APUSH 2 Party systems

1st two party system

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

Federalists

Hamilton

Supported a strong central government

Pro-national bank

Loose interpretation of constitution

Democratic-Republicans

Thomas Jefferson

Advocated for states rights, weak central gov

Against the national bank

Strict interpretation of the Constitution

What ended the 1st two party system?

The war of 1812 destroyed the federalist party because their oppostion to the war during the Heartford convention was seen as unpatriotic

2nd two party system

Whigs and Democrats

Whigs

Henry Clay

Strong central gov

pro national bank

loose interpretation of constitution

Democrats

Andrew Jackson
Limited central gov

Against national bank
Strict interpretation of constitution

3rd two party system

Republicans and Democrats

Republicans

Abraham Lincoln

Strong central gov

Loose interpretation

for the containment of slavery

Dominate in the north

Democrats

Limited central gov

strict interpretation

Pro slavery

Dominate in the south

How did the views of the party’s switch?

The views of the parties switched mainly during the mid-20th century, particularly with the Civil Rights Movement, where the Democratic Party began to advocate for civil rights and social justice, while the Republican Party attracted conservative voters who opposed these changes.

Important 3rd parties

free soil party

know-nothing party

Free soil party

A political party active in the 1840s and 1850s that opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories, advocating for free land for settlers to avoid competition with slaves for economic opportunities.

The Know-Nothing party

Aimed to limit immigrants cultural influence, nativism