Parties in America

Two-party system had conflicting views over the role of the national govt.
Parties had a battle on ratification of the Constitution.
Alexander Hamilton believed that a national bank would solve many financial problems.
Supporters formed the Federalist party, American's first political party.
Short-lived though.
Party that destroyed the Federalist was led Virginians Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe.
First called Anti-Federalists and later on Democratic-Republicans.
It supported states' rights and state banks and were first popular in rural areas, particularly in the South.

Critical of 1828 marked the founding of the modern American political party by Andrew Jackson
Westerns, Southerns, New immigrants, and long-time citizens.
Jackson was the first Democratic-Republican, became president and was shortened to Democratic
Democrats' goals were voting rights, political, economic opportunity for ordinary citizens and eliminate privileges for the elite.
Opposition party, the Whigs, emerged.
Led by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, never stated their purpose but opposed to Democrats.

1850's issue of slavery dominated American politics.
Republicans arose in 1850's as anti-slavery party.
Abraham Lincoln became President in the election of 1860.
Election sparked a secession of the southern states and began the Civil War.
After the war Republicans controlled govt and politics for more than 60 years.
South remained Democratic and resentful of Republicans who opposed them.
Southern states returned to the Union by 1876.
Democratic challenged the Republicans once again.
Officials served as "puppets" for the party leaders.
Political parties with graft and corruption, stuffed ballot boxes, and bribery. Under Mark Hanna.

Great Depression ended the Republican era and brought Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt to power
New Deal formed in the election of 1932
Those programs designed to help the country recover from the depression
Roosevelt was elected to office four straight times
Democrats maintained their programs and policies to help labor, the working classes, and minorities.

Began in the 1950's, the issue of civil rights for African Americans began.
The Vietnam war further split the coalition of the New Deal in the 1960's
Result was that one party has presidency and other is the majority party in Congress.
Only once that did the Democratic party controlled both houses.
Two years later the Republicans captured both houses.
Now citizens tend to vote a split ticket (a vote for candidates of more than one party in the same election) on all levels of govt.