Election Years 1916 Versus 2016: A Sample Comparative Essay

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The 2016 presidential race is perhaps the most hotly contested, polarizing election in United States history. While originally each party had a multitude of potential candidates vying for the nomination, the party candidates have finally been decided. Hillary Clinton will run for the Democrats and Donald Trump will run for the Republicans in the general election. No matter which candidate you endorse, each has garnered a negative image. Many see this election as settling for the Best of the Worst.

While the reputation of the candidates is perhaps at an all-time low, the platforms that each party are attached to are not all that different from those of 100 years ago. Like 1916, the current election year finds the country immersed in a tumultuous global environment, but can this country’s newest President lead us through these times like that of 1916? This sample comparative essay will analyze the candidates and policies of the 1916 election and the 2016 election.

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Election year 1916 versus 2016: The candidates of 1916

1916 was a tumultuous time in American history. While the current election year is filled with a myriad of issues, the campaign of 1916 was concerned with one thing: war. World War I had been raging in Europe since 1914, and at an enormous toll on men and materials. Although the United States was outraged at the sinking of the British liner Lusitania by a German U-boat resulting in the loss of many Americans aboard, the country wanted no part in the war and at the time of the election had not yet entered the battle (“United States Elections”).

Unlike this election year, the candidates of 1916 had little opposition from within their party. President Woodrow Wilson and Vice President Thomas Marshall were re-nominated at the 1916 Democratic convention without opposition. Wilson had garnered high public approval after persuading Germany to change its unrestricted submarine warfare policy, and also for having successfully kept America out of the war until that point. In fact, his slogan was “He kept us out of war,” but Wilson had doubts about his ability to continue to keep America at peace (Election of 1916”).

The Republican Party was slightly less straightforward in nominating a candidate. Many pushed Theodore Roosevelt as he supported external intervention to achieve peace, to run again, but he failed to win the nomination. The Party had been split in the previous election of 1912, and sought to repair that division by nominating Supreme Court Associate Justice Charles Evans Hughes along with former Vice President Charles Fairbanks, who had served under Roosevelt. Although Hughes largely shared Wilson’s views about keeping America out of the war, he became labeled as a war candidate due to many seemingly pro-war speeches by Roosevelt. The country was very anti-war during 1916, and this image of Hughes as a possible pro-war candidate may have lost him the election (Election of 1916”).

Election year 1916 versus 2016: The Democratic Party Platform of 1916

As with the current 2016 U.S. election, the election of 1916 was coming off of four years of Democratic reign in the White House. As a result, the platform adopted at the Democratic National Convention sought to highlight the achievements of the past four years. They also planned to lay a path for goals that were hoped to be accomplished by the Party in the coming years. The demographics of the Democratic Party reflected an affinity for highlighting the achievements of the past four years of the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. In particular, the party challenged others to compare their record and keeping of pledges with other parties and administrations throughout history (“Democratic Party Platform”). Other notable items of importance to the Democratic Party in 1916 are listed below: 

1. Record of Achievement
2. Economic Freedom
3. Tariff
4. Americanism
5. Preparedness
6. International Relation
7. Pan-American Concord
8. Mexico
9. Merchant Marine
10. Conservation
11. The Administration of the Farmer
12. Good Roads
13. Government Employment
14. Labor
15. Public Health
16. Senate Rules
17. Economy and the Budget
18. Civil Service
19. Philippine Islands
20. Woman's Suffrage
21. Protection of Citizens
22. Prison Reform
23. Pensions
24. Waterways and Flood Control
25. Alaska
26. Territories
27. Candidates

Election year 1916 Versus 2016: Republican Party Platform of 1916

On the other hand, the Republican Party of 1916 sought to reunify and portray itself as standing for the United States people and American ideals. Additionally, the Party swore allegiance to none other than the Constitution, government, and American traditions much like the Tea Party of today. Interestingly, this regression to the mean of so-called “core American ideals” has a great deal of overlap with the goals and priorities of the Democratic Party of the time (“Republican Party Platform”). The major issues of the Republican Party are as follows:

1. Protection of American Rights
2. Foreign Relations
3. Mexico
4. Monroe Doctrine
5. Latin America 
6. Philippines
7. Right of Expatriation
8. Protection of the Country
9. Tariff
10. Business
11. Rural Credits
12. Rural Free Delivery
13. Merchant Marine
14. Transportation 
15. Economy and the National Budget
16. Conservation
17. Civil Service Reform
18. Territorial Officials
19. Labor Laws
20. Suffrage

Election vear 1916 versus 2016: The candidates of 2016

As this year’s tumultuous primaries came to a close with Hillary Clinton for the Democrats and Donald Trump for the Republicans. Clinton had a fight on her hands with fellow nominee Bernie Sanders, but secured the nomination by winning the necessary delegates. Although shrouded in controversy with the ongoing Benghazi investigation, in another recently published sample MLA essay, the writer points out that Clinton does bring a wealth of experience in politics. She is the former Secretary of State, as well as a former United States Senator. Additionally, Clinton spent eight years as First Lady for President Clinton in the 1990’s (“Compare”).

