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Federalists
The Constitutional Convention was held and the Federalist Papers were drafted. Two years later George Washington became the first President of the United States. Although Washington was never an official member of the Federalist Party, he did have Federalist leanings. The Federalists were unofficially the first party in office. -
Emergence of a 2 party political system: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
What began as the differring opinions of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jeffersonon in the1790's on mainly the size and power of the president/ federal government soon developed into opposing sides of Hamilton's federalists, who supported a powerful federal government, and Jefferson's anti-federalists, who were in favor of a smaller federal government and reliance on state governments. Thus seeing the emmergence of 2 major opposing parties, often referred to as the hamiltonians and jeffersonians. -
Washington's Fairwell Address: The Dangers of Political Parties
In seeing the recent emmergence of the Federalist and Democratic Republican parties, in his Fairwell Address President George Washington warns the country of the dangerous nature of sectionalism and political parties in the United States. -
Democratic-Republicans
After Thomas Jefferson won the controversial election of Aaron Burr, he became the first Democratic-Republican president marking a turn from a pro federal government standpoint to a more state government based idea. These people were also known as Jeffersonians. -
Democrats
Andrew Jackson was elected as the first Democratic president in 1836. -
Whigs
William Henry Harrison became the first Whig president after the death of Martin Van Buren, a Democrat. The Whig Party had four presidents serve, but it died rather shortly after it had started in the mid 1850's due to conflicts over salvery and other subjects. -
Liberty Party
The Liberty Party put James Birney up for Presidency in 1844. He received very few votes, and the ones he did came from the Whigs. This party evetually joined with the Republican Party. -
Free Soil Party
The Free Soil Party put Martin Van Buren up for Presidency in 1848, but won only 10% of the popular vote. They lost half of their support after the Compromise of 1850. They had been composed of people who were not against slavery, simply the expansion of slavery. They joined with the Republican party in 1854. -
Republicans
The Republicans were a coalition of many of the smaller parties joining together. They all came together and agreed on common goals. John C. Freemont was their first candidate in 1856, however Abraham Lincoln was thier first president in 1861. -
American Party
Also known as the "Know Nothing" Party ran Millard Fillmore in 1856. They were able to win 21% of the popular vote. Joined with the Republican Party in 1856. -
Republicans
Abraham Lincoln was elected as the first Republican president in 1860. At this point the two main parties we have in place today, Republican and Democrat, were both in existence and would survive all the way to the present. Other smaller third parties would come about, but these two would take their rightful places as the main parties. -
Greeenbacks
The Greenbacks were in support of the printing of paper money. This paper money was to be backed by gold in order to avoid inflation. When the government offered gold in return for the peoples' greenbacks in equal return, many people kept their paper money because it was worth the same as gold, but it was easier to carry around. -
Areas of Support for the Political Parties
The Democratic support was made up mostly of southerners, poor people, and the immigrants that were new to this country. The Democrats did not support tariffs, which made them popular with the lower classes, and the southerners were not about to support the Republicans. -
Division of the Republican Party
This was the division of the Republican Party over the issue of the spoils system. The Stalwarts, lead by Roscoe Conkling, was figting to keep the spoils system while the Half-breeds, lead by James Blane, wanted to reform the civil service system. -
Greenbacks
Greenbacks drew a lot of support from the farmers because the farmers pushed for the paper currency. The Greenbacks were a rather large force because of the large number of farmers in America at this time. In 1880, the Greenbacks elected James B. Weaver to represent the Greenbacks in the presidental election. -
Goldbugs
Goldbugs supported Grover Cleveland vs. Benjamin Harrison. Goldbugs wanted gold to be used as currency. -
Populist Party
Populist Part was formed by the Farmer's Alliance. This party fought for the rights of farmers. The Populist Party elected James Weaver as its candidate in the election of 1892. He garnerd many votes for a third party candidate. -
