Political Parties in the United States First Two-Party System Federalists v. Republicans: 1780s-1801 Republicans (later Democratic-Republicans) Federalists Emphasized state’s rights Favored strong central government “Strict” interpretation of the Constitution “Loose” interpretation of the Constitution Preference for agriculture and rural life Encouragement of commerce and manufacturing Strength in South and West Strongest in the Northeast Foreign policy sympathized with France Stressed civil liberties and trust in the Favored close ties with Britain people Emphasized order and stability (In practice, these generalizations were often blurred and sometimes contradicted.) Era of Good Feelings – One Party Rule Brief period of single-party politics. Disagreements would arise around specific issues, but this did not create competing factions with competing philosophies. Second Two-Party System Democrats v. Whigs: 1836-1850 Democrats Whigs (formerly Democratic-Republicans) Were entrepreneurs who favored industry and urban growth Were Jeffersonian agrarians who favored farms and rural independence and the right to Wanted to use federal and state government own slaves to promote economic growth, especially transportation and banks Favored states-rights The party of modernization Becomes a party of tradition (looked backward to the past) Looked forward to the future Spoke to the fears of Americans Spoke to the hopes of Americans Opposed banks and corporations as Advocated reforms such as temperance and government-legislated economic privilege public schools and prison reform Opposed government-legislated reforms and Favored gradual territorial expansion over preferred individual freedom of choice time and opposed the Mexican War Favored rapid territorial expansion by either Believed in progress through internal purchase or war. Believed in progress growth through external (territorial) growth. Urbanization, industrialization, federal Agrarianism, slavery, states-rights and power, commercial expansion favored by territorial expansion all mean this ideology the North was favored in the South (but was also in the North)
Political Parties in the United States First Two-Party System Federalists v. Republicans: 1780s-1801 Republicans (later Democratic-Republicans) Emphasized state’s rights “Strict” interpretation of the Constitution Preference for agriculture and rural life Strength in South and West Foreign policy sympathized with France Stressed civil liberties and trust in the people Federalists Favored strong central government “Loose” interpretation of the Constitution Encouragement of commerce and manufacturing Strongest in the Northeast Favored close ties with Britain Emphasized order and stability (In practice, these generalizations were often blurred and sometimes contradicted.) Era of Good Feelings – One Party Rule Brief period of single-party politics. Disagreements would arise around specific issues, but this did not create competing factions with competing philosophies. Second Two-Party System Democrats v. Whigs: 1836-1850 Democrats (formerly Democratic-Republicans) Were Jeffersonian agrarians who favored farms and rural independence and the right to own slaves Favored states-rights Becomes a party of tradition (looked backward to the past) Spoke to the fears of Americans Opposed banks and corporations as government-legislated economic privilege Opposed government-legislated reforms and preferred individual freedom of choice Favored rapid territorial expansion by either purchase or war. Believed in progress through external (territorial) growth. Agrarianism, slavery, states-rights and territorial expansion all mean this ideology was favored in the South (but was also in the North) Whigs Were entrepreneurs who favored industry and urban growth Wanted to use federal and state government to promote economic growth, especially transportation and banks The party of modernization Looked forward to the future Spoke to the hopes of Americans Advocated reforms such as temperance and public schools and prison reform Favored gradual territorial expansion over time and opposed the Mexican War Believed in progress through internal growth Urbanization, industrialization, federal power, commercial expansion favored by the North
Political%20Parties%20Over%20Time.docx