Jefferson created the political party to oppose the economic and foreign policies of the Federalists, a party created a year or so earlier by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The republican party opposed the Jay Treaty of 1794 with Britain (then at war with France) and supported good relations with France before 1801. The party insisted on a strict construction of the Constitution, and denounced many of Hamilton's proposals (especially the national bank) as unconstitutional. The party favored states' rights and the primacy of the yeoman farmer over bankers, industrialists, merchants, and other monied interests. There was always a range of opinion within the party on issues of commerce, public works, and industrialization, which were more warmly received by Madison and the Democrats than by Jefferson and the Republicans; but this was a preference, not a firm ideology on either side. Jefferson signed a bill funding a canal for the Potomac in 1805; Madison ended his term in office vetoing a public works bill.
Jeffersonian purists, or "Old Republican" wing of the party, led by Jefferson, John Randolph of Roanoke, William H. Crawford, and Nathaniel Macon, favored low tariffs, states' rights, strict construction of the Constitution, and reduced spending. It opposed a standing army. The "National Republicans," led by Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams and John C. Calhoun, eventually favored higher tariffs, a stronger national defense, and "internal improvements" (public works projects).
After the Federalist Party broke up in 1815, many former members joined the nationalist faction of the party.
In order to be able to make a difference between Jefferson's republican party and the Republican Party of our days, some have begun to retro-actively apply the name Democratic-Republicans to the party formed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison around 1792.
However, they and their supporters identified themselves as republicans. In the political climate of Jefferson's day, "democrat" was actually considered a pejorative.
So, while the term "Democratic Republican" was also used by contemporaries, it was used mostly by the party's opponents.
If you want some more information, take a look at this chronology
http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/repub_policy/pdf/03Chro.pdf
Mittwoch, 30. Juni 2010
Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010
Historical Aspects - Germany
The German republican party was founded by the CSU- members of the “Bundestag” Franz Handlos und Ekkehard Voigt in 1983 in Munich. At the beginning its founders thought the party foundation as some kind of protest. As a protest against the CSU and Franz Josef Strauß. The Right wing populist Franz Schönhuber became the head of the party in 1985. His version of the first republican party program was politically right-disposed. His great charisma can be seen as one of the main reasons for the success of the party during the election of the “Berliner Landesparlament” in 1989.
In June 1989 the party got 7,1 percent during the “Europawahl”. This was the first highlight in the history of the party. They made clear that they are not an extreme right-disposed party.
The number of party members grew very fast, until 1993 there were 25.000 members. Schönhuber announced that his party has nothing to do with radicalism.
However, anti-Semitism was imputed to the German Republican Party again and again. For example because of an provocation against the head of the Central Jewish Council, who was at that time Ignatz Bubis.
Schönhuber criticized that the Republican Party was as persecuted as the Jewish people in the Third Empire. This comparison is really striking because Schönhuber belonged to the SS.
He touted members for the party by propagandizing fear, xenophobia and nationalism and even accused foreigners to mulct the German citizens of their jobs. Furthermore, he held negative speeches against asylum seekers.
Analysing the voters of the German Republican Party in these days has shown that they were not only unemployed people, but also people who are afraid to lose their status.
After several conflicts in the inner circle of the party, Schönhuber was not elected again.
In 1994 Rolf Schlierer became the new head of the party. As he was really and even accused foreigners to mulct the German citizens of their jobs.
about the fact that he lost the chairmanship of the party, Schönhuber left the Republicans in 1995. From then on, he has emphasized his sympathies for the NPD in public. In November 2005 he died from pulmonary embolism.
Since then the new head of the party, Rolf Schlierer, emphasises that his party is not a second NPD. Because of the fact, that there is no success during elections anymore, several members of the party think about joining a pact between NPD and DVU. But Schlierer did not want to support that course. In spite of the fact that the party loses more and more members, Schlierer did not change his course.
Since 2007 the German Republicans act less aggressive. Due to that only single members are observed by the German protection of the constitution nowadays; not the whole party.
Source: http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/hintergrundpolitik/883190/
In June 1989 the party got 7,1 percent during the “Europawahl”. This was the first highlight in the history of the party. They made clear that they are not an extreme right-disposed party.
The number of party members grew very fast, until 1993 there were 25.000 members. Schönhuber announced that his party has nothing to do with radicalism.
However, anti-Semitism was imputed to the German Republican Party again and again. For example because of an provocation against the head of the Central Jewish Council, who was at that time Ignatz Bubis.
Schönhuber criticized that the Republican Party was as persecuted as the Jewish people in the Third Empire. This comparison is really striking because Schönhuber belonged to the SS.
