Political Parties A History

First American Parties The Federalist Party – Alexander Hamilton, Sect. of Treasury in Washington Administration – Party of the “rich and well-born” – Most supported the new Constitution – Favored powerful executive & strong central gov’t – Appealed to bankers, manufacturers, & commercial interests

First American Parties The “Democratic” Party (1828) First called the “Jeffersonians” Then the “Jeffersonian Republicans Then the ”Democratic-Republican” Party – Thomas Jefferson, Sect. of State in Washington Administration (resigned in 1793 t org. his party) – Formed in opposition to Fed – Favored the “common-man” – For limited gov’t, Congress should be strongest branch – Appealed to shopkeepers, farmers, and laborers

First American Parties 1796, Federalists vs Democratic Republicans – John Adams (F) vs Thms. Jefferson (DR) Adams wins by 3 electoral votes 1800, Federalists vs Democratic Republicans – John Adams (F,i) vs Thms. Jefferson (DR) Jefferson wins DR’s win Congress Federalist Party is never heard from again...

Four Eras of American Political Parties I: – Democratic Party wins 13 of 15 prez. Elections Lost only in 1840 & 1848 – 1820’s, split into factions – Challenged by National Republican “Whig” Party from 1830’s – 1850’s Issued of dispute; public lands, 2 nd National Bank, tariffs, slavery

Four Eras of American Political Parties Jacksonian Democracy – 1. UWM suffrage – 2. increase in elected offices across country – 3. spreading spoils system Awarding gov’t jobs, contracts, etc... to one’s “boys” Whigs – Henry Clay & Daniel Webster – Supported by bankers, merchants and industrialists 1850’s slavery crisis split both parties – W: leaderless, 1854 anti-slavery Republican Party filled the void – D: split btwn anti-slavery North (joined Reps) & pro-slavery South

Four Eras of American Political Parties II: – For nearly 75 years Republicans dominated the scene. – Supported by business, bankers, farmers, laborers, and formerly enslaved African Americans – Dems hung on to power in the Jim Crow south – 1896, McKinley vs. Bryan M supported gold standard B supported free silver (debasement of currency) – Lost the election but became champion of the “little man”

Four Eras of American Political Parties Reps lost 1912 – former Prez, Teddy Roosevelt ran as a Progressive – split the Rep vote – Dem Wilson won

Four Eras of American Political Parties III: – Great Depression brings Dems back to power FDR leads New Deal Coalition; workers, unions, southerners, small- farmers, big city “machines” New Deal policies strengthened coalition and brought in Af-Ams (even though many of the policies did not apply to them) – New attitude about the role of gov’t – 1950’s Reps win with Eisenhower – 1960, Dems elect first Catholic prez, Kennedy – 1960’s, LBJ usher in Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act Expands war n Vietnam which kills around 54,000 Americans Loose support of many young people ’64, defeated Barry Goldwater (r) – More libertarian than most Reps – A young Hillary Rodham worked on his campaign

Four Eras of American Political Parties IV: Present – Era of divided gov’t Nixon won presidency with coalition of southern dems, hard-right anti- communists, pro-war working classes “law & order” campaign Dems ran V.P. Humphrey bc LBJ quit in disgrace over Vietnam War – Nixon destroyed the Rep “brand” in the Watergate scandal – 1976, Carter (d) defeated Ford (r) High inflation Energy crisis Carter pushed for austerity & conservation – 1980, Reps nominate former Hollywood actor, Ronald Reagan Anti-conservation Pro-military spending Low taxes “let the good times roll”

Four Eras of American Political Parties – 1992, Clinton (d) Dems out of power for 12 years “New Democrats” – Adopted right-wing economic policies such as cutting anti- poverty programs, pro-Wall Street reforms (that led to the 2008 crash) – Multi-cultural social agenda – 2000, George W Bush (r) “compassionate conservatism” – New catch phrase, same policies (as Reagan, Bush & Clinton) » Deregulation, low taxes, anti-union, pro-military » Supported by suburbs, white ppl, business, banks, energy companies (Dick Cheney, V.P.) » Iraq War, neo-conservative agenda

Four Eras of American Political Parties – 2008, Barack Hussein Obama(d) Nation’s first black prez Clinton domestic policy of low taxes, deregulation, privatization of gov’t functions, etc... Entered office with worst economic crisis since 1930’s Unprecedented opposition from Reps Much social change under his admin led more by the ppl than his gov’t; same-sex marriage, drug legalization in some states Pushed for a health insurance reform law to expand coverage / implementation spotty do to Dem weakness at state level Failed to take action against the banks after 2008 crash.