Apush review Significant Political Parties of U. S. History Why parties?
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Significant Political Parties of U.S. History
Why parties?
Not mentioned in Constitution
Viewed as a negative force in early U.S.
G.W. warned against them in Farewell Address
Parties formed around Hamilton and Jefferson & were an established fact by 1796
Serve as a vital link between people and government
Major function of parties is to nominate candidates
Another role is to inform the people & stimulate interest & participation
The party also serves to ensure good performance by its officeholders
Most officeholders are chosen on basis of their party
The party out of power serves as a watchdog against the one in power
While 3rd parties exist, political realities are such that the dominant parties hold the power
The major parties seek the same prize (votes) & therefore play to the middle
Federalist Party
Original advocates of Constitution
Supporters of Washington & Adams admins.
New England-based
Strong central govt. & promotion of business interests
Attempted to stifle dissent w/ Alien & Sedition Acts (1798)
Lost to Democratic-Repubs. In 1800
Loss of Hamilton left party without powerful leadership
Voiced opposition to Embargo Act of 1807 & War of 1812
Hartford Convention was last concerted effort
Federalist achievements:
Used Const. to develop workable system of govt.
Established nation’s credit and fostered economic prosperity
Created a court system
Demonstrated ability of govt. to enforce laws
Kept the nation from war & instituted isolationist foreign policy
Reasons for downfall:
Spread of democratic ideals, especially in the West
Growing realization that Federalists didn’t trust the common people
Opposition to Federalist economic measures
Pro-English foreign policy
Seen as trampling civil rights with Alien & Sedition Acts
Democratic Party
One of oldest political organizations in the world
Originally Anti-Federalists then Democratic-Republicans
Small govt., agrarian interests, immigrants, states rights, pro-French
Jefferson, Madison, & Monroe – The Virginia Dynasty
1817-25 Era of Good Feelings (no real opposition party)
1824 – Sectional & personal animosities divide party
National Republicans (later Whigs)
Led by Clay, JQ Adams, Webster
Supported by landowners, bankers, merchants, manufacturers
Supported strong central govt., Natl. Bank, protective tariffs
Resembled Hamiltonian Federalists
Democrats:
Led by Jackson and Van Buren
Supported by small farmers, newly emerging businessmen and city laborers
Generally opposed an all-powerful federal govt.
Jacksonian Democracy vs. Jeffersonian Democracy
Jefferson
Jackson
Believed that capable, well-educated leaders should govern in the people’s interests.
Believed that the people themselves should manage governmental affairs.
Reflected chiefly an agricultural society
Reflected an agricultural as well as a rising industrial society.
Limited democracy chiefly to its political aspects
Expanded democracy from its political aspects to include social and economic aspects.
Jacksonian Democrats removed property & religious qualifications from officeholding and voting
Also increased number of elected rather than appointed positions
Shorter terms of office
Nominating conventions held to pick candidates, rather than party caucus
Jackson had to work hard to keep factions together
Example – anti-tariff issue (Calhoun) & nullification
Jackson had to threaten force to control extreme state rights faction
Pre-Civil War issues fragmented the party
Party had difficult time settling on one nominee at conventions
1860 split (Douglas (N) and Breckenridge (S)
Lincoln wins & begins decades of Republican leadership
Post-Civil War problems for Dems.
Bringing Southern wing of party back into power
Created “Solid South” one party rule in South
Reduced black voting participation, KKK intimidated freedmen
Overcoming scandal-plagued Dem. Party machines in cities
Tilden (D) makes his name fighting corruption
Cleveland wins on Civil Service reform
Dems support Free Silver during 1890’s
Wilson takes advantage of 1912 Repub party split
“New Freedom” progressive program
Wilson acted as party leader, guiding Dems in Congress who promoted his programs
Wilsonian programs incl.:
Preserving and strengthening democratic, capitalist society by progressive reforms
Lower tariffs
Improved banking system (Federal Reserve)
Stronger biz regulation
Protection for unions and workers
Progressivism ended after WWI, due in part to struggle over Treaty of V. and Wilson’s failing health
Last progressive measures were 18th & 19th Amendments
New Deal and Fair Deal eras:
FDR and New Deal won tremendous support for party
Truman carried on many FDR programs & his Fair Deal created more
Incl. defense of labor & support of civil rights legislation
Some Southern Dems break off to form Dixiecrat party in order to preserve White supremacy in South
Dems lost Presidency in 1952 election to Eisenhower (R)
Southern support helped Repubs
Kennedy won back White House
Liberal “New Frontier” and active support of civil rights led to significant legislation
Johnson finished many JFK projects & instituted his own “Great Society” and “War on Poverty”
Educational, welfare, and civil rights legislation
Vietnam War divided Democratic Party
1968 – LBJ refused to run – wide pool of candidates ran, incl. RFK
Hotly divided DNC – Repubs & Nixon take advantage & win
Watergate helped Dems reunite & eventually win with Carter
High black turnout & disgust with Repubs (Watergate) helped
Carter presidency very weak
Poor relations between Carter and Dems in Congress
Some foreign policy victories, but poor economy & hostage crisis in Iran pave way for Reagan “Revolution”
Dems unable to break Republican hold on White House until Clinton in 1992
Reform Party Candidate Ross Perot splits Repub vote
Repubs captured control of Congress in 1994
Heavy partisan relationship throughout Clinton years
Many traditionally Democratic voters no longer “solid”
Some labor organizations and minority groups (recently Hispanics)
South increasingly Republican
Anti-Masonic Party
1st third party in U.S.