He touted members for the party by propagandizing fear, xenophobia and nationalism and even accused foreigners to mulct the German citizens of their jobs. Furthermore, he held negative speeches against asylum seekers.
Analysing the voters of the German Republican Party in these days has shown that they were not only unemployed people, but also people who are afraid to lose their status.
After several conflicts in the inner circle of the party, Schönhuber was not elected again.
In 1994 Rolf Schlierer became the new head of the party. As he was really and even accused foreigners to mulct the German citizens of their jobs.
about the fact that he lost the chairmanship of the party, Schönhuber left the Republicans in 1995. From then on, he has emphasized his sympathies for the NPD in public. In November 2005 he died from pulmonary embolism.
Since then the new head of the party, Rolf Schlierer, emphasises that his party is not a second NPD. Because of the fact, that there is no success during elections anymore, several members of the party think about joining a pact between NPD and DVU. But Schlierer did not want to support that course. In spite of the fact that the party loses more and more members, Schlierer did not change his course.
Since 2007 the German Republicans act less aggressive. Due to that only single members are observed by the German protection of the constitution nowadays; not the whole party.
Source: http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/hintergrundpolitik/883190/
Montag, 21. Juni 2010
Blog prospects
In our last three entries we tried to give you a definition for the word „Republican“. One definition was in general, one of the American perspective and one of the German. Maybe you have realized that it is not easy to find a concrete and overarching definition for the term.
We also included historical aspects in our considerations or information which were typical for both America and Germany.
In the next blog entries we want to follow up these aspects, go more into detail.
So if you hear something for a second time, see it as an aid to memory ;-).
We also included historical aspects in our considerations or information which were typical for both America and Germany.
In the next blog entries we want to follow up these aspects, go more into detail.
So if you hear something for a second time, see it as an aid to memory ;-).
"Republicanism": German definition
If you want to write something about the German definition for the word „Republican“ or „republicanism“ you find less information about that. In this connection you will only find something about the party in Germany which is called “Die Republikaner” or in english “The Republicans”.
Maybe that has something to do with our history. Remember, Germany was first called an “Einheitsstaat” in 1871 under Bismarck and up to 1917 we still had established a monarchy. In general the monarchy had a long tradition in Germany. One leader administrated the country. In Germany the will to be guided was in high gear.
If you would ask someone in the streets of Germany what he or she would define as “republican”, most would look at you in astonishment. Intuitively they maybe would say that “republicanism” has something to do with being conservative, perhaps even as far-right or radical.
In our next blog entries we will see if that is the truth. How the party sees itself like. Hopefully we are than able to give a definition for German “republicanism”.
Maybe that has something to do with our history. Remember, Germany was first called an “Einheitsstaat” in 1871 under Bismarck and up to 1917 we still had established a monarchy. In general the monarchy had a long tradition in Germany. One leader administrated the country. In Germany the will to be guided was in high gear.
If you would ask someone in the streets of Germany what he or she would define as “republican”, most would look at you in astonishment. Intuitively they maybe would say that “republicanism” has something to do with being conservative, perhaps even as far-right or radical.
In our next blog entries we will see if that is the truth. How the party sees itself like. Hopefully we are than able to give a definition for German “republicanism”.
"Republicanism": American definition
Besides the democratic way of thinking in America, “republicanism” plays a great role in America since the American Revolution. Just due to the values of “republicanism” American Revolution was enabled. You know, during that time (18. century) America, to be precise thirteen colonies of North America, got together to break the rule of the British Empire. Out of that arose the United States of America. As the word “united” implicates.
Founded was the American “republicanism” by the founding fathers in the 18.century. The ground for it, is based in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In contrast to democracy, republicanism assumes that human beings have certain God-given unalienable rights which cannot be abolished by a majority of people. As a result from this idea the Republican party was formed in America.
The party was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. (To all of you who may have forgotten it. Jefferson was Americas` third president and main writer of the Declaration of Independence). They simply wanted to spread their ideas of the doctrine. Later the party was called the Democratic-Republican Party which split in the 1820s into different streams. One of these was the Democratic Party.
In this context we should establish a new term: “republican motherhood”.
“Republican motherhood” appeared under the new government after the American Revolution. It was the idea that women teach their children the values of “republicanism”. They should create the basis for republic thinking. Moreover you can say that this “national task” was a huge step towards the emancipation of women.
So one can see that “Republicanism” has a great tradition in America. It is well-grounded in Americas´ history and justifies itself by that.
http://www.answers.com/topic/republican
Founded was the American “republicanism” by the founding fathers in the 18.century. The ground for it, is based in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In contrast to democracy, republicanism assumes that human beings have certain God-given unalienable rights which cannot be abolished by a majority of people. As a result from this idea the Republican party was formed in America.
