Two-Party System in American History

Nation’s First Parties George Washington became president in 1789 His Secretary of the Treasury was Alexander Hamilton His Secretary of State was Thomas Jefferson These two men disagreed on many things Their differences would create the “first” political parties

Federalists: (Hamilton) Wanted stronger federal gov’t Favored industry and banking “loose” interpretation of the Constitution Democratic-Republicans: (Jefferson) Wanted stronger state gov’ts. Favored farming “strict” interpretation of the Constitution 1828 – became Democratic Party

Election of 1796: Election of 1800: Two parties clashed John Adams (Fed) v. Jefferson (DR) = Adams win Election of 1800: Two parties clashed again John Adams (Fed) v. Jefferson (DR) = Jefferson win DR also won control of Congress Federalists never returned to power

Four Major Eras

Era of Democrats 1800-1860 Jefferson’s election was beginning of Democratic domination - lasted until Civil War Unopposed until mid-1820’s They split into factions (disagreements over slavery, tariff, 2nd Bank of US) By 1828 a new party began to challenge the Democrats They were called the Whigs

Democrats were led by Andrew Jackson Three fundamental changes: 1) voting rights for all white males 2) huge increase in # of elected offices around US 3) spread of the spoils system Whigs led by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster Made up of bankers, merchants, industrialists Opposed to Jacksonian democracy Supported high tariff and 2nd Bank of US

Whigs were the other major party from the mid-1830’s thru 1850’s Elected two presidents: Harrison & Taylor 1850’s - divisions in both parties led to splits Whigs fell apart after Clay and Webster died Democrats split into two groups – one supporting the North and one supporting the South

A new party arose from the former Whigs and fragmented Democrats – called the Republicans Founded in 1854 Elected their first president in 1860 – Abraham Lincoln Republican Party became the only party in US history to make the jump from 3rd party to major party

Era of Republicans 1860-1932 Civil War began the second era of one-party domination Supported by business people, bankers, farmers, laborers and newly freed slaves Democrats survived by holding on to the “Solid South” Only put 1 president in office before 1912: Grover Cleveland in 1884 and 1892

Election of 1896: very important in development of two-party system Small business owners, farmers, labor unions were unhappy with industry, railroads & monopolies Republicans nominated William McKinley (supporter of gold standard) Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan (supporter of free silver McKinley won

Election of 1912: Republicans suffered a setback Republicans nominated William Howard Taft Democrats nominated Woodrow Wilson Progressive Party nominated Teddy Roosevelt Many Republicans voted for Teddy and it allowed Wilson to win. However, the Republicans won the next three elections – Harding, Coolidge, & Hoover

The Return of the Democrats 1932-1958 Great Depression had a huge impact on American life and politics Election of 1932: FDR elected President, and Democrats back in power in Congress This election also marked a change in people’s attitudes towards the role of gov’t in social and economic life Democrats had new electoral base: southerners, small farmers, labor unions, and African Americans

FDR won three more terms and died Truman finished his term and one of his own 1952 and 1956 elections put Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower in office But then 1960 and 1964 brought Democrats JFK and LBJ to the presidency

The Start of a New Era 1968 brought Republican Richard Nixon to the presidency His resignation brought Republican Gerald Ford to the presidency. A bad economy and a pardon for Nixon helped Ford to lose to Democrat Jimmy Carter in 1976 A worse economy, the Iranian Hostage Crisis & ineffectiveness lost Carter his position to Ronald Reagan (Republican) in 1980

Reagan won reelection in 1984 and Republican George H. W Reagan won reelection in 1984 and Republican George H.W. Bush won in 1988 1992 brought a win for Democrat Bill Clinton as did 1996 Then 2000 and 2004 brought another Republican to the White House – George W. Bush 2008 brought Democrat Barak Obama to the Presidency

In the years since Nixon’s election 1968, the nation has had a divided government Many times Republicans have been presidents, but Congress has been controlled by Democrats When Clinton came into office, Congress was controlled by Republicans It is hard to get any issues solved when Congress is one party and the president is another