Formed to counter alleged subversion of public institutions by Freemasons
Held national nominating convention in 1831 (William Wirt)
Focused on defeating Jackson (a Mason)
Failed to do so & merged with Whigs in 1838
Liberty Party
An anti-slavery party founded in 1839 by abolitionists
Failed to win elections , so it merged with other groups to form Free Soil Party
Whig Party (1834-56)
Originally the National Republicans
Formed to oppose “King Andrew” Jackson
Advocated strong federal role in nation’s economic development
Program known as the American System
Fed. sponsored improvements
High tariff & a national bank
Not very unified – tended to suffer from sectionalism
Won presidency with William Henry Harrison
John Tyler (Dem in Whig clothing) succeeded WHH & vetoed Whig programs
Expelled from the party
Slavery issue divided the Whigs (Conscience vs. Cotton)
Cotton Whigs went over to the Dems
Conscience Whigs joined Know-Nothings & later, the Repubs
American (Know-Nothing) Party
Anti-foreign, anti-Roman Catholic in response to increased immigration
Immigrants tended to become part of urban Democratic Party machines
When asked about the native-Protestant organization, members answered “I know nothing”
South immigration restrictions & increase of nationalization period (5 to 21 yrs.)
Party won recognition because of Whig & Democrat divides over slavery
K-N’s broke up over slavery as well – most Northern members joined Repubs.
Free-Soil Party
Organized in 1848 to oppose extension of slavery into the territories
Made up of former Liberty Party members, anti-slavery Whigs , and some New York Democrats
F-S candidate in 1848 was Van Buren
Divided NY vote enough for Zach Taylor to win NY & the presidency
Party lost strength in 1852 election
Most members became Republicans
Republican Party
Traditionally conservative with support from upper middle class & corporate, financial, and farming interests.
Generally Laissez-faire, free enterprise, fiscal responsibility & opposed to welfare state
Formed out of sectionalism & slavery issues
JC Fremont the first prez candidate (lost to Buchanan)
1860 platform pledged free-soil
Lincoln’s win led to secession & Civil War
1864 ticket (then National Union Party) broadened to include Southern Dem. Johnson
Civil War weakened Dem party & led to 70 years of nearly unbroken Repub. Dominance
During Reconstruction – a divide
Radical Republicans
Liberal Republican Party
Split and scandals cost Repubs Congress in 1874
1876 Hayes victory & Comp. of 1877
Gilded Age dominated by Repubs., but presidents were weak
Repubs take White House in 1896 with McKinley
Supported by industrial northeast & business community
Committed to conservative economics
Tended to be in favor of imperialist activity
T. Roosevelt steered party toward progressive reform
T.R. vs. Taft split allowed Wilson to win in 1912 (T.R. ran as Progressive Party candidate)
Republicans won control of Congress in 1918 & prevented U.S. from joining League of Nations or signing Treaty of Versailles
Republicans dominated the 1920’s – pro-business era
Hoover failure to end Great Depression led to FDR victory
Won back White House with Eisenhower
Won re-election after moderate foreign policy, ending Korean War, & personal popularity (“I Like Ike”)
Repubs bitterly divided after Nixon loss in 1960
Ultra-conservative Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) ran against LBJ in 1964 (lost)
Party organization in shambles, but bounces back to take advantage of chaos brought on by Vietnam
Nixon wins 1968 election against Humphrey
Nixon re-elected in 1972, beating anti-war Dem. George McGovern
But Dems controlled Congress
Watergate destroyed Nixon, and Republican, credibility
Gerald Ford follows Nixon after resignation but is not elected in own right
Carter disasters allow Reagan to win by wide margin in 1980
Strong anti-Soviet policies (Peace through Strength)
Conservative social and economic policy (except heavy military spending)
Solid foreign policy victories incl. fall of Soviet Union (under Bush)
Bush failure to capitalize on Gulf War victory and overcome economic woes opens door for Bill Clinton
Candidacy of Ross Perot (Reform) split Repub. vote
Repubs gain control of Congress in 1994 – giving stiff resistance to Clinton-backed legislation
George W. Bush wins contested election in 2000
In part because of anti-Clinton mood surrounding Dem. candidate Gore
Slow start wiped out by sudden impact of September 11 attack in 2001
Bitterly divided Congress (along party lines) throughout Clinton & Bush years
Populist Party
Formed by farmers who felt major parties were controlled by industrialists
National convention in 1892
Platform:
Free coinage of silver
Graduated income tax
Government ownership of utilities
Secret ballots & direct election of Senators
Also endorsed pro-labor planks to win labor vote
Strongest in West – won significant elections in 1894
Threw support behind William Jennings Bryan in 1896 but lost to McKinley
Populist party disappeared but goals emerged later with Progressive Party
Progressive Party
The name of 3 separate political organizations over time
Party founded in 1912 by pro-Roosevelt Republicans who wanted to oust Taft
Also known as Bull Moose Party
Called for social and political reforms
Including conservation, women’s suffrage, popular election of Senators
Progressives supported Charles E. Hughes (R) in 1916 losing bid
Party re-emerges in 1924 with candidacy of Robert LaFollette
A 3rd Progressive party emerged in the 1940’s – left-wing opponents to Truman
Party was identified with communism & never accomplished anything significant
Dixiecrats
Southern Democrats who broke away from the Dems in 1948
Anti-civil rights
Strom Thurmond (S.C.) their presidential candidate
Reform Party
Founded by H. Ross Perot
Ran (as independent) in 1992 – spoiler cost Bush the White House
Advocated balanced budget, campaign reform, term limits, tax reform, immigration restrictions, limits on perks for office-holders, promotion of U.S. jobs and balanced trade agreements
Party has since split into factions
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