The party was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. (To all of you who may have forgotten it. Jefferson was Americas` third president and main writer of the Declaration of Independence). They simply wanted to spread their ideas of the doctrine. Later the party was called the Democratic-Republican Party which split in the 1820s into different streams. One of these was the Democratic Party.
In this context we should establish a new term: “republican motherhood”.
“Republican motherhood” appeared under the new government after the American Revolution. It was the idea that women teach their children the values of “republicanism”. They should create the basis for republic thinking. Moreover you can say that this “national task” was a huge step towards the emancipation of women.
So one can see that “Republicanism” has a great tradition in America. It is well-grounded in Americas´ history and justifies itself by that.
http://www.answers.com/topic/republican
"Republicanism" in general
“Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context. The sometimes contrary definitions are all covered in this article.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republicanism)
That is a definition one finds on the internet, when you search for the term “Republican” in general. Obviously there is no consensus about the word “republicanism”, because you have different forms of “Republicanism”. It depends on the country you look at.
Okay, so far so good. To find out more about that general definition, we should think about what a republican stands for: A republican is someone “who favours a republic as the best form of government” (http://www.answers.com/topic/republican). But what is a republic?
We should begin by using the help of good old Latin. The word “republic” is deduced from the Latin word “res publica” which means “public affair”.
Nowadays you can say that most of the republic states have in common that they have no monarch as the head of the state but president.
Important for the understanding of a republic state are values like civic virtue and political participation. But the major republican value is political liberty. These values imply that the citizens of a country are under no pressure of a leader who lords over them and by doing that suppresses their requirements.
To sum it up a republic state “(it) provides a ground on which to elaborate both a substantive and a constitutional theory of the state.” It deals as well with safekeeping the citizen’s freedom as well as with its own government tasks.
You could write so much more about “republicanism” or republic in general, but for now that should have given you a first impression of it.
Nevertheless when talking about “republicanism” you do not get by the American term of “republicanism”, because “the first republic to adopt the title was the United States of America” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic)”.
So let’s see in our next blog entry what American “republicanism” is.
___________________________________________________________________
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/republicanism/
http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2003/entries/republicanism/
That is a definition one finds on the internet, when you search for the term “Republican” in general. Obviously there is no consensus about the word “republicanism”, because you have different forms of “Republicanism”. It depends on the country you look at.
Okay, so far so good. To find out more about that general definition, we should think about what a republican stands for: A republican is someone “who favours a republic as the best form of government” (http://www.answers.com/topic/republican). But what is a republic?
We should begin by using the help of good old Latin. The word “republic” is deduced from the Latin word “res publica” which means “public affair”.
Nowadays you can say that most of the republic states have in common that they have no monarch as the head of the state but president.
Important for the understanding of a republic state are values like civic virtue and political participation. But the major republican value is political liberty. These values imply that the citizens of a country are under no pressure of a leader who lords over them and by doing that suppresses their requirements.
To sum it up a republic state “(it) provides a ground on which to elaborate both a substantive and a constitutional theory of the state.” It deals as well with safekeeping the citizen’s freedom as well as with its own government tasks.
You could write so much more about “republicanism” or republic in general, but for now that should have given you a first impression of it.
Nevertheless when talking about “republicanism” you do not get by the American term of “republicanism”, because “the first republic to adopt the title was the United States of America” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic)”.
So let’s see in our next blog entry what American “republicanism” is.
___________________________________________________________________
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/republicanism/
http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2003/entries/republicanism/
Donnerstag, 17. Juni 2010
Welcome to our Project Republicans!
Talking about politics, we deal with many different terms that appear in our everyday life all the time. But do talk Americans and Germans about the same, when they use expressions like "liberal" or "conservative"? Do they mean the same? What we found the most striking in this context is the term "republican".
What does it mean to be republican in cultural, historical and mental means? How can it be that in the US the republicans are one of the two major parties and in Germany the Republikaner are considered to be a Nazi-party? What do the two concepts share and how do they differ?
You see that there are loads of questions coming up when you think of this issue. In this Blog, we want to take a closer look on both, the American and the German concept of being republican and we really hope to get some answers.
What does it mean to be republican in cultural, historical and mental means? How can it be that in the US the republicans are one of the two major parties and in Germany the Republikaner are considered to be a Nazi-party? What do the two concepts share and how do they differ?
You see that there are loads of questions coming up when you think of this issue. In this Blog, we want to take a closer look on both, the American and the German concept of being republican and we really hope to get some answers.
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