Democratic Party (United States)

=== Economic issues ===
[[Equal opportunity employment|Equal economic opportunity]], a [[social safety net]], and strong [[Labor unions in the United States|labor unions]] have historically been at the heart of Democratic economic policy.<ref name="Larry E. Sullivan 2009 p 291" /> The Democratic Party's economic policy positions, as measured by votes in Congress, tend to align with those of middle class.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Grossmann|first1=Matt|last2=Mahmood|first2=Zuhaib|last3=Isaac|first3=William|date=2021|title=Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Unequal Class Influence in American Policy|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/711900|journal=The Journal of Politics|volume=83|issue=4|pages=1706–1720|doi=10.1086/711900|s2cid=224851520|issn=0022-3816|access-date=October 12, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029170940/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/711900|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bartels|first=Larry M.|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/64558|title=Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age – Second Edition|date=2016|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-8336-3|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105222439/https://muse.jhu.edu/book/64558|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rhodes|first1=Jesse H.|last2=Schaffner|first2=Brian F.|date=2017|title=Testing Models of Unequal Representation: Democratic Populists and Republican Oligarchs?|url=http://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/QJPS-16077|journal=Quarterly Journal of Political Science|volume=12|issue=2|pages=185–204|doi=10.1561/100.00016077|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029183431/https://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/QJPS-16077|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lax|first1=Jeffrey R.|last2=Phillips|first2=Justin H.|last3=Zelizer|first3=Adam|date=2019|title=The Party or the Purse? Unequal Representation in the US Senate|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/party-or-the-purse-unequal-representation-in-the-us-senate/286BFEAA039374759DE14D782A0BB8DD|journal=American Political Science Review|language=en|volume=113|issue=4|pages=917–940|doi=10.1017/S0003055419000315|s2cid=21669533|issn=0003-0554|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029000457/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/party-or-the-purse-unequal-representation-in-the-us-senate/286BFEAA039374759DE14D782A0BB8DD|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hacker|first1=Jacob S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kqu6DwAAQBAJ|title=Let them Eat Tweets: How the Right Rules in an Age of Extreme Inequality|last2=Pierson|first2=Paul|date=2020|publisher=Liveright Publishing|isbn=978-1-63149-685-1|language=en}}</ref> Democrats support a [[progressive tax]] system, higher [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wages]], [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[universal health care]], [[Education in the United States|public education]], and [[Subsidized housing in the United States|subsidized housing]].<ref name="Larry E. Sullivan 2009 p 291" /> They also support infrastructure development and clean energy investments to achieve economic development and job creation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/economy_and_job_creation|title=Jobs and the Economy|work=Democrats.org|access-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320195530/http://www.democrats.org/issues/economy_and_job_creation|archive-date=March 20, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since the 1990s, the party has at times supported [[Centrism|centrist]] economic reforms that cut the size of government and reduced market regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/19/wall-street-deregulation-clinton-advisers-obama|title=Wall Street deregulation pushed by Clinton advisers, documents reveal|author=Dan Roberts|newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 19, 2014|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106185232/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/19/wall-street-deregulation-clinton-advisers-obama|url-status=live}}</ref> The party has generally rejected both [[Laissez-faire|''laissez-faire'' economics]] and [[market socialism]], instead favoring [[Keynesian economics]] within a capitalist market-based system.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mudge |first1=Stephanie |title=Leftism Reinvented: Western Parties from Socialism to Neoliberalism |date=2018 |publisher=Harvard University Press |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |pages=167–213}}</ref>

