1. Impact of the Slavery on Political Parties

2. Democratic Party
Embraced labor theory of value: the proceeds of wealth should go to the person that creates the product
Did not like wage labor thus had problems with industrialization
Turned workers into slaves
Embraced immigrants: they were votes
Championed individual rights
Supported separation of church and state (Catholic immigrants applauded)
Opposed temperance
States’ Rights
Opposed tariffs, transportation improvements, national bank
National Party – split on slavery by section.

3. The Whigs (1833-1856) Internal improvements
Tariffs to protect American industry and labor from low-wage foreign competition
Centralized banking system
Many embraced temperance – sober up America
Believed public schools provided opportunity for all Americans to achieve success – provided an education for all – rich or poor
Supported expansion
Stronger Central Government
Had a southern contingent of wealthy land owners who opposed Jackson’s catering to the yeoman farmers
Non committed on the issue of slavery
- “cotton Whigs” vs. “conscience Whigs”

4. End of the Whigs
Poor leaders: Taylor was an apolitical war hero elected because of name recognition
Anti-Jackson party without a clear vision on slavery
Kansas-Nebraska Act will be the death nail

5. Free Soilers:
Created from Conscience Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats
Advocates of free soil, (availability of land to all in the west), free speech, and free men (abolition of slavery)
Nominated Martin Van Buren as president in 1848 and John P. Hale in 1852
Kept issue of abolition alive, but little impact otherwise
Only a one-trick pony. Replaced by Republicans
Northern conscience whigs opposed slavery. Taylor was a do nothing president regarding slavery.

6. Know Nothings
Formed in the 1840’s of frustrated Whigs and Democrats
Anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant
WASPS and Nativists
Opposed to large influx of Germans and Irish on the east coast in the 1840’s
Only presidential candidate: Millard Fillmore in 1856
Split on slavery issue – not their priority
Favored temperance
Increase naturalization laws
Feared loss of jobs to immigrants, did not like the slums and welfare programs that developed to aid the poor immigrants
KN wanted to increase naturalization to 21 years, restrict officeholding to natives

7. Republican Party Founded in Ripon, WI - 1854
Kansas-Nebraska caused Abe Lincoln to go into politics and join the Republicans
Anti-slavery
Whiggish in economics – favored federal banks, internal improvements, promoting industry
Encouraged western settlement with land grants