Major Election Issues and How They Affected 1932 and 2016 Election - Essay Example

PRESIDENTIAL RESEARCH (Author’s name) (Institutional Affiliation) Date Presidential Research Introduction The United States presidential election of 1932 was historic1. The Democrats presidential candidate, Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated the Republican’s presidential and the then president Herbert Hoover2. Republicans had dominated American presidency since 1986. The election was held a midst the Great depression and it represented a major political shift in the US3. Just like Franklin Roosevelt, Donald Trump unexpected victory was because of economic issues and political parties’ policy differences. Elections Campaign Issues in 1932 Election Recovery Reforms Roosevelt’s major campaigns revolved around Hoover’s unpopularity4. He promised to come up with recovery reforms that would help the country come out of the depression.5 In Iowa, while campaigning, Roosevelt accused the administration for being the biggest spenders in the US history. The Democrat running mate, Garner, supported Roosevelt by arguing that the Hoover’s administration was leading the country to the path of socialism.6 The New Deal Roosevelt used New Deal slogan in his campaigns7. However, he never shown any signs of understanding fully what the program will entail or provide any specific proposal. He had his team of advisers known as the Brain Trust.8 The team gave him suggestion of not being specific but rather to stick to general terms such as development of public electricity power, balanced budget, business regulations or aid for farmers. President Roosevelt came up with a popular campaign song, “Happy Days are Here Again,” which has become unofficial anthem of the Democrats and the most popular song in American political history. However, the song captures Roosevelt’s vague yet optimistic tone during campaign.9 Campaign Issues in 2016 Election Economy and Terrorism The economy and terrorism was major issues in the 2016 election. Generally, 84% of the registered voters felt that economic issues were key in making the voting decision.10 80% out of registered voters acknowledged that they will vote the candidate who will be better placed to fight terrorism.11 Before the elections, the democrat’s presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, had an edge over Trump in many issues. But when it comes to the two key issues, the economy and terrorism, many voters held the view that Trump was better placed to save the economy and fight terrorism.12 Race and Gender The issues of racial and ethnic minorities and the treatment of transgender, lesbians and gays topped the list of important issues among the youths in the 2016 election.13 74% of voters under the age of 30 years said that their voting decision will be determined by the treatment of minorities related issues.14 Among the older adults above 65 years old, prioritized the issues of minority treatment. Before the election 66% of registered voters believed that Hillary Clinton stood a better chance of dealing with race and ethnic related issue. Only 26% thought that Donald Trump was a better candidate to fight racism and gender discrimination.15 Immigration The immigration issue in 2016 election, was placed by many as an important issue in election decision making.16 In a survey that was carried out before the election, 70% said that the immigration was a key issue in voting for their president. Donald Trump held a different approach of dealing with immigration issues.17 In a national debate, he argued that immigrants were burden to the US economy and security. He suggested the construction of a wall along Mexican border to limit the number of immigrants and offered to deport all illegal immigrants. Unlike Trump, Hillary Clinton argued that immigrants were asset to the Americans as they were involved in productive activities that help to boost the economy. 18 Labor The 78% of adults over the age of 65 years felt that Social Security was important to their decision.19 This is in comparison with 75% of adults below above 50 and below 65 years, who felt that it was a key issue in determining the presidential election. However, in adults above 18 years and below 50 years, only 57% felt the issue was important. Both the Republican and the Democrat presidential candidates advocated for the provision of a better Social Security plan.20 Civil Rights The issues of lobbyists and interest groups had a slight significant role in 2016 election.21 50% of registered voters believed that Trump had a better chance of reducing the influence of lobbyists and interest groups’ influence.22 Only 30% out of all registered voters supported Clinton on the lobbyist issues. The remaining 16% of registered voters, suggested that none of the candidate stood a chance of reducing influence of lobbyists.23 Environment The environmental issue ranked low in the 2016 election.24 Among the Democrat supporters, 69% were mostly likely to agree that it was important issue to determine their vote. However, within the Republican supporters, only 32% voters were likely to say that it was a very important issue. However, both Trump and Clinton agreed that environment conservation will a major concern if elected.25 Election Results of 1932 Just as expected, Roosevelt won the election by huge margin.26 The Democrats presidential candidates secured 57% whereas the Republican candidates got 39% of the popular vote. The Roosevelt team got 472 electoral votes against 59 votes garnered by Hoover and his running mate Curtis.27 The only region that supported Hoover was the New England. The remaining 42 states synonymously supported the Democrat presidential candidate. In both houses of Congress, the Democrats were able to secure the majority seats.28 Roosevelt’s Inaugural Speech Roosevelt addressed the country in his inaugural speech on March 3, 1933. At the end of the day, the Great Depression was at the center of every discussion.29 Roosevelt did not maintain a strategic distance from troublesome points. He discussed emotional unemployment, destitution, high taxes, falling businesses, and unavailability of market for farmers to sale their produces. He noted that only an absurd optimist can fail to notice the realities of the moment. Yet, the