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1788- Geogre Washington
After the Constitution was ratified, there were no political parties. George Washington was elected without opposition. -
1792 Geroge Washigton
During the 1790s, two parties began to form around differences of opinion within Washington’s cabinet. Federalists, behind Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton’s, supported a strong central government that could promote manufacturing and commerce. Supporters of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who began to call themselves Democratic-Republicans, believed in small central government and an agricultural society. -
1800- Thomas Jeferson and John Adams
The election of 1800 was a critical moment in American democracy- the first peaceful exchange of power between two parties. -
1810- James Madison and Charles Pinkley
The Democratic-Republicans gradually adopted Federalist programs, including support for manufacturing and commerce and a stronger central government. -
1812- James Madison and Dewitt Clinton
Federalists opposed the War of 1812, and the American victory cost them support. -
1820-
By 1820, the Federalists could no longer field a Presidential candidate. James Monroe won re-election without opposition, and the “Era of Good Feelings” began. -
1820 -James Monroe
By 1820, the Federalists could no longer field a Presidential candidate. James Monroe won re-election without opposition, and the “Era of Good Feelings” began. -
1824- John Q Adams
In 1824, four men ran for President, all calling themselves Democratic-Republicans. Andrew Jackson won the most votes, but no candidate won a majority of the electoral vote. The election went to the House of Representatives, which chose John Quincy Adams. -
1828- Andrew Jackson and John Q Adams
In 1828, supporters of Andrew Jackson had begun calling themselves Democrats. They wanted small government, and they opposed trade protection, national banks, and paper money. Supporters of John Quincy Adams, calling themselves National Republicans, wanted a strong central government that would support internal improvements and promote commerce. -
1832- William Wirt
In New York and New England, opposition to Jackson organized the Anti-Masonic Party, which feared the role of Freemasons in government. In 1832, they held the first presidential nominating convention in the US. -
1836- Daniel Webster
By 1836, opponents of Jackson’s Democrats had organized into the Whig Party.They opposed what they saw as Jackson’s autocratic rule, and they supported social, economic, and moral reforms. In 1836, they ran four regional candidates, hoping to split the electoral vote and throw the election to the House of Representative, where the Whig majority would pick a President. But their strategy failed. -
1840's- James Blemy
The Liberty Party was organized in the 1840s to advocate for the abolition of slavery. It had little success but was an important forerunner to other anti- slavery efforts. -
Known Nothing Party
The “Know-Nothing” Party organized in opposition to immigration, especially of Catholics. At first they worked in secret, and when asked about their activities, they replied “I know nothing”. In the 1850s, they renamed themselves the American Party, and in 1856, with the Whig Party breaking up, they ran Millard Fillmore for President. -
1852- Whigs
Divided over the issue of slavery, the Whig party split in the 1850s. Most Northern Whigs joined the new Republican Party, while many Southern Whigs became Democrats. The remaining Whigs ran former President. Millard Fillmore on a joint ticket with the American Party in 1856. -
1854- Free Soil Party
In 1854, Whigs and Free-Soilers joined forces to create the Republican Party. Republicans opposed the expansion of slavery and adopted a progressive platform, supporting railroads, the growth of cities, education, and homesteads for farmers. -
1860- Southern and Northern Democratic
The Democrats, finally split over slavery, could not agree on a candidate in 1860. Northern and Southern Democrats ran separate candidates, and their division allowed the Republicans to capture the White House. -
1860- Constitutional Union
A few remaining Whigs and Know-Nothings ran John Bell on the Constitutional Union ticket in 1860, advocating simply to keep the Union as it was. -
1872- Horace Greeley
In 1872, Republicans calling for an end to Reconstruction spilt and ran Horace Greeley for President on the Liberal Republican ticket. Democrats also nominated Greeley. -
1876-Congressional Democrats
In 1876, election results in three southern states were contested. Congressional Democrats agreed not to let Hayes have the Presidency in exchange for an end of Reconstruction. -
1880s- Republicans
In the 1880s, Republicans “waved the bloody shirt,” gaining support by reminding northern voters that they had won the Civil War. -
1884- Greenback Party
The Greenback Party supported government issue of paper money to help farmers and businesses. By 1884 it also advocated an income tax, the eight-hour work day, and women’s right to vote, and the party quickly lost support. -
1890- Democrats
By the mid-1890s, the Democrats’ northern coalition of farmers, immigrants, and businessmen was breaking up. In the Congressional elections of 1894, Republicans nearly swept the northern states. -
Populist Party
The Populists opposed the gold standard and supported a freer money supply. More generally, they advocated for farmers and industrial workers and a stronger government to work for their interests rather than those of the parties. -
1896- William Jennings Bryan
In 1896, William Jennings Bryan’s supporters took control of the national Democratic Party. Bryan argued that farmers and workers would be crucified on a “cross of gold” by conservative bankers and businessmen who insisted on a tight money supply. He lost the election, but the Democratic Party increasingly backed his populist principles. -
1896- Republicans
In 1896, Republicans led by William McKinley argued that Bryan’s liberal economic policies would make everyone poor. McKinley also reassured immigrants, especially Germans, that he welcomed them as Americans. His campaign manager, Mark Hanna, raised millions of dollars and used new techniques of advertising. The result was a Republican landslide. The new Republican coalition would dominate national politics for another 36 years. -
1900- Democrats and Populist
As Democrats began to take up Populist causes, the Populist Party lost influence. In 1900 they ran a “Fusion”ticket, supporting the Democratic nominee for President, William Jennings Bryan. -
1901- Socialist Party
The Socialist Party of America was formed in 1901 by a merger of other smaller parties. It drew support from trade unionists, progressive social reformers, populists farmers, and immigrant communities. From 1904 to 1916, its candidates drew between 3 and 6 percent of the vote in presidential elections. -
1920- Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party organized around a single issue: the banning of alcoholic beverages. They received a small percentage of the vote in each election until 1920.