How have the issues and topics discussed in Presidential Inaugural Addresses changed from the beginning of the 20th Century until now?
How does this reflect American public opinion and the issues facing the country over that time?
How has the role of the President and expectations of them changed over time?
Most of the themes we analyzed changed very little over time. For some of these (Unity, Economy, and War), contemporary events had a direct and visible impact on the topics referenced in inaugural addresses.
The liberalism of the Democratic party has led to heavy use of positive unity. Social liberalism is cooperation between business, government, and laborers around the country, which the party achieves by emphasizing a sense of togetherness. This carries over to references of democracy and the belief in equal opportunity for all.
Among Republicans, mentions of diplomacy, regulation, and tax were much more prevalent. This is likely the result of fiscally conserve ideals. This is the idea of limiting the government’s interaction with the economy and businesses. Many republican presidents have put the economy at the forefront of their campaigns by emphasizing tax cuts, deregulation, and increased trade with the belief that this will lead to overall economic growth.
The substance and purpose of presidential inaugural addresses has shifted since the dawn of the twentieth century. Presidents in the early 1900’s focused on issues and policy to outline the goals of their presidencies. More recently, inaugural addresses have become an opportunity to unify the country while briefly touching on societal and political issues.
After completing the research and analysis of these inaugural addresses, it is clear that there are fewer differences between the inaugural addresses of each parties than anticipated. However, there are more significant changes over time, as inaugural addresses are heavily influenced by the era in which they are given. Although major divisions exist between the two political parties, our research shows that the two share many similarities in their inaugural addresses and the ways they have shifted over time.