Political Parties in United States History

Early Political Parties: Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans

• The first two major U.S. political parties emerged during and after George Washington's presidency.

• Key figures: Alexander Hamilton (Federalist) and Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican).

• Washington was not formally affiliated with either party.

Hamiltonian Federalists

• Favored a strong central government.

• Advocated for a loose interpretation of the Constitution, allowing for federal government elasticity.

• Believed the government should actively encourage commerce and manufacturing.

• Sought close ties with Britain, wary of the French Revolution.

• Emphasized order and stability.

Jeffersonian Republicans (Democratic-Republicans)

• Emphasized states' rights and a limited government.

• Advocated for a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

• Preferred an agricultural-based economy centered on the yeoman farmer ideal.

• Favored the French and viewed the French Revolution as an extension of the American Revolution.

• Stressed civil liberties and trust in the common people.

The Era of One Party: Democratic-Republicans and Factions

• The Federalist Party declined after 1800 and disappeared by 1816.

• The Democratic-Republicans were the sole major party for two decades but contained powerful internal factions.

Henry Clay Faction

• Advocated for the "American System."

• The American System included: a National Bank, tariffs, and infrastructure projects funded by bank and tariff revenues.

• Clay's influence in Congress helped promote these ideas.

Andrew Jackson Faction

• Opposed the National Bank and ensured its charter was not renewed.

• Disliked tariffs but also opposed states challenging federal power (Nullification Crisis with South Carolina).

• Against federal spending on infrastructure.

• Strongly disliked Clay and Calhoun.

John C. Calhoun Faction

• Prominent Southern Senator and Vice President.

• Pro-slavery; argued it was a "positive good."

• Against tariffs and federal spending on infrastructure.

The Second Two-Party System: Democrats vs. Whigs

• The Jackson era and his opposition to Clay's American System led to the emergence of the second two-party system.

Whigs

• Supported Clay's American System.

• Advocated for federal and state governments promoting business and subsidizing infrastructure.

• Favored re-establishing a national bank.

• Wanted to see free or wage labor increase instead of slavery.

• Some Whigs (Conscience Whigs) opposed the Mexican-American War.

• Supported reform movements from the Second Great Awakening.

Democrats

• Attempted to follow the course set by Andrew Jackson.

• Opposed Clay's American System.

• Advocated for the Jeffersonian Yeoman Farmer Republic ideal

• Favored a balanced budget and opposed deficit spending on infrastructure.

• Against the re-establishment of a national bank.

• Increasingly defended slavery and pushed for its expansion into new territories.
  Democrats presidents and successors were Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and later james K Polk.

The Turbulent 1850s and the Rise of New Parties

• The Whig party faded away, and the Democrats became a regional party based in the South.

• Several minor parties emerged.

Free Soil Party

• Opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, particular after the Mexican American War.

• Influential faction of the Republican Party."
  

American Party (Know-Nothings)

• Nativist party strongly against immigration.

• Worried that immigrants would destroy America.

• Immigration was increasing due to factors like failed European revolutions and the Irish potato famine.

The Republican Party

• Made up of Free-Soilers, Conscience Whigs, and some Know-Nothings.

• Advocated for free wage labor and opposed the extension of slavery into territories.

• Some opposed slavery on moral grounds, but few called for banning it altogether.

• Quickly rose to prominence in the North and West Coast.

The Election of 1860

• Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas (popular sovereignty).

• Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge (protection of slavery).

• Constitutional Union Party nominated John Bell (vague platform, follow the Constitution).

• Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln (opposed the expansion of slavery).

• Lincoln won the election despite not being on the ballot in 10 Southern states.

The Civil War and Reconstruction Era

• Republicans controlled Congress during and after the Civil War.

• Republicans split between moderates and radicals.

• Key legislation: Homestead Act, subsidies for the Transcontinental Railroad, National Banking Act, 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, Civil Rights Acts, and Freedmen's Bureau.

• The Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction.

The Gilded Age

• Era of corruption and close elections between Republicans and Democrats.

• Little difference between the two parties.

• Both were against workers' unions and made few attempts to regulate corporations.

• Supported subsidies for railroads and settlement of the West.

• Supported the gold standard.

• Sherman Antitrust Act and Pendleton Civil Service Reform had limited immediate impact.

Populist Party

• Made up of Granger and Farmers' Alliance movements.

• Frustrated with the government's laissez-faire attitude.

• Goals included: reduction of tariffs, a graduated income tax, public ownership of railroads, direct election of senators, and an end to the gold standard.

The Progressive Era (1900-1920)

• Presidents: Teddy Roosevelt, Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.

• Reversed the Gilded Age laissez-faire stance.

• Progressives from both parties viewed government as a key player in creating an orderly and stable society.

• Saw regulating businesses or breaking up monopolies as reinvigorating capitalism.

• Amendments passed: income tax, direct election of senators, prohibition, and women's right to vote.

• Competing progressive visions: Teddy Roosevelt's New Nationalism and Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom.

The 1920s: Return to Conservatism

• Presidents: Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover.

• Reversed the course of the Progressive Era.

• Return to business-friendly policies and laissez-faire capitalism.

• Cultural tensions: anti-immigrant fervor and difficulties with prohibition.

The Great Depression and the New Deal

• Progressive Democrats swept back into power, led by FDR.

• The New Deal: legislation and programs to provide relief, reform the economy, and aid recovery.

• Expansion of government power.

• Republicans had little political power on the national level.

The Post-World War II Era: Realignment

• Major figures: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson.

Democrats

• Continued supporting New Deal reforms.

• President Johnson's Great Society programs increased the welfare state.

• Aligned with the Civil Rights Movement (Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965).

Republicans

• Moderates (Eisenhower): Didn't dismantle New Deal reforms but wanted a more business-friendly government.

• Conservatives (Goldwater): Wanted a reduction in government size and taxes, and a return of power to the states.

• Migration of Southern Democrats (Dixiecrats) to the Republican Party.

The 1970s and Beyond

Democrats

• Became fragmented after 1968.

• Took a permanent liberal turn on social issues.

• Jimmy Carter served one term as president.

Republicans

• Richard Nixon carved out a spot between moderates and conservatives.

• Appealed to the "silent majority."

• Ronald Reagan emerged as a rising star of the conservative wing.

Period Nine and Beyond

Democrats

• Shifted to the middle of the political spectrum.

• President Clinton worked with Republicans.

• Became more opposed to Republican President Bush and the Iraq War.

• Pushed for a more active progressive government.

• President Obama attempted to push a progressive agenda.

Republicans

• Found success with Reagan's coalition (social conservatives, economic conservatives, and neoconservatives).

• Focused on the culture wars.

• Organized the Tea Party protest against Obama's reforms.