Political Parties in United States History

First Party System: Hamiltonian Federalists vs. Jeffersonian Republicans

  • Hamiltonian Federalists:
    • Strong central government.
    • Loose interpretation of the Constitution.
    • Government actively encourages commerce and manufacturing.
    • Close ties with the British.
    • Emphasis on order and stability.
  • Jeffersonian Republicans (Democratic-Republicans):
    • States' rights and limited government.
    • Strict interpretation of the Constitution.
    • Agricultural-based economy (Yeoman Farmer Republic ideal).
    • Favored the French.
    • Stressed civil liberties and trust in the common people.

Factions within the Democratic-Republican Party

  • Henry Clay Faction:
    • Pushed for the American System (national bank, tariffs, infrastructure).
  • Andrew Jackson:
    • Against the National Bank.
    • Disliked tariffs but opposed states challenging federal power.
    • Against federal spending on infrastructure.
  • John C. Calhoun:
    • Pro-slavery
    • Against tariffs and federal spending on infrastructure.

Second Party System: Jacksonian Democrats vs. Whigs

  • Whigs:
    • Implementing Clay's American System, promote business, subsidize infrastructure.
    • Wanted to re-establish a national bank.
    • Wanted to see free or wage labor increase instead of slavery.
    • Supportive of reform movements.
  • Democrats:
    • Opposed Clay's American System.
    • Advocated for the Jeffersonian Yeoman Farmer Republic ideal.
    • Favored a balanced budget and were against deficit spending for infrastructure.
    • Increasingly defended slavery.

Minor Parties of the 1850s

  • Free Soil Party: Opposed the expansion of slavery in the territories.
  • American Party (Know Nothings): Nativist party strongly against immigration.

Rise of the Republican Party

  • Made up of Free Soilers.
  • Opposed extending slavery into the territories.

Election of 1860

  • Stephen Douglas (Democrat): Advocated popular sovereignty.
  • John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat): Carried most of the South.
  • John Bell (Constitutional Union Party): Vague platform, followed the constitution.
  • Abraham Lincoln (Republican): Won electoral victory by sweeping the North and West Coast.

Republican Party during and after the Civil War

  • Controlled Congress; split between moderates and radicals.
  • Reforms: Homestead Act, subsidies for the Transcontinental Railroad, National Banking Act, 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, Civil Rights Acts, Freedmen's Bureau.

Gilded Age: Republicans vs. Democrats

  • Closely fought elections without major policy differences.
  • Against workers' unions, few attempts at regulating corporations.
  • Supported subsidies for railroads and settlement of the West.
  • Supported the gold standard.
  • Populist Party:
    • Wanted more regulation of the economy, especially railroads.
    • Goals included reduction of tariffs, a graduated income tax, public ownership of railroads, the popular election of senators, and an end to the gold standard.

Progressive Era: 1900-1920

  • Progressives from both parties viewed government as a key player in creating an orderly and stable society.
  • Progressive Republicans vs progressive Democrats.
  • Amendments: income tax, direct election of senators, prohibition, and women's right to vote.

1920s: Return to Conservatism

  • Return to big business-friendly policies.
  • Anti-immigrant fervor and restrictions on immigration.
  • Difficulties with prohibition.

Great Depression and the New Deal

  • Progressive Democrats led by FDR.
  • New Deal legislation for relief, reform, and recovery.

Post-World War II Era: Political Realignment

  • Democrats: Continued New Deal reforms, expanded government aid (Great Society programs).
  • President Johnson aligning the Democrats with the civil rights movement.
  • Republicans: Moderates (Eisenhower) vs. Conservatives (Goldwater).
  • Migration of Southern Democrats (Dixiecrats) to the Republican party.

1970s: Fragmentation and Polarization

  • Democrats: Liberal turn on social issues.
  • Republicans: Nixon appealing to the "silent majority," conservative wing rising with Ronald Reagan.

Period Nine: Reagan Revolution and Depolarization

  • Democrats: Shifted to the middle of the political spectrum.
  • Republicans: Reagan coalition of social conservatives, economic conservatives, and neoconservatives.

1990s-2000s

  • Democrats: Shifted leftward again and pushed for a more active progressive government.
  • Republicans: Increased focus on pushing back against the left's call for social changes with the culture wars.