U.S. Political Parties
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Transcript of U.S. Political Parties
Presidential Timeline 1789-2009
Andrew Jackson
Martin Van Buren
Wm. Henry Harrison John TylerJames K. PolkZachary Taylor Millard FillmoreFranklin Pierce
James Buchanan
Election of 1832
Andrew Jackson, Democratic Party Henry Clay, National Republican Party John Floyd, National Republican Party William Wirt, Anti-Masonic Party
Parties in 1832
Democratic National Republican
Opposed to banks Favored local rule Favored limited
government Opposed high tariffs Opposed monopolies Champion of common
man
Favored national projects (roads, canals, infrastructure)
Favored protective tariffs Opposed immorality, vice
and crime, some blamed on immigrants
Election of 1836
Martin Van Buren, Democratic Party William Henry Harrison, Whig Party Hugh L. White, Whig Party Daniel Webster, Whig Party W.P. Mangum, Whig Party
Political Parties in 1836
Democratic Party
(same as 1832)
Plus:
--Avoided Texas annexation for fear of political problems with expansion of slavery in Texas territories
Whig Party
(same as former National Republicans
in 1832)
Election of 1840
William Henry Harrison, Whig Party Martin Van Buren, Democratic Party
(incumbent, not re-elected) James G. Birney, Liberty Party
Political Parties in 1840
Democratic Party
Martin Van Buren still opposed annexation of Texas
Van Buren painted as aristocrat who oversaw Panic of 1837
Still favored laissez-faire government
Whig Party
Finally wins an election, defeating an incumbent
Advertised their candidate as the common man
Liberty Party
Strongly anti-slavery party emerges, does not receive many votes in 1840
President Wm. H. Harrison &
VP John Tyler Harrison dies in office one month into term VP John Tyler, a Va. Aristocrat put on the ticket
to appeal to Southerners, takes over Tyler is a former Democrat—favors states’ rights
and many other Democratic policies Tyler vetoes many Whig bills, even though he is
one Tyler strongly promoted annexation of Texas
Election of 1844
James K. Polk, Democratic Party Henry Clay, Whig Party James G. Birney, Liberty Party
(Tyler was disowned by the Whigs, rejected by the Democrats, and tried to run as an independent before finally dropping out)
Political Parties in 1844
Democrats
Supporter of Texas annexation, Oregon & manifest destiny (Oregon was an important issue in the north, Texas in the south)
Whigs
Main campaign issue was an economic plan
Opposed to annexation of Texas
Election of 1848James K. Polk did not seek re-election
Zachary Taylor, Whig Party Lewis Cass, Democratic Party Martin Van Buren, Free Soil Party
Political Parties in 1848
Democrats
--Remained silent on slavery, but nominee suspected of pro-slavery views
--Northern Democrats favored “popular sovereignty
--Southern Democrats favored “common property”
Free Soil Party
--Opposed further expansion of slavery into the western territories
Whig Party--Had to shift from anti-
Mexican War to support of treaty of Guadaloupe-Hidalgo
--Also shifted to opposition to slavery in the territories
--Taylor a Whig in name only—more like Dems.
--Began to break apart into northern and southern factions due to slavery.
Death of Zachary Taylor1850 His VP, Millard Fillmore, took over Daniel Webster had turned down the Vice-
Presidential spot before the election and unknowingly lost his best chance to be President
Fillmore, unlike Taylor, supported slavery in the territories (though personally detested slavery itself)
Election of 1852 --The end of the Whig Party
Franklin Pierce, Democratic Party Winfield Scott, Whig Party John P. Hale, Free Soil Party
Political Parties in 1852
Democratic Party
--Candidate was a northerner (Pierce) who supported southern causes
Whig Party
--Took 53 ballots at the nominating convention before Winfield Scott is selected
--Southern Whigs support Pierce in large numbers
Death of the Whig Party The regional disagreements finally caused
the Whigs to fall apart The “Know Nothing” Party, later called the
“American Party” organizes around anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic sentiment
The Republican Party emerges, founded on the opposition to extension of slavery to the territories (not on opposition to slavery, an important distinction)
Election of 1856
James Buchanan, Democratic Party John C. Fremont, Republican Party Millard Fillmore, American Party
Political Parties in 1856
Democrats
--Nominate James Buchanan, another northerner with southern sympathies
--This enables them to carry some northerners as well as the south
Republicans
--Nominate John C. Fremont, anti-slavery western explorer
--Party begins to form around the slavery issue
Illinois Senate Election 1858Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat
--Well-known from Great Compromise passage
--Proponent of popular sovereignty
--Wants to be President
Abraham Lincoln, Republican
--Former Congressman
--Objected to slavery on moral grounds
Series of debates between the two candidates became of national interest
Lincoln said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Douglas’ half-hearted endoresement of Fugitive Slave Law made him unpalatable to the south