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8/3/2019 The Us Two Party System - Mrs Priscilla
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The US Two Party System
The US Party system has had five distinct periods, with each being characterized by a
struggle between two parties.
The first three periods involved the:
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans The Democrats and Whigs And the Republicans and Democrats
The two latest periods have been times when support has been shifted between
Republicans and Democrats (Periods and realignment)
Early Political Parties
Parties arose from the actual practice of political life. Leaders of two major viewpoints
organized their supporters in groups (political parties) for better pursue of their
goals.
Federalists Democratic-Republican parties
Federalists and Democratic Republicans
Federalists favored ratification of the Constitution while Anti-Federalists opposed it.
These were the first interest groups in the USA.
The federalists succeeded and in 1789 established new government under George
Washington.
Disagreement arose among the nations leaders.
Alexander Hamilton Secretary of Treasury
Thomas Jefferson Secretary of State
Jefferson resigned in 1793, and joined with James Madison (former federalist) and
some original Anti Federalists who opposed Alex Hamilton and the emerging
Federalist Party.
Jefferson and his followers included Anti Federalists called Republicans or
Democratic- Republicans.
They disagreed upon a number of issues:
Hamiltons federalist party represented manufacturing and trade interests.(Aid growth of industry by placing a tariff on foreign manufactured products.
Provide government support for road and canal construction to invest
transportation costs for manufactured goods.)
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In contrast Madison, Jefferson, and other Democratic-Republicans regardedfarming, not manufacturing, as the backbone of the new nation.
Hamilton organized congressional support for his programs.
Opponents in congress led by Jefferson and Madison quickly began similar efforts.
Disagreements between the two young parties became very strong in 1797.
1797 Jefferson ran for president against Federalist John Adams and was defeated. In
1800 he ran again and defeated Adams. With that defeat Democratic-Republicans
established political domination that would last until 1829.
The Democratic-Republican control of the White house struck a tremendous blow to
the Federalist Party which basically ceased to exist by 1824.
Democrats and Whigs
By the 1824 election the Democratic Republicans faced some of their own problems.The Party had split into two factions:
Andrew Jackson Henry Clay, John Q Adams, and William H. Crawford
Although Jackson won the most popular votes, Adams was chosen by the House of
Representatives as president.
A lack of support plagued Adams administration and Jackson remained popular. Four
years later, Jackson, leader of the new Democratic Party won elections in 1828.
Jacksons win led to a new era of competing party politics.
Jackson supported the interests of small-business owners, farmers, pioneers and
slaveholders. Opposition to his policies took form in a new party: the Whigs. Whigs
desired an active role in government and they supported policies such as protective
tariffs and federal improvement programs.
The Democratic government at that time thought, the government is best that
governs least. They believed an active government would create inequalities by
taking actions that favored some people over others. For example, the Democrats
attacked what they considered special privileges granted by government to some
business interests at the expense of the population as a whole. Government aid to
build canals and roads, came out of tax money paid by all, yet supported projects
benefiting only business and industry. The Democrats opposed tariffs believing them
discriminatory.
This Democratic philosophy appealed to immigrants and many people developing in
the frontier. Democrats dominated the government until Civil War.
1840s and 1850s
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Political unrest Disagreement over tariffs Disagreed over slavery northern vs southerns
After 1852 the Whig Party collapsed a new party that opposed slavery the
Republicans arose in 1854. Northern Whigs, anti slavery democrats, joinedRepublicans.
Democrats won in 1856 tension over slavery divisions in party brought an end to
Democratic control in 1860 rise of Republicans as dominant power.
Republicans vs Democrats
First president of Republican Party Abraham Lincoln in 1860 Tensions over North and South erupted in Civil War in 1861. The period of Republican domination lasted until 1932.
Only 2 Democrats elected
1884 Grover Cleveland
1892
1912 Woodrow Wilson
1916
Party Support After the Civil War
For many years after the War Support for Republicans and Democrats remained
divided.
Republicans
Former Whigs Newly Freed African Americans Business people who wanted government aid for roads and canals Pioneers cheap government land
Democrats
Workers in cities New immigrants Southerners
Parties created enough loyalty to produce higher voting turnouts among eligible
voters than any other period in US History.
Election of 1896
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After the Civil War period of rapid economic growth and change large corporations
appearing.
Democrats lost in 1896. Republican domination continued.
William Jenings Bryan nominated as the Democratic candidate for president.
Democrats voice for the poor
Republicans were changing as well as paving way for economic prosperity.
William McKinley Rep. 1896
The Great Depression
Woodrow Wilson two terms
Another party realignment which resulted in more than 30 years of Democratic
presidents, with the exception of WWII hero, Dwight Eisenhower.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and other democrats started building up an electoral base of
labor groups southerners, farmers, and city political organizations.
Roosevelt sought a c..