1792
• The Democratic Party is organized by Thomas Jefferson as a Congressional Caucus to fight for the Bill of Rights and against the elite Populist Party
1798
• Became the "party of the common man" and was officially called the Democratic-Republicans
1800
• Jefferson elected as the first Democratic President and Negotiated the Louisiana Purchase
1808
• James Madison (D-VA) elected President
1814
• Fought and Won the War of 1812 and strengthened the armed forces
1816
• James Monroe (D-VA) elected President established the Monroe Doctrine placing the United States as a vital part of Foreign Policy in North, Central, and South America.
1824
• John Quincy Adams elected President
• Democratic Party splits as four Democratic candidates run for the Presidency
1828
• Andrew Jackson (D-VA) elected President reunified the Party on the issue of states' rights. H e also created the national convention process and developed the party platform.
1832
• First Democratic National Convention Held
1837
• Martin Van Buren (D-PA) elected President
1840
• The Party is officially named the Democratic Party
1844
• James Polk (D - ) elected President and annexed the Oregon Territory while gaining the Republic of Texas and the southwestern territories in the War with Mexico.
1848
• Democratic Convention establishes the DNC (now the oldest continuing political committee)
1852
• Franklin Pierce elected President
1856
• James Buchanan elected President
1860
• Democratic Party formally split over slavery and State's Rights with the Northern wing supporting Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois and the Southern wing supporting John F. Breckenridge of
1870s
• Democratic Party reached its weakest point under Grant's Administration with the Southern base disenfranchised by the Civil War and Reconstruction
1876
• Samuel Tilden ran unsuccessfully for President, a predecessor of the Progressive reformers of the 1900s
1884
• Grover Cleveland elected President; also elected in 1892. He reformed the Civil Service system for government employees, reducing the number of jobs awarded on the basis of patronage
1896
• William Jennings Bryan ran unsuccessfully for President; also ran in 1900 and 1908 leading a movement of agrarian reformers
• The Party also supported the right of women's suffrage, direct election of Senators, and the progressive graduated income tax
1900s
• Party became predominant in local urban machine politics
1912
• Woodrow Wilson elected President and led the country through World War I. At its end, he developed and supported the League of Nations, a predecessor for the United Nations.
• In Domestic affairs, President Wilson finishes many progressive reforms including the establishment of the Federal Reserve Board, the passage of the Underwood Tariff, ending high import taxes, and the passage the first labor and child welfare laws
1920s
• Alfred Smith ran for the Presidency - first Catholic candidate
• Democrats helped to establish the first primary system
1932
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected President and ushers in the "New Deal." As part of his proposals, he established the Social Security Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Works Progress Administration. His administration also reformed the National Banking System and formed the National Industrial Recovery Act. These efforts were key in pulling the Nation out of the Great Depression.
• In foreign affairs, President Roosevelt established the Good Neighbor policy toward Latin America, led the nation through the majority of World War II, and developed a post war plan at the Teheran and Yalta Conferences including the development of the United Nations.
• Roosevelt is the only President in the history of the United States to be elected to four terms
1945
• Harry S Truman became President following Roosevelt's death in 1945. He established the Marshall Plan, rebuilding Europe from World War II and issued the order to use the Atomic Bomb against Japan, leading to the end of the War.
• President Truman also established the Truman Doctrine, calling for U.S. intervention where necessary to protect nations from communism. This doctrine was later enlarged and continued throughout the Cold War, eventually leading to the fall of the U.S.S.R. President Truman also played a major role in establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, known as "NATO" for the defense of Europe.
1952
• Adlai Stevenson ran unsuccessfully for President; also in 1956. He later became the United Nations Ambassador under President Kennedy and played a key role during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
1953-60
• Democratic-controlled Congress passed the first civil rights legislation in 85 years
1960
• John F. Kennedy elected President in one of the closest election in U.S. history.
• Following his election, he negotiated a treaty banning atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with the goal of reaching the moon by the end of the decade, and created the Peace Corps.
