Download History of American Political Parties

History of
American
Political Parties
1791-2014
FEDERALIST PAPER #10 ABRIDGED
The Same Subject Continued
The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
From the New York Packet. Friday, November 23, 1787.
[written by James Madison]
To the People of the State of New York:
AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well
constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately
developed than its tendency to break and control the violence
of faction…... The instability, injustice, and confusion
introduced into the public councils, have, in truth, been the
mortal diseases under which popular governments have
everywhere perished . . .
 Thomas
Jefferson
and
Providential
Detection
Political Parties NOT in the
Constitution
 WHY?
By a faction, I understand a number
of citizens, whether amounting to a
majority or a minority of the whole,
who are united and actuated by
some common impulse of passion, or
of interest, adversed to the rights of
other citizens, or to the permanent
and aggregate interests of the
community. . . . . The latent causes of
faction are thus sown in the nature of
man. . . .
It is in vain to say that
enlightened
statesmen will be able to adjust these
clashing interests, and render them all
subservient to the public good. Enlightened
statesmen will not always be at the helm. . .
. The influence of factious leaders may
kindle a flame within their particular States,
but will be unable to spread a general
conflagration through the other States. …..
A rage for paper money, for an abolition of
debts, for an equal division of property, or
for any other improper or wicked project,
will be less apt to pervade the whole body
of the Union than a particular member of
it…
1796
Washington's Farewell Address
The
alternate domination of one faction over another,
sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party
dissension, which in different ages and countries has
perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a
frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more
formal and permanent despotism. … and sooner or
later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or
more fortunate than his competitors, turns this
disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the
ruins of public liberty.
Political parties developed
immediately, however
RED
BLUE
Business Owners
Workers
First Two-Party System
Federalists v.
Democratic- Republicans,
1780s - 1815
MAJOR ISSUE: strength of the
national government
Democratic-Republicans

Emphasized states' rights.

"Strict" interpretation of the
Constitution.

Preference for agriculture
and rural life.
Democratic- Republicans
Strength
in South and West.
Foreign
policy sympathized
with French Revolution.
Stressed
civil liberties and
trust in the people
Thomas Jefferson
born to wealth, champion of the common man

“I have sworn upon
the altar of God
eternal hostility
against every form
of tyranny over the
mind of man.”
Thomas Jefferson
Thos. Jefferson on Shay’s
Rebellion
 >"I
hold it that a little rebellion now and
then is a good thing, and as necessary in
the political world as storms in the
physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed,
generally establish the encroachments on
the rights of the people which have
produced them. An observation of this
truth should render honest republican
governors so mild in their punishment of
rebellions as not to discourage them too
much. It is a medicine necessary for the
sound health of the government."
Patrick Henry

Is life so dear or
peace so sweet as
to be purchased at
the price of chains
and slavery? Forbid
it, Almighty God! I
know not what
course others may
take, but as for me,
give me liberty, or
give me death!
Federalists

Favored strong central government.

"Loose" interpretation of the
Constitution.

Encouragement of commerce and
manufacturing.
Federalists
Strongest
Favored
in Northeast.
close ties with Britain.
Emphasized
stability
order and
Alexander Hamilton
bastard son of a barmaid in Barbados:
champion of the rich
In
the general
course of
human nature,
A power over a
man's
subsistence
amounts to a
power over his
will.
John Jay
diplomat, 1st Chief Justice
Those
who
own the
country
ought to
govern it.
Alexander Hamilton’s
Financial Plan 1st Sec’y of the Treasury under
George Washington
 "All
communities divide themselves into the few and
many.
.
the
The first are the rich and the well-born;
the other the mass of the people ... turbulent and
changing, they seldom judge or determine right.
 Give
therefore to the first class
a distinct, permanent share in the Government ...
Nothing but a permanent body can check the
imprudence of democracy."
Interpretation of the
Constitution
 Elastic
clause:

The Congress shall have the power…

To make all laws which shall be necessary
and proper for carrying into Execution the
foregoing Powers, and all other powers
vested by this Constitution …

Article I section 8 clause 18
“Loose” interpretation of the
Elastic clause—doing things not
delegated to the national
government
 Federalists

Creating the first national bank
 Democratic-Republicans

Louisiana Purchase
Era of good feelings
1815-1836
Second Two-Party System
Whigs v. Democrats,
1836 – 1850
Major Issue: Infrastructure
(sectionalism)
Whigs
1.Wanted to use federal and state government
to promote economic growth, especially
transportation, protective tariffs and banks
2.Advocated reforms such as temperance and
public schools, and prison reform.
3.Favored gradual territorial expansion over
time and opposed the Mexican War.
4.Northerners, city dwellers, entrepreneurs
DEMOCRATS
1.Opposed banks and corporations as
state-legislated economic privilege.
2.Opposed state-legislated reforms and
preferred individual freedom of choice,
including the right to own slaves.
3. Supported the Mexican War.
4. Southerners and Westerners.
Democrats
First organized
political party, with
conventions and
“bosses” who ran
the party between
elections.
Created by
Andrew Jackson
and Martin van
Buren
Party Symbols – Jackson and
his party was called “jackass”, or
donkey because they were so
stubborn.
Mid-19th Century Political Crisis
MAJOR ISSUE: SLAVERY
Whigs would not take a clear position on
this moral issue.
Republicans were Anti-slavery Whigs.
Abraham Lincoln was a Whig who became a
Republican.
AFTER CIVIL WAR, Republicans
became the Elephant, which
never forgets
19TH CENTURY ALIGNMENT
Republicans
 Business
 Professionals
(college)
 Nativists
 Isolationists
(against war)
 For Civil Rights

Most AfricanAmericans
Democrats
 organized labor,
urban voters
immigrants
 Most Southerners
 Farmers
 For World War I
 Confused on Civil
Rights
1896 election
FD Roosevelt REALIGNMENT
Republicans
 Business
 Professionals
 Farmers
 Nativists
 Against
reform
 Anti-communist
 Isolationists (against
World War II)
Democrats
 organized labor,
urban voters
immigrants
 Farm laborers
 African Americans
 Intellectuals
 Pro reform
 Most Southerners
 More in favor of war
1948 election
1964 Civil Rights Act
"We have lost the South for a
generation.“ President Johnson
Reagan Realignment
Republicans
 Business
owners
 Many working
class
 Nativists
 Fundamental
Christians
 Mid West
 South
Democrats
 Union
workers
 Professionals
 Immigrants
 African
Americans
 North East
 West Coast
1992 Election
Clinton/Bush Sr.
Remember, electoral college
makes divisions starker
VOTING LAWS
 Elections
are the responsibility of the states
and national government.
 Section 4. Clause 1. The Times, Places and
Manner of holding Elections for Senators
and Representatives, shall be prescribed in
each State by the Legislature thereof; but
Congress may at any time make or alter
such Regulations, except as to the Place of
chusing Senators.
 MOST rules are made by the states.
 National Election Day has been the first
Tuesday in November since 1845, but not in
Constitution.
Do convicted felons get to
vote? Depends on the state.
Voting history
 1787–
only European American men with
property
 1830s – European American men by state
 1870 – 15th Amendment freed slaves; all
men
 1920 – 19th Amendment women
 1924—Native Americans by Congress
 1971 – 26th Amendment 18 year olds
 Not yet –citizens of territories can not vote at
the national level