Parties

Federalists: 

    Hamilton, Washington, Adams

    Economy based on commerce 

    Strong federal government

    Wealthy, Northeast 

    Loose Construction of Constitution (anything could be done not explicitly    forbidden)

    National Bank was necessary 

    Sympathetic toward Great Britain

    Federalists died out after Hartford Convention during War of 1812, (under     Monroe)

Democratic-Republicans: 

    Jefferson, Madison

    Economy based on agriculture 

    Stronger state governments

    Yeomen farmers, Southerners 

    Strict construction of Constitution (powers only granted to Congress that are     necessary to the execution of its power)

    Believed National Bank was only desirable 

    Sympathetic toward France

Democratic-Republicans split (under Monroe) over the Missouri Compromise into Democrats and Democratic-Republicans
 

Jeffersonian Democracy

    Nation governed by middle, upper class educated property owners 

    Government only as large as necessary to provide an acceptable level of     services

    Nation of yeomen farmers whose liberty was protected by a central     government 

Jacksonian Democracy

    Based on universal male suffrage and a strong presidency
 

Whig Party

    William Henry Harrison (died) and John Tyler (but Tyler vetoed most Whig     bills)

    Loose coalition, only one thing in common:  Opposition to one or more of the          Democrats’ policies 

    Believed in government activism, especially in social issues

    Many were deeply religious, supported temperance movement and     enforcement of the Sabbath

    Kansas-Nebraska Act drove the final stake into the heart of the Whig party-     split off because some were anti and some pro slavery. Antislavery Whigs     ended up joining the Northern Democrats and former free soilers.
 

    The Liberty Party was the political outgrowth of the growing anti-slavery     movement. It had been born in 1839, when the movement factionalized into     conservative and radical parts. The radicals followed William Lloyd Garrison,     who demanded the immediate ending of slavery, denounced the U.S.     Constitution, and allowed female activists into the movement. The     conservatives formed the Liberty Party and sought to end slavery gradually     through traditional, political channels.

Free Soilers

    Devoted to the goals of the Wilmot Proviso  (A Congressional bill prohibiting     the extension of any territory gained from Mexico, the proviso failed) absorbed     men from the Liberty Party who had nowhere else to go; "Conscience," or     anti-slavery, Whigs; and "Barnburner" Democrats, whose anti-black prejudices     allied them with anti-slavery men.

    Free Soilers died off when the Kansas-Nebraska Act defeated their only goal.
 

Republicans
 

    Dedicated to keeping slavery out of the territories. 

    Further development of national roads

    More liberal land distribution in the West 

    Increased protective tariffs

    Included Midwestern merchants and farmers, Western settlers, and Eastern     importers; party grew quickly in the North

    After McKinley won the 1896 election against WJ Bryans Republican party          became associated with its pro-big business stance

 American Party (Know Nothing Party)  

         One issue: Hatred of foreigners

         Party self destructed over disagree on slavery between Northerners and               Southerners

Constitutional Union Party: John Bell

    The Constitutional Union Party was the anti-extremist party, absorbing     Southern Whigs who didn't want to vote Democratic and Northern Whigs who     felt the Republicans were too radical. They united in order to block a     Republican victory.

Populist Party (People’s Party)

    William Jennings Bryan, Farmer’s Alliance

    Held convention in 1892:

         GENEROUS COINAGE OF SILVER- “free silver”

         Government ownership of railroads and telegrams

         Graduated Income Tax

         Direct election of U.S. senators

         Shorter workdays

         Bryan’s loss of presidency plus an improved economy ended the Populist         movement.

Progressive Movement

    Dominated first two decades of 20^th century politics

    Urban, middle-class reformers

    Wanted increase role in government while maintaining capitalism

    Lasted longer than Populist party because it did not intensify regional and               class differences

    Muckrackers (Steffens, Ida Tarbells, Upton Sinclair), Theodore Roosevelt,     Margaret Sanger (contraceptives), Robert LaFollette (plans for direct primary     elections, progressive taxation, and rail regulation), William Howard Taft,     Woodrow Wilson

        Progressive movement marks ever-increasing involvement of fed.                  
         Government in public life