==== Fiscal policy ====
Democrats support a more [[progressive tax]] structure to provide more services and reduce [[economic inequality]] by making sure that the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes.<ref name="how-high">{{cite web |url=http://economics.about.com/od/monetaryandfiscalpolicy/a/high_taxes.htm |title=How High Should Taxes Be? |publisher=Economics.about.com |date=June 12, 2010 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414204158/http://economics.about.com/od/monetaryandfiscalpolicy/a/high_taxes.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
Democrats and Republicans traditionally take differing stances on eradicating poverty. Brady said "Our poverty level is the direct consequence of our weak social policies, which are a direct consequence of weak political actors".<ref>{{cite news |last1=CARBONARO |first1=GIULIA |title=Poverty Is Killing Nearly 200,000 Americans a Year |url=https://www.newsweek.com/poverty-killing-nearly-200000-americans-year-1806002 |agency=Newsweek |date=2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629052853/https://www.newsweek.com/poverty-killing-nearly-200000-americans-year-1806002 |url-status=live }}</ref>
They oppose the cutting of social services, such as [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]], and [[Medicaid]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/government/social/ch9.htm|title=The Social Safety Net|publisher=usinfo.state.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410221216/http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/government/social/ch9.htm|archive-date=April 10, 2008}}</ref> believing it to be harmful to efficiency and [[social justice]]. Democrats believe the benefits of social services in monetary and non-monetary terms are a more [[Productive and unproductive labour|productive labor]] force and cultured population and believe that the benefits of this are greater than any benefits that could be derived from lower taxes, especially on top earners, or cuts to social services. Furthermore, Democrats see social services as essential toward providing [[Positive liberty|positive freedom]], freedom derived from economic opportunity. The Democratic-led House of Representatives reinstated the [[PAYGO]] (pay-as-you-go) budget rule at the start of the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Day Two: House passes new budget rules|date=January 5, 2007|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16487187|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 5, 2007|archive-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204034031/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16487187|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Minimum wage ====
{{see also|Minimum wage in the United States}}
The Democratic Party favors raising the [[minimum wage]]. The [[Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007]] was an early component of the Democrats' agenda during the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]]. In 2006, the Democrats supported six state-ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage and all six initiatives passed.<ref name="democrats.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform |title=The Democratic Party Platform |publisher=Democrats.org |access-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315234633/http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform |archive-date=March 15, 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, Senate Democrats introduced the Raise the Wage Act which would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kulwin|first=Noah|date=May 25, 2017|title=Democrats just united on a $15-an-hour minimum wage|url=https://news.vice.com/story/democrats-just-united-on-a-15-an-hour-minimum-wage|work=Vice|access-date=May 29, 2017|archive-date=May 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526052042/https://news.vice.com/story/democrats-just-united-on-a-15-an-hour-minimum-wage|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Democratic president [[Joe Biden]] proposed increasing the minimum wage to $15 by 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Freking |first1=Kevin |title=Biden, Democrats hit gas on push for $15 minimum wage |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-rashida-tlaib-coronavirus-pandemic-minimum-wage-ee0e8cc7c96a30d9581723b2c6bb4189 |website=The Associated Press |date=January 30, 2021 |access-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219102902/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-rashida-tlaib-coronavirus-pandemic-minimum-wage-ee0e8cc7c96a30d9581723b2c6bb4189 |url-status=live }}</ref> In many states controlled by Democrats, the state minimum wage has been increased to a rate above the federal minimum wage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Marr |first1=Chris |title=Blue State Minimum Wages Inch Upward, Widening Gap With South |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/blue-state-minimum-wages-inch-upward-widening-gap-with-south |website=Bloomberg Law |access-date=July 24, 2022 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525224046/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/blue-state-minimum-wages-inch-upward-widening-gap-with-south |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Health care ====
[[File:Obama signing health care-20100323.jpg|thumb|President Obama signing the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] into law in 2010]]
Democrats call for "affordable and quality health care" and favor moving toward [[universal health care]] in a variety of forms to address rising healthcare costs. Progressive Democrats politicians favor a [[single-payer health care|single-payer program]] or [[Medicare for All]], while liberals prefer creating a [[public health insurance option]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goodnough |first1=Abby |last2=Kaplan |first2=Thomas |title=Democrat vs. Democrat: How Health Care Is Dividing the Party |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/health/democratic-debate-healthcare.html |website=The New York Times |date=June 28, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722004441/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/health/democratic-debate-healthcare.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], signed into law by President [[Barack Obama]] on March 23, 2010, has been one of the most significant pushes for universal health care. As of December 2019, more than 20&nbsp;million Americans have gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nova |first1=Annie |title=How the Affordable Care Act transformed our health-care system |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/29/how-the-affordable-care-act-transformed-the-us-health-care-system.html |website=CNBC |date=December 29, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727041849/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/29/how-the-affordable-care-act-transformed-the-us-health-care-system.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Education ====
Democrats favor improving [[public education]] by raising school standards and reforming the [[Head Start (program)|Head Start program]]. They also support [[universal preschool]], expanding access to primary education, including through [[charter schools]], and are generally opposed to [[school voucher]] programs. They call for addressing [[student loan]] debt and reforms to reduce college tuition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/papers_pdf/101962.pdf |title=Moving America Forward 2012 Democratic National Platform |publisher=presidency.ucsb.edu |date=September 14, 2012 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819093203/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/papers_pdf/101962.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Other proposals have included tuition-free public universities and reform of [[standardized testing]]. Democrats have the long-term aim of having publicly funded college education with low tuition fees (like in much of Europe and Canada), which would be available to every eligible American student. Alternatively, they encourage expanding access to post-secondary education by increasing state funding for student financial aid such as [[Pell Grants]] and [[college tuition]] [[tax deductions]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Clinton Joins Key Senate Democrats to Release Report on "The College Cost Crunch"|date=June 28, 2006|url=http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=258005|work=clinton.senate.gov|access-date=November 25, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025234254/http://www.clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=258005|archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref>