• In 1962, he successfully led the nation through the Cuban Missile Crisis, a difficult period of two weeks whereby the United States stared down the U.S.S.R. from placing missiles in Cuba.
1963
• Lyndon B. Johnson became President following the tragic death of President John Kennedy.
• In his next five years as President, Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act, created the Medicare Program and formed other Great Society programs.
• Johnson was also President through the most turbulent periods of the Vietnam War, including the Tet Offensive in 1968.
1976
• Jimmy Carter elected President and negotiated the Panama Canal treaties and the Camp David peace treaties between Egypt and Israel.
1982
• Congressional Democrats helped establish a national plan for disposal of nuclear waste
1983
• Congress, after President Reagan's opposition, approved a bill establishing a national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
1984
• Democratic Presidential candidate Walter Mondale nominated Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, the first woman vice-presidential candidate
1985
• Democratic pressure in the House led to sanctions against South Africa for having the system of apartheid.
1986
• November elections converted a 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate into a 55-45 Democratic advantage
• Iran Contra breaks in Lebanese papers, eventually leading to Congressional investigations (lead in part by 9th District Rep. Lee Hamilton) and the indictment of former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger. Weinberger was later pardoned by President George Bush (R-TX).
1987
• The 100th Congress, led by Democrats, overrode Reagan's 1986 veto of the Clean Water bill
1990
• Democrats in Congress led the effort to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act, expand the Head Start Program and rewrite the Clean Air Bill.
1992
• Bill Clinton elected President
1993
• Democrats, led by President Clinton and the Democratic Congress, enact major progressive initiatives include an Economic Package contained the largest deficit-cutting plan in history, the Student Loan Reform Act increasing access to higher education for millions, National Service Act helping students get tuition assistance through serving communities, The Brady Bill requiring a five day waiting period keeping convicted felons from buying guns, the National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter) opening up access to voter registration, Family & Medical Leave Act which offers job protection & unpaid leave during a family need, and the creation of NAFTA creating hundreds of thousands of jobs by opening our trading borders with Mexico and Canada.
1994
• Passage of major legislative initiatives continues with The Crime Bill, the toughest and most comprehensive crime bill ever putting 100,000 more cops on our streets and combating domestic violence through the Violence Against Women Act. President Clinton also leads the effort to form GATT, the largest trade agreement in history, and works for the passage of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, which prepares young people for their first jobs and continuing education
1995
• President Clinton signed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
1996
• President Clinton signed into law the Telecommunications Bill, the first reform of the communications industry since 1934.
• President Clinton is re-elected, becoming the First Democratic President to be re-elected since President Roosevelt.
2000
• President Clinton presides over the largest economic boom in the Nation's history and leaves office with a strong and growing U.S. economy.
• Vice President Albert Gore, in the closest elections in modern times, is unsuccessful in his bid at the White House. He wins the popular vote, but loses the electoral college.
2001
• In 2001, Democrats regained control of the Senate under Majority Leader Tom Daschle, while Democrats swept to victory in races all across the country, including races for Virginia Governor and Lt. Governor, New Jersey Governor, and 39 out of 42 major mayoral races including Los Angeles and Houston.
2001 - Present
• Although Democrats lost control of the Senate in the 2002 election, races for the control of Congress has remained tight despite a strong showing by President Bush (R) in 2004. Many expect Democrats to make strong gains in 2006 in light of Republican corruption, the Iraq War, and the poor approval rating of President Bush.
While we have accomplished a great deal — as a nation and a Party, we must continue to move forward in the 21st Century. We must work to incorporate all Americans into the fabric of our nation. The history of our next hundred years can be seen in the gorgeous mosaic of America, from the wheat fields of Nebraska to the barrios of New York City, from the mountains of Colorado to the rocky coast of Maine. The Democratic Party is America's last, best hope to bridge the divisions of class, race, region, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We will succeed if we continue to govern by the same principles that have made America the greatest nation on earth — the principles of strength, inclusion and opportunity. The Democratic Party is ready to take advantage of the opportunities we have and meet the challenges we face.
