The Second American Party System

Learning Targets

  • Understand the factors leading to the second two-party system in the U.S.

  • Compare political changes from the first two-party system (Federalists and Democratic-Republicans) to the second (Democrats and National Republicans, later Whigs).

Historical Context

  • By the 1820s, voting rights expanded to all white men, removing property qualifications.

  • Simultaneously, voting rights for women, African Americans, and American Indians were restricted.

  • The 1828 election marked a populist wave and the rise of the Democratic party under Jackson, diminishing elite control.

Factors Influencing Political Change

  • Economic turmoil (e.g., Panic of 1819) prompted calls for wider voting rights among working men and small farmers.

  • Martin Van Buren advocated for removing property qualifications in New York; by the 1820s, most Atlantic states had lowered or eliminated such requirements for white males.

  • New states established universal white male suffrage from inception.

Disenfranchisement of Minorities

  • While white males gained suffrage, American Indians and African Americans faced increasing restrictions.

  • In New York, the 1821 constitution raised property qualifications for Black voters.

  • By 1840, 93% of free Black individuals in the North were disenfranchised.

Political Realignments

  • The decline of the Federalists led to a split in the Democratic-Republican Party around 1824.

  • Andrew Jackson emerged as the leader of the Democrats, while Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams led the National Republicans.

  • The election of 1824 was contentious; Adams won via a Congressional decision, leading to allegations of a "corrupt bargain" with Clay.

Presidential Election of 1828

  • Jackson's campaign focused on popularity and the will of the people, contrasting with Adams's elite approach.

  • Innovative campaign techniques were employed to engage voters, boosting political participation and turnout.

Jackson's First Term

  • Inauguration reflected a shift towards a more active public role in politics, with a tumultuous reception.

  • The "spoils system" introduced by Jackson awarded positions based on loyalty, diverging from norms of merit-based appointments.

Conclusion

  • The election of 1828 formalized the two-party system and marked a significant shift in American political culture, emphasizing democracy and the influence of the common man over traditional elites.