For a long time in the American history, political freedom and peoples’ wants have been in constant conflict. Among the first American political parties include the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists. These two political parties were in opposition to each other’s ideologies. Both of them had different policies and ways of governing the people. Whereas the Federalists were preferential to a central government that was strong: with the capacity to take control over the trading activities, make agreements, collect taxes, and declare war, the Democratic-Republicans tried to regulate the national government responsibilities, giving preferentiality to local control. This paper will look at why I relate to Democratic-Republicans and the1812’s war influence on the social, political, and cultural development of United States of America.
Democratic-Republicans
The Democratic - Republican Party was the second political party to be formed in America. It was created as a result of the disintegration of the Anti-federalist coalition. The coalition was in opposition to the American constitution but supported the Bill of Rights. Initially, the party was referred to as the Republican Party, but for the purpose of distinction, it was given the name Democratic-Republic Party (Gould, 2003). The present Republican Party derived its name from the Democratic-Republican Party. Among the founders include Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
I relate to the Democratic-Republicans because of their attempt to giver power and control to the people as opposed to the Federalists who gave exclusive powers to the central government. They did not advocate for a strong central government. In addition, the Jeffersonian Republicans made their arguments on the basis of desirable qualities of peoples’ democracy. Moreover, they believed that a domineering central government posed the biggest danger to the independence of the people. Alternatively, they preferred power to be constituted in the hands of the ordinary citizens. They tried to minimize the programs put up by the Federalists once they had taken up office. This administration did all it could to appear more egalitarian and democratic than the previous regime.
The 1812 war
The 1812 war had a significant effect on America’s social, political, and cultural development. Furthermore, America’s victory in the war changed how the world looked at the developing country. After the conclusion of the war, the American and British relationship turned out to be more peaceful. Socially, America as a country had been transformed. There was a rekindled belief in the nation and what it was capable of doing (Hickey, 1990). The citizens of the country had a high morale because they had fought, won, and survived a battle against one of the magnificent world nations. The feeling of nationalism was considerably enhanced by this victory.
Politically, the victory brought forward a new dawn in the politics of the United States. The Federalist Party was wiped out as the American citizens perceived those who were promoting Federalist ideas as traitors. This was because the Federalists wanted to break away from the country at the Hartford Convention. After the war, a timely period followed as there were no conflicts between the parties. Internationally, the U.S established itself as a political super power for defeating a great nation like Britain and it confirmed it was here to stay.
Culturally, America adopted a way of life that was related to prosperity. They changed their military tactics of depending on the militia for security to professionalism in the military unit. Military officers started to be trained in academies; this professionalism would be evident in subsequent wars. Manifest Destiny was also coined after the victory in the war; this formed a precedent that was used to justify the country’s domination over other nations.
References
Gould, L. (2003). Grand old party: A history of the Republicans. New York: Random House.
Hickey, D. (1990). The war of 1812. Illinois: University of Illinois Press.