president himself in his speech, talked about blind optimism, when he guaranteed government alleviation and recuperation programs in urban areas and in the countryside and also control of big organizations.30 He over and over compared the Great Depression with war and guaranteed Americans that the huge monetary emergency would be treated with the highly sensitive situation like that of war crises.31 Hoover’s Acceptance Speech In his party nomination acceptance speech, president Hoover acknowledged that the past three years was a period of economic disaster in the US32. He also noted that, since the aftermath of the Civil War, there has never been a difficult time like what the country was experiencing.33 Hoover’s speech was filled with hope for brighter future for American citizens. Nonetheless, his speech did not help much in convincing voter to reelect him.34 Election Results of 2016. The elections results of the United States held in 2016 between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, produced the results that surprised many people35. Donald Trump, whom the members of his own Republican party described as classic authoritarian, was elected as the 45th American President. To some civil rights activists, Trump had trampled on American ideals enriched in the constitution by calling to limit the freedom of the press36. However, despite all agitations from those who did not support his election, lies fundamental economic issues that propelled Trump to Whitehouse. Comparisons of Major Election Issues and How They Affected 1932 and 2016 Election The Democrats’ failure to deliver impressive economic growth seven years after depression, worked against their reelection.37 During President Obama’s rule, there have been some tremendous economic improvements. The country has witnessed a decrease in unemployment rate from 10% to 7.8% in 2009.Nonetheless, many Americans experienced a decrease in household income during the 8 years’ rule of President Obama.38The Republicans used this opening in their campaign and won the election. In a recent debate, Republicans blamed the Democrats for the harsh economic realities such as, high level of inequality, stagnant wages and dragging economic growth.39The Republicans promised the country that if elected, they will deliver a 4% economic growth and lift citizens out of poverty. However, the US economic crash came in 2008, but the citizens took so long to grasp the full economic dislocations it presented to them.40 The 2008 economic crash’ aftermath and the 1929 crash aftermath might have been the same in terms of their effects. 41But unlike in 1930s, in 2009, the government only struggled to keep the economy from falling into the deep hole. Nonetheless, the distractions and the citizens’ expectations that followed the depression pushed both the Democrats and the Republicans into unexplored challenges.42 Just like in the 1930s, the new Democrats challenged the tenets of capitalism. The Republicans on the other side, discovered that downwardly mobile white employees provided provision to big entities. At such, they listened and supported the candidate who voiced their fury at the nation which is made up of multiracial individuals threatening to displace the white Americans. Whether both parties still hold on to their initial ideals or not, is yet to be seen in the approaching conventions, both the Republican and Democrats will be facing the existential and definitional challenges. The Democrats in 1932 redefined their mission. The upcoming convention will show if they will again redefine their mission.43  In the late 1932s, many Southerners supported Roosevelt because of his New Deal strategy.44 They wanted a candidate who could provide better policy to take the country out of depression. However, in later years, they came to move back to the Republican party. They left the Democrat party after President John Kennedy and President Johnson, struggled to extend the rights of black Americans.45 Politicians such as Richard Nixon in collaboration with others, succeeded to get the white votes by riding on their hatred against African Americans. Several years later, the Southerners have united to vote for Donald Trump, this time not on racial basis, but as a candidate who will tackle the economic challenges facing the country. The same the same reasons that propelled Franklin Roosevelt popularity among Southerners.46 The American 2016 election results have been shaped by economic challenges witnessed in the country in recent years, especially the recession of 2008. The Democrats inability to deliver impressive economic progress gave an opportunity to the Republicans to win the elections. However, the major issues that featured in 2016 elections can be traced back to the election of Franklin Roosevelt of 1932.Most of the issues back then were concerned with the economic depression and recovery. In 2016 elections, the same issues have featured again, giving Trump a winning opportunity. The other campaign issues such as environment, labor, civil rights and gender, did not affect much the results of these two elections. However, the mentioned issues in 2016 election are all significant. Nonetheless, the issues vary in terms of their magnitude to American people. The economic challenges remain the foremost important issue to Americans in determining their president. Bibliography "4. Top Voting Issues In 2016 Election". 2016. Pew Research Center For The People And The Press. http://www.people-press.org/2016/07/07/4-top-voting-issues-in-2016-election/. "Franklin D. Roosevelt: Campaigns And Elections—Miller Center". 2016. Millercenter.Org. http://millercenter.org/president/biography/fdroosevelt-campaigns-and-elections. Meyerson, Harold. 2016. "The First Post-Middle-Class Election". The American Prospect. http://prospect.org/article/first-post-middle-class-election. Peters, Gerhard and John T. Woolley. 2016. "Herbert Hoover: Address Accepting The Republican Presidential Nomination.". Presidency.Ucsb.Edu. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=23198. Thompson, Derek. 2016. "Donald Trump And The Twilight Of White America". The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/05/donald-trump-and-the-twilight-of-white-america/482655/. 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