Political Parties Definition: Groups of individuals with common political beliefs. U.S. Government is conducive to political parties because the Executive and Legislative branch must work together. Two Party System - Founding Fathers were against having political parties – felt they would corrupt government (for example: George Washington had a diverse cabinet – different political beliefs)
First Parties Federalists Alexander Hamilton and John Adams Favored active Federal Government Pro-British Foreign Policy Democratic-Republican (today’s Democratic Party) – Thomas Jefferson Limited Federal Government Pro-French Foreign Policy Referred to as Republicans Held the Presidential office for 28 years after Jefferson became President, resulted in a one-party system, Federalists fell apart.
Two Party System - Revived NNational Republicans - John Quincy Adams FFederal Government actively promotes economy DDemocratic- Republicans – Andrew Jackson BBy 1828, became known as the Democratic Party CControl the Presidency from 1828 – 1860 (Civil War shift)
1860-Emergence of Today’s Parties Republican Party (Abraham Lincoln) Opposed expansion of slavery West Believed in Nationalism Democratic Party Favored expansion of slavery West States’ rights (States before National Government) 1860 – 1912: Republicans dominate Presidency
“ New Deal” Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrats control Congress for the next 48 years (until 1980 – election of Ronald Reagan)