Topic 4.8: The Second Party System

What was the Second Party System?

A national two-party political structure that emerged in the 1830s and 1840s, centered on competition between the Democrats and the Whigs.

What event marked the rise of the Second Party System?

Andrew Jackson’s presidency and the political realignment following the 1824 “Corrupt Bargain.”

What earlier system did it replace?

The single-party dominance of the Democratic-Republicans during the Era of Good Feelings.

Which two parties dominated the Second Party System?

The Democratic Party and the Whig Party.

Who led the Democrats?

Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.

Who led the Whigs?

Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and later William Henry Harrison.

What did Democrats believe about government?

They supported limited federal power, strict construction of the Constitution, and opposed government involvement in the economy beyond what was absolutely necessary.

What economic vision did the Democrats promote?

An agrarian, egalitarian society of independent farmers and workers—free from monopolies, banks, and privileged elites.

What were the Whigs’ core beliefs?

They favored a strong federal government, moral and social reform, economic modernization, and Henry Clay’s American System of tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements.

What did both parties claim to represent?

The will of the people, though Democrats emphasized the “common man,” while Whigs emphasized order, stability, and moral improvement.

What social groups generally supported the Democratic Party?

Small farmers, western settlers, and urban workers—especially in the South and frontier regions.

What social groups generally supported the Whig Party?

Merchants, bankers, industrialists, evangelical Protestants, and middle-class reformers—primarily in the North and upper Midwest.

How did religious and cultural differences shape party support?

Evangelical Protestants tended to align with the morally reform-minded Whigs, while Catholics and immigrants favored the Democrats, who opposed moral legislation.

How did the two parties differ on internal improvements?

Whigs wanted federal funding for roads, canals, and infrastructure to encourage commerce; Democrats believed such projects should be handled by states or private enterprise.

What economic crisis tested both parties?

The Panic of 1837.

What caused the Panic of 1837?

Speculative lending, Jackson’s destruction of the Second Bank, the Specie Circular, and the global credit downturn.

Which party did the public blame for the Panic of 1837?

The Democratic Party, since the crisis occurred under Jackson and continued under Van Buren.

How did the Whigs respond to the economic crisis?

They called for federal action to stabilize the economy, re-establish a national bank, and support public works projects.

How did Van Buren respond to the Panic of 1837?

He maintained Jackson’s limited-government approach, creating the Independent Treasury System to separate government funds from private banks.

What did the Whigs call Van Buren?

“Martin Van Ruin,” mocking his inability to end the depression.

What 1840 event demonstrated the maturity of the Second Party System?

The “Log Cabin and Hard Cider” campaign in the presidential election of 1840.

Who ran for president in 1840?

Democrat Martin Van Buren and Whig William Henry Harrison.

What strategy did the Whigs use in 1840?

They adopted Jacksonian-style campaigning—mass rallies, songs, slogans, and imagery—to appeal to ordinary voters.

What was the famous Whig campaign slogan in 1840?

“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.”

How did the Whigs portray William Henry Harrison?

As a rugged, humble war hero who drank hard cider in a log cabin, even though he was an aristocrat—turning elitist stereotypes against the Democrats.

What was the voter turnout like in the election of 1840?

It reached nearly 80%, one of the highest in U.S. history, showing the power of mass political mobilization.

Who won the election of 1840?

William Henry Harrison (Whig).

What happened soon after Harrison took office?

He died of pneumonia just a month into his presidency, elevating Vice President John Tyler to the presidency.

Why was John Tyler’s presidency controversial for the Whigs?

Although elected on a Whig ticket, Tyler rejected the party’s nationalist agenda, vetoing bills to re-establish the Bank of the U.S. and fund internal improvements.

What nickname did Whigs give John Tyler?

“His Accidency,” mocking his accidental succession and defiance of party leadership.

What did Tyler’s break with the Whigs reveal about the Second Party System?

That deep divisions still existed between those favoring limited versus active federal government.

What was the long-term significance of the Second Party System?

It institutionalized mass political participation, defined clear ideological differences, and created enduring traditions of organized party competition.

How did the Second Party System affect American democracy?

It broadened voter engagement, linked citizens to national politics, and made party loyalty central to political identity.

What ultimately caused the decline of the Second Party System?

Growing sectional tensions over slavery in the 1840s and 1850s fractured both parties and led to new political alignments, paving the way for the rise of the Republican Party.