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George Washington Elected President
No political parties present while he ran for president. -
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First Party System
Democrat-Republicans v Federalists
Federalists deteriated quickly, with Demo-Repubs assuming some of their positions, and dissappeared -
First Parties Formed
Differences between cabinet members Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson developed into two political parties- the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, respectively -
John Adams wins election
Federalists take power -
Thomas Jefferson wins elected
power switches from the federalists to the democratic-republicans. First peaceful switch between political parties. -
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Democratic-Republicans in power
After Jefferson won the election, the Federalist Party weakened drastically, and the Democratic-Republican party won each subsequent election with little opposition. -
War of 1812
Federalists opposed the war of 1812. This backfired on them, as America's victory in the war cost them much of their waning support. -
Federalist Party dissappears
By 1820, the Federalist party had lost enough support that it could no longer field a presidential candidate. -
Election of 1824
Democratic-Republican Party was the only major party America, and the four candidates were each from the Demo-Repub party -
Democratic-Republican Party Splits
Democrats, followed Andrew Jackson
National Republicans followed John Quincy Adams -
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Second Party System
Democratic Party v National Republican/Whig
Marked by mass political participation -
Anti-Masonic Party
Splits from National Republic party. Holds first presidential nominating convention in the US. Chooses William Wirt -
Whig Party formed
Anti-Masonic and National Republican Parties join to create the Whig Party. -
panic of 1837
severe depression in 1837 during Martin Van Buren's term in office caused many voters to side with the Whig Party in order to survive the depression -
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Rise of Independent Parties
Numerous Independent parties gained support, and influenced the major parties, frequently merging with them.
Disputes over slavery and immigration led to the formation of the Liberty Party, the Free Soil Party, and the Know-Nothing/American Party. -
Zachary Taylor wins election
Whig defeats Democrat Lewis Cass because of votes diverted to Free Soiler Martin Van Buren -
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Third Party System
Democrats v Republicans
emerged from divisions over slavery. Voters were extremely loyal to their parties. -
Republican Party Formed
formed from the numerous 3rd parties, such as the Free Soil and Whig party, soon absorbing the Know-nothing party, becaming a major political party. -
1860 election
Democrats temporarily split for a few elections. This split allows the Republicans to take control, with Abe Lincoln elected -
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Civil War
Southern States dropped out of the US, and their votes dropped out with them. Upon return to the union, almost unanimously voted democratic for a time -
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Greenback Party
drew support from farmers and businessman, but quickly lost support after adopting a more radical platform -
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Prohibition Party
Party formed around a single issue. recieved consistent but small percent of votes, but got issue on the agenda of larger parties. -
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Populist Party
initially had influence, then its causes started to be taken up by the democratic party -
Panic of 1893
unexpected depression during Grover Cleveland's presidency that nearly wiped out the Democratic party in the North -
1896 election
Willam Bryan ran on joint ticked with Democrat and Populist Parties -
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Fourth Party System
Dominated by Republicans; only one democratic president. Voting blocs similar to 3rd party system, business interests dominated this period, giving rise to the Progressive movement -
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socialist party
a merger of smaller parties, drew between 3 & 6 percent of the vote each year -
1912 election
Theodore Roosevelt believed that his successor, William H. Taft, was too closely aligned with business interests. ran for presidenton the Progressive or “Bull Moose” Party ticket. split the Republican vote, he allowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the Presidency. -
1924 election
Republican Senator Robert M. La Folette, Jr, broke with the Republican Party and ran for president, reviving Roosevelt’s Progressive Party. endorsed by the Socialist Party, he won 17 percent of the popular vote -
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Great Depression
discredited Republican policies, putting Democrats back in charge -
1932 election
FDR's new deal won him great support even fr.om traditionally republican areas, shifting the balance of power toward the democrats -
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Fifth Party System
Balance of power shifted towards the Democrats due to the great depression. Democrats held power for most of the time in both presidency, Senate, and House of Reps. -
Union Party
dissatised with Roosevelt’s New Deal, believing that it didn’t go far enough. Louisiana governor Huey Long and radio personality Father Coughlin joined forces to create the Share Our Wealth Party, which became the Union Party after Long was assassinated in 1935. hoped to draw enough votes to force Democrats to change their policies, but barely won 2 percent of the popular vote -
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Democratic Party Splits
Henry Wallace splits to revive Progressive Party in a bid for presidency.
Strom Thurmond splits to create the Dixiecrats, winning only 2.4% of the vote but 4 southern states -
Election of 1948
splits within the Democratic Party made it look as though the Republican candidate would win easily, but Truman won a second term in a stunning upset -
election of 1968
turning point in that it ended the domination of presidency by the democrats. Nixon was voted in upon promises to restore "law and order" during a riotous time due to issues of desegregation, beating the new American Independent Party headed mostly by southerners opposing desegregation -
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current trends
strong ideological divide between Democrats and Republicans. South has gone from extremely democratic to nearly 50/50
rise in people splitting the ticket and not voting entirely for a single party. -
Election of 1980
Libertarian Party formed.Ed Clark received more than 1 percent of national vote, Libertarian Party continues to function
John Anderson ran without a party after losing republican nomination, and won 6.6% vote
Ronald Reagon won election, attracting “Reagan Democrats.” These voters continued to elect Democrats in state and local elections, but supported Republicans for the White House -
Election of 1992
H. Ross Perot ran for president as an independent. Although he did not win any electoral votes, he won 19 percent of the popular vote -
2000 election
George Bush won electoral vote, but Al Gore had a greater popular vote. In the end, Bush became president.
Green party cost democrats votes that would have swung key states, costing them the election -
2008 election
Democrat Barack Obama became president winning several states — including North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana — that for decades had reliably voted Republican in presidential elections. -
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Tea Party
organized protests to bring attention to their platform and issues, endorsed a number of republican candidates in the 2010 elections. 32% of the candidates that were backed by the Tea Party or identified themselves as a Tea Party member won election in 2010, but their influence waned greatly by the 2012 elections