McKinley vs. Bryan
McKinley ran on the Republican ticket as a goldbug. Bryan ran on the Democratic ticket. Bryan also garners the votes of the Populists. Despite the fact that Bryan had the support of the Democrats and Populists, William McKinly won this election. This election also ended the Populist party as they lost hope because this was the one chance that they had to beat the republicans but didn't. The republicans had not done much good for the country but still found a way to win the election. -
Election of 1900
McKinley was elected over William Jennings Bryan in the election of 1900. However McKinley was assasinated not long into his presidency and VP Teddy Roosevelt took over. -
Election of 1908
William Taft (Republican) was elected as the predecessor of Roosevelt after Roosevelt said he would not run for a 3rd term. People thought that Taft would follow Roosevelts ways, but he did not and deviated from them greatly. -
Bull-Moose Party
After Taft deviated from Roosevelt's ideals, Roosevelt decided to run on a third party ticket. He created the Bull-Moose Party. This party essentially split the votes of the Republican Party and gave the election to Woodrow Wilson and the Democrats. Eugene Debs also ran in this election on the Socialist ticket. -
Election of 1916
Wilson runs for reelection in 1916 on the Democratic ticket. Teddy Roosevelt is selected to run on the Progressive ticket, but he hated the Democrats too much to split the Republicans and give the election to the Democrats again. Therefore Roosevelt did not run. Charles Hughes ran on the Republican ticket. Wilson won the election on the slogan, "He Kept Us Out of War." -
Election of 1920
After Roosevelt died in 1919 the Bull-Moose Party died and the Republicans were finally reunited. They devised a platform that could please both sides for the 1920 Election. Warren Harding (Republican) ran against James Cox (Democrat). Harding beat Cox by a large margin. Eugene Debs, then a prisoner, garnered the largest vote ever for a left-wing Socialist Party. -
Harding takes office
In 1921 Warren Harding is innaugurated and takes office along with a cabinet of his friends, who became known as "the ohio gang." Within mere months, Harding's presidency experienced multiple scandals, the worst being Charles Forbes, head of the veterans bureau stealing from the government and secretary of the interior, Albert Fall accepting a large bribe in the "Teapot Dome Scandal." This greatly embarrassed the Republican party. -
Election of 1924
Robert La Follete of Wisconsin emerges to lead a new liberal "progressive" party (supported by farmers and AFL) and takes on Democrate John Davis and Republican Calvin Coolidge who was up for re-election after he had taken office when Harding died. Coolidge comes away victorious. -
Alfred Smith: First Catholic
Senator Alfred Smith runs for office against Republican Herbert hoover after coolidge elects not to run for re-election. Smith is the first Roman Catholic presidential candidate however he loses to Hoover. -
FDR ends republican reign
With his victory in the election of 1932 Franklin Delano Roosevelt puts an end to the Republican reign in politics and preaches the new democratic "New Deal" plan for the countries future. Importantly black voters become a large base of support for the Democratic party. -
FDR breaks 2 term presidential tradition
Democratic and 2 term president Franklin Delano Roosevelt breaks the tradition of only serving 2 terms in office as George Washington did by running and being elected for a 3rd term as president of the united states. -
Election of 1948: Split of Democratic Party
Southern Democrats, not happy with the nomination of Truman to face Republican candidate Thomas Dewey and run for re-election, split and instead nominate another candidate, strom thurmond. Also a major candidate is Henry Wallace of the progressive party. Confident the odds were against him, Truman wins for re-election. His votes coming from black, workers, and farmers. -
Election of 1952
Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) defeated Adlai Stevenson (D) in the election of 1952. Eisenhower was a moderate Republican that adopted the hidden hand policy. He appeared to be above politics. Eisenhower was also a decorated General of the U.S. Army, which helped with his popularity. -
Election of 1956
Lyndon B. Johnson (D) defeated Barry Goldwater (R) in a landslide in this election. -
Migration of Southern Voters
In the electoin of 1972, many of the Southern voters moved over to the Republican side of the spectrum in order to support Richard Nixon. Nixon ended up winning the election of 1972 over McGovern in a landslide. He won every state except for one.
