers through the Sherman Silver Purchase Act with William Jennings Bryan stating, "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this cross of thorns, you shall not crucify man upon a cross of gold."
Admitted Utah to the United States.
Adopted the Clayton Anti-Trust Act, established the Federal Reserve, the Federal Trade Commission, the progressive income tax, abolished child labor, and mandated the eight hour work day.
Supported the direct election of United States Senators.
Nominated Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish man to serve on the Supreme Court.
U.S. won World War I and negotiated the Treaty of Versailles to "make the world safe for democracy."
Established the League of Nations.
Supported the women's suffrage movement and adopted the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote.
Democrats helped to establish the first primary election system.
New Deal programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Works Progress Administration, and the National Industrial Recovery Act, lead the nation out of the Great Depression.
Established the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children.
Guided us victoriously through World War II.
Established the Marshall Plan which rebuilt Europe after World War II and the GI Bill here at home to find jobs and increase education for returning soldiers.
Established the Truman Doctrine calling for U.S. intervention where necessary to protect nations from communism.
Established NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that protects much of Europe from war today.
Negotiated a treaty banning atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, created NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), created the Peace Corps.
Passed the Civil Rights Act assuring access to public accommodations and housing regardless of race or religion.
Passed the Voting Rights Act allowing U.S. citizens the right to vote regardless of race or religion.
Created Medicare, Medicaid, and formation of the Great Society Programs and the War on Poverty like Head Start and WIC (the Women, Infants and Children program).
Negotiated the Panama Canal treaty and Camp David peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
First major political party to nominate a woman for Vice President.
Under Clinton, eliminated the largest federal deficit in United States history without one single Republican vote.
Other recent accomplishments include increased access to student loans for college, the National Service Act helping students pay tuition by serving the community, the National Voter Registration Act making it easier to register to vote while getting your drivers' license, a crime bill that puts 100,000 more police officers on our streets, and passing GATT and NAFTA the largest trade agreements in history.
Accomplishments under Democratic Utah Governors: Established the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Health, State Industrial Commission, State Securities Commission and a non-partisan judiciary.
Passed the Workers Compensation Act, the political Corrupt Practices Act, bills establishing the referendum and initiative process and direct primary elections, mandated compulsory high school attendance, and supported the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution on women's suffrage.
Ratified the Colorado River Compact that allowed for development of this important water resource.
Influential support to Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs especially the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Federal Aviation Administration. Gov. Dern was the first Utahn appointed to ever appointed to a Presidential cabinet as Secretary of War under Roosevelt.
Adopted a two-percent sales tax to get matching funds for relief programs during the Great Depression.
Created the Department of Public Welfare, the College of Eastern Utah, Salt Lake Community College, Utah Valley Community College, took state control of Snow College, and created the system of state-owned liquor stores.
In 1937 obtained the Thomas Kearns home for the Governor's mansion.
Created the Publicity and Industrial Development Department that built access roads to scenic attractions and film locations in southern Utah, the natural history museum in Vernal, Utah, and brought federal military installations like Hill Air Force Base, Tooele Army Depot and Dugway Proving Grounds.
Reapportioned legislative districts with one person - one vote rules.
Established the merit system to decrease political patronage in state government jobs.
Created the Little Hoover Commission to redesign state government into cabinet departments.
Adopted civil rights legislation regarding housing, public accommodations, and fair employment.
Started the first-ever bidding process for the Winter Olympics with 1966 Chicago presentation - America's choice to Rome.
Obtained land from Fort Douglas to create Research Park at the University of Utah.
Passed a state clean air act.
Instituted the practice of annual sessions for the legislature, instead of a session every two years, to help better fiscal management of the state.
Presided over the last rebracketing of the state's income tax in 1974 and nearly eliminated the state's portion of the property tax to help working class Utah families.
Promoted tourism by creating Lagoon, "This is the Place" monument, Wasatch State Park, Hardware Ranch, Deer Creek Reservoir, Bear River Bird Refuge, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion's National Parks, and oversaw the construction of the Salt Palace and Symphony Hall.
Successfully fought basing the MX missile program in Utah.
Initiated "Project Bold" to exchange lands between the federal and state government to raise funds for Utah schools.
Important federal legislation sponsored by Utah Democrats include: obtaining compensation for people downwind from open air nuclear testing who suffered health problems; introduced resolution declaring the Spanish-American War; and, legislation requiring warnings on tobacco products and banning tobacco advertising on television and radio.