==== Environment ====
{{main|Environmental policy of the United States}}

{{multiple image
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| image1            = 2009- Pew survey - is climate change a major threat, by political party.svg
| caption1          = Democrats and Republicans have diverged on the seriousness of the threat posed by climate change, with Democrats' assessment rising significantly in the mid-2010s.<ref name=PewClimateChange_20230418>● {{cite web |title=54% of Americans view climate change as a major threat, but the partisan divide has grown |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/sr_2023-04-18_climate_5/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422182323/https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/sr_2023-04-18_climate_5/ |archive-date=April 22, 2023 |date=April 18, 2023 |url-status=live }} ● Broader discussion by {{cite web |last1=Tyson |first1=Alec |last2=Funk |first2=Cary |last3=Kennedy |first3=Brian |title=What the data says about Americans' views of climate change |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512193458/https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/ |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |date=April 18, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| image2            = 2021 Survey on existence of global warming and responsibility for climate change - bar chart.svg
| caption2          = The sharp divide over the existence of and responsibility for global warming and climate change falls largely along political lines. Overall, 60% of those surveyed said oil and gas companies were "completely or mostly responsible" for climate change.<ref name=Guardian_20211026>{{cite news |last1=McGreal |first1=Chris |title=Revealed: 60% of Americans say oil firms are to blame for the climate crisis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/climate-change-poll-oil-gas-companies-environment |work=The Guardian |date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026122356/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/climate-change-poll-oil-gas-companies-environment |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |url-status=live |quote=Source: Guardian/Vice/CCN/YouGov poll. Note: ±4% margin of error.}}</ref>
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| image3            = 20220301 Opinions by political party - Climate change causation - Action for carbon neutral 2050 - Pew Research.svg
| caption3          = Opinion about human causation of climate change increased substantially with education among Democrats, but not among Republicans.<ref name=Pew_20220301/> Conversely, opinions favoring becoming carbon neutral declined substantially with age among Republicans, but not among Democrats.<ref name=Pew_20220301>{{cite web |last1=Tyson |first1=Alec |last2=Funk |first2=Cary |last3=Kennedy |first3=Brian |title=Americans Largely Favor U.S. Taking Steps To Become Carbon Neutral by 2050 / Appendix (Detailed charts and tables) |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/03/01/carbon-neutral-2050-appendix/ |website=Pew Research |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418220503/https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/03/01/carbon-neutral-2050-appendix/ |archive-date=April 18, 2022 |date=March 1, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| image4            = 20220411 Support for policies to combat climate change, by political party - Gallup poll.svg
| caption4          = A broad range of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been proposed. Democrats' support for such policies consistently exceeds that of Republicans.<ref name=Gallup_20220411>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jeffrey M. |title=Climate Change Proposals Favored by Solid Majorities in U.S. / Support for Policies Designed to Limit Greenhouse Gases, by Political Party |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/391679/climate-change-proposals-favored-solid-majorities.aspx |website=Gallup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001132301/https://news.gallup.com/poll/391679/climate-change-proposals-favored-solid-majorities.aspx |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |date=April 11, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

[[File:202307 Survey - comfortable with solar wind nuclear in my community.svg|thumb|Acceptance of wind and solar facilities in one's community is stronger among Democrats (blue), while acceptance of nuclear power plants is stronger among Republicans (red).<ref name="WashPost_20231003">{{cite news |last1=Chiu |first1=Allyson |last2=Guskin |first2=Emily |last3=Clement |first3=Scott |title=Americans don't hate living near solar and wind farms as much as you might think |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/10/03/solar-panels-wind-turbines-nimby/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003211732/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/10/03/solar-panels-wind-turbines-nimby/ |archive-date=October 3, 2023 | url-status=live }}</ref>]]

