AP US History - The American Parties

1792-1824

Main problem: Should the federal government have power over the state governments?

1) Federalists

• More centralized and powerful federal government

• Continue relationships with Great Britain

• Regulated and centralized banking system

• Relationship between the elites of society with government

• Loose construction - Necessary and Proper Clause/Elastic Clause)

• Diverse economy that does not rely on just farming

• Advocated for international trade to connect the US with foreign ports

• Large New England following because it started with trading and ports

• People: Alexander Hamilton, John Adams

2) Anti-Federalists —> Democratic Republican Party

• Party for the people

• Wanted states’ rights

• No central banking system

• Individual liberty

• Constitutionally limited view of the federal government (strict construction)

• People: Thomas Jefferson (Election of 1800)

1828-1864

1) Democratic Party

• Began with Andrew Jackson - Jacksonian Democracy

• Federal government should serve the people, not money or politicians

• Strong presidential power

• Slavery should be decided by the states

• Liked by the Southern states

2) Whig Party

• Anti-Federalist —> Democratic Republican Party —> Whig Party

• Henry Clay and John C Calhoun

• Business friendly

• National bank should remain intact

• Federal money for internal improvements

• Split after their wishy-washy stance on slavery (expansion to the west)

3) Republican Party/National Republican Party (1828-1836)

• Haters of Jacksonian Democracy

• Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams

• Against expansion of slavery

• Lincoln

4) Anti-Masonic Party

5) Liberty Party

6) Free Soil Party

7) Know-Nothing Party

Reconstruction Era (1864-1890)

1) Democratic Party

2) Republican Party

3) Green Back Party

Progressive Era (1896-1932)

1) Democratic Party

2) Republican Party

3) Progressive Party

4) People’s Party

• Farmers’ party

• Printing more money without metal restrictions to help get rid of debt

• Populists

• Wanted a more direct relationship with the government - popular vote of senators, referendums, etc

• Anti-Immigrant

5) Socialist Party

• Popularity after industrialization

• Like a labor party but not really

• Supported unions and cooperatives

• Represent interests of workers

Republicans

• Tied to big business and believed in Laissez-Faire

• Wanted Tariffs

• Low money supply

1928 -Hoover platform

• Lower taxes

• Protective tariff, don’t give farmers subsidies

• Creation of new farm agency to assist cooperative marketing associations

• Enforcement of Prohibition