Democrat or Republican? The two political parties have become fixtures in the American political experience, the main choices in all elections, from the national to the local level. But the choice was not always so clear. When the Democratic Party was first established by Thomas Jefferson in 1800, it was actually known as the Republican Party. Today it is the oldest political party in the United States, and among the oldest political parties in the world. The ""History of the Democratic Party"" offers students an in-depth history of this major political entity. Full-color photographs, succinct text, sidebars, and a glossary enhance this book's value and shed light on the Democratic Party's development as well as the evolution of the American political process.