History of American Political Parties

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    Antifederalists vs federalists

    Federalists were the party of the rich and well-born. Jefferson's followers were more sympathetic than the common man. He believed in a strict constitutionist view of the constitution and led the anti-federalists aka Jeffersonian republicans or the democratic-republicans.
  • Thomas Jefferson is elected president

    Thomas Jefferson is elected president
    Began a period of democratic-republican rule and the eventual demise of the Federalist Party. Democratic-Republicans were a major American political party of the early 19th century favoring a strict interpretation of the Constitution to restrict the powers of the federal government and emphasizing states' rights.
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    Era of Democrats

  • Andrew Jackson's Democratic Party comes into power

    Andrew Jackson's Democratic Party comes into power
    Began Jacksonian democracy. Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man
  • The Republican Party is born

    The Republican Party is born
    attracted many former whigs and antislavery democrats
  • Election of Abraham Lincoln and start of the Civil War

    Election of Abraham Lincoln and start of the Civil War
    Secured the vote of the republican party, leading to the civil war because of his stance against slavery. The Republican Party platform stated that slavery would not be allowed to spread any further into the territories. The Republicans also promised to support tariffs that protected Northern industry, a Homestead Act granting free farmland in the West to settlers, and the funding of a transcontinental railroad.
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    Era of Republicans

  • Depression brings about a shift in the role of government and, led by FDR, a return of Democrats to power.

    Depression brings about a shift in the role of government and, led by FDR, a return of Democrats to power.
    The great depression led to a shift in the political landscape, and support for FDR and the democrats.
  • Franklin Roosevelt was elected president

    Franklin Roosevelt was elected president
    Roosevelt democrats were southerners, small farmers, organized labor, and big city political organizations. This party focused mainly on social welfare and economic programs.
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    Era of Democrats

  • Period: to

    Era of Divided Government

    Government characterized by neither party consistently holding power
  • modern republicans

    modern republicans
    modern republicans believe that the federal government should not play a big role in people's lives. Most Republicans favor lower taxes and less government spending on social programs. They believe in less government intervention in business and the economy.
  • modern democrats

    modern democrats
    the democratic party advocates social and economic equality, along with the welfare state. It seeks to provide government intervention and regulation in the economy.These interventions, such as the introduction of social programs, support for labor unions, affordable college tuitions, moves toward universal health care and equal opportunity, consumer protection, and environmental protection form the core of the party's economic policy.