Democrats believe that the government should protect the environment and have a history of environmentalism. In more recent years, this stance has emphasized [[renewable energy]] generation as the basis for an improved economy, greater [[national security]], and general environmental benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/a/national/clean_environment/ |title=Agenda&nbsp;— Environment |access-date=March 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315113030/http://www.democrats.org/a/national/clean_environment/ |archive-date=March 15, 2007}}</ref> The Democratic Party is substantially more likely than the Republican Party to support environmental regulation and policies that are supportive of renewable energy.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Coley|first1=Jonathan S.|last2=Hess|first2=David J.|date=2012|title=Green energy laws and Republican legislators in the United States|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421512004752|journal=Energy Policy|language=en|volume=48|pages=576–583|doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2012.05.062|bibcode=2012EnPol..48..576C |issn=0301-4215|access-date=November 7, 2021|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618224202/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421512004752|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bergquist|first1=Parrish|last2=Warshaw|first2=Christopher|date=2020|title=Elections and parties in environmental politics|url=https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781788972833/9781788972833.00017.xml|journal=Handbook of U.S. Environmental Policy|pages=126–141|language=en-US|doi=10.4337/9781788972840.00017|isbn=9781788972840|s2cid=219077951|access-date=November 7, 2021|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107233114/https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781788972833/9781788972833.00017.xml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Democratic Party also favors expansion of conservation lands and encourages open space and rail travel to relieve highway and airport congestion and improve air quality and the economy as it "believe[s] that communities, environmental interests, and the government should work together to protect resources while ensuring the vitality of local economies. Once Americans were led to believe they had to make a choice between the economy and the environment. They now know this is a false choice".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Environment.htm|title=Democratic Party on Environment|access-date=October 24, 2007|archive-date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703223850/http://ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Environment.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The foremost environmental concern of the Democratic Party is [[climate change]]. Democrats, most notably former Vice President [[Al Gore]], have pressed for stern regulation of [[greenhouse gas]]es. On October 15, 2007, Gore won the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] for his efforts to build greater knowledge about man-made climate change and laying the foundations for the measures needed to counteract it.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=John Nicols|title=Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize|magazine=The Nation|date=October 12, 2007}}</ref>

==== Renewable energy and fossil fuels ====
Democrats have supported increased domestic [[renewable energy]] development, including wind and solar power farms, in an effort to reduce carbon pollution. The party's platform calls for an "all of the above" energy policy including clean energy, natural gas and domestic oil, with the desire of becoming energy independent.<ref name="democrats.org" /> The party has supported higher taxes on [[oil companies]] and increased regulations on [[coal power plant]]s, favoring a policy of reducing long-term reliance on [[fossil fuels]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/energy_independence|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920002824/http://www.democrats.org/issues/energy_independence|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2010|title=Energy Independence|work=Democrats.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/02/coal-state-democrats-to-obama-curb-emissions-um-no-thanks/|title=Coal state Democrats to Obama: Curb emissions? Um, no thanks.|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513225106/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/02/coal-state-democrats-to-obama-curb-emissions-um-no-thanks/|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the party supports stricter [[fuel emissions standard]]s to prevent air pollution.

==== Trade agreements ====
Like the Republican Party, the Democratic Party has taken widely varying views on [[international trade]] throughout its history. 
The Democrats dominated the [[Second Party System]] and set low tariffs designed to pay for the government but not protect industry. Their opponents the Whigs wanted high protective tariffs but usually were outvoted in Congress. Tariffs soon became a major political issue as the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whigs]] (1832–1852) and (after 1854) the Republicans wanted to protect their mostly northern industries and constituents by voting for higher tariffs and the [[Southern Democrats]], which had very little industry but imported many goods voted for lower tariffs. After the Second Party System ended in 1854 the Democrats lost control and the new Republican Party had its opportunity to raise rates.<ref>Taussig, ''Tariff History'' pp. 109–24</ref>

During the [[Third Party System]], Democratic president [[Grover Cleveland]] made low tariffs the centerpiece of Democratic Party policies, arguing that high tariffs were an unnecessary and unfair tax on consumers. The South and [[Western United States|West]] generally supported low tariffs, while the industrial [[Northern United States|North]] high tariffs.<ref>Joanne R. Reitano, ''The Tariff Question in the Gilded Age: The Great Debate of 1888'' (Penn State Press, 1994)</ref> During the [[Fourth Party System]], Democratic president [[Woodrow Wilson]] made a drastic lowering of tariff rates a major priority for his presidency. The 1913 [[Underwood Tariff]] cut rates, and the new revenues generated by the [[federal income tax]] made tariffs much less important in terms of economic impact and political rhetoric.<ref>Woodrow Wilson: "Address to a Joint Session of Congress on the Banking System," June 23, 1913. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=65369 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012012358/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=65369 |date=October 12, 2018 }}.</ref>

In the 1990s, the Clinton administration and a number of prominent Democrats pushed through a number of agreements such as the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA). Since then, the party's shift away from free trade became evident in the [[Dominican Republic&nbsp;– Central America Free Trade Agreement|Central American Free Trade Agreement]] (CAFTA) vote, with 15 House Democrats voting for the agreement and 187 voting against.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weisman|first=Jonathan|title=CAFTA Reflects Democrats' Shift From Trade Bills|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 6, 2005|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501345_pf.html|access-date=December 10, 2006|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102173616/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501345_pf.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Nichols |first=John |title=CAFTA Vote Outs "Bush Democrats" |magazine=[[The Nation]] |date=July 28, 2005 |url=http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=8874 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20111027041618/http://www.thenation.com/blogs/john-nichols?bid=1&pid=8874 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=December 15, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/building-a-stronger-fairer-economy/|title=Building A Stronger, Fairer Economy|website=Democratic National Committee|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818204036/https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/building-a-stronger-fairer-economy/|url-status=live}}</ref>