On the other hand, Republican nominee Donald Trump has comparatively little political experience, yet has dabbled in many business ventures. He is also the most controversial candidate of these elections, who has a penchant for speaking his mind and disregarding any offense he might commit in the process. Although he has never held an elected office, he is the current President of Trump Operations, the Chairman of Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, and the Founder/Chairman, President/Chief Executive Officer of The Trump Organization since 1975 (“Compare”). 

Election year 1916 Versus 2016: Party Platforms of 2016

Neither the Democrats or Republicans have released official Party platforms for this year’s election to date, but each respective candidate has largely taken a stance on many major issues. Those issues include individual rights, domestic issues, economic issues, and defense and international issues ("Compare"). 

2016 Democratic Platform

Individual Rights

• Abortion is a woman’s unrestricted right – Strongly Agrees
• Legally require hiring women and minorities – Strongly Agrees
• Comfortable with same-sex marriage – Strongly Agrees
• Keep God in the public sphere – Agrees
• EPA regulations are too restrictive – Strongly Disagrees
• Make voter registration easier – Strongly Agrees

Domestic Issues

• Stricter punishment reduces crime – Disagrees
• Absolute right to gun ownership – Strongly Disagrees
• Expand ObamaCare – Strongly Agrees
• Vouchers for school choice – Strongly Disagrees
• Prioritize green energy – Strongly Agrees
• Marijuana is a gateway drug – Disagrees

Economic Issues

• Stimulus better than market-led recovery – Strongly Agrees
• Higher taxes on the wealthy – Strongly Agrees
• Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens – Strongly Agrees
• Privatize Social Security – Strongly Disagrees

Defense and International Issues

• Support and expand free trade – Disagrees
• Expand the military – Disagrees
• Support American Exceptionalism – Disagrees
• Avoid foreign entanglements - Disagrees

2016: Republican Party Platform

Individual Rights

• Abortion is a woman’s unrestricted right – Disagrees
• Legally require hiring women and minorities – Neutral
• Comfortable with same-sex marriage – Disagrees
• Keep God in the public sphere – Strongly Agrees
• EPA regulations are too restrictive – Strongly Agrees
• Make voter registration easier – Agrees

Domestic Issues

• Stricter punishment reduces crime – Strongly Agrees
• Absolute right to gun ownership – Strongly Agrees
• Expand ObamaCare – Disagrees
• Vouchers for school choice – Strongly Agrees
• Prioritize green energy – Strongly Disagrees
• Marijuana is a gateway drug - Disagrees

Economic Issues

• Stimulus better than market-led recovery – Strongly Disagrees
• Higher taxes on the wealthy – Agrees
• Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens – Strongly Disagrees
• Privatize Social Security – Agrees

Defense and International Issues

• Support and expand free trade – Strongly Disagrees
• Expand the military – Agrees
• Support American Exceptionalism – Agrees
• Avoid foreign entanglements - Agrees

It remains to be seen which controversial candidate will become our next president. However, we can be assured that this election will be one of the most historic. For more information on previous Party platforms and current Party trends, visit www.Democrats.org or www.GOP.com No matter what your stance, make your voice heard and vote.

Works Cited

“Compare.” InsideGov. InsideGov, 2016. Web. 7 June 2016. http://presidential-candidates.insidegov.com/compare/40-70/Hillary-Clinton-vs-Donald-Trump

“Democratic Party Platform of 1916.” Political Party Platforms. The American Presidency Project, 2016. Web. 7 June 2016. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=29591

“Election of 1916: Now Just Two Parties, but Same Results as 1912.” United States History. United States History, 2016. Web. 7 June 2016. https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h888.html

“Our Platform.” Democrats. Democrats, 2016. Web. 7 June 2016. https://www.democrats.org/party-platform

“Republican Party Platform of 1916.” Political Party Platforms. The American Presidency Project, 2016. Web. 7 June 2016. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=29634

“Republican Platform: We Believe in America.” GOP. GOP, 2016. Web. 7 June 2016. https://www.gop.com/platform/

“United States Elections: Presidential Elections (1916).” Historical Boys’ Clothing. Historical Boys’ Clothing, 19 April 2012. Web. 7 June 2016. https://www.histclo.com/country/us/hist/elect/20/e1916p.html