From white supremacy to Barack Obama: The history of the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party is the longest-existing political party in the US, and arguably the world. But in its over 180 year existence, it's completed a remarkable ideological and geographic transformation. Originally a staunch defender of Southern slavery, the party now wins the support of most nonwhite voters. Once an advocate of rural interests against coastal elites, the party now draws much of its strength from cities and coastal areas. This video tells the tale of the Democratic Party's origins, its various metamorphoses, and the sources of its strength — and weaknesses — today.