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First Party System
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Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans
Federalists were led by Alexander Hamilton. They believed in a strong federal government. Democratic-Republicans were led by Thomas Jerfferson. They wanted a strong state government. -
Critical Election
Power went from Federalists to Democratic Republicans -
Liberals v Conservatives
Conservatives were the Democratic Republicans, and the liberals were the federalists. -
Downfall of Federalists
Federalsits lost popularity for their refusal to support the War of 1812. -
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Era of Good Feelings
Time period when only one party had influence in politics. This marked the end of the First Party System. -
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Second Party System
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Critical Election
Democratic-Republicans split into Democrats and Whigs -
A New Era
Second Party System saw a split of the Democratic-Republican Party into the Jacksonian Democrats, who grew into the modern Democratic Party, led by Andrew Jackson, and the Whig Party, led by Henry Clay. -
Liberals v. Conservatives
The Democrats supported the primacy of the Presidency over the other branches of government, and opposed the Bank of the United States as well as modernizing programs that they felt would build up industry at the expense of the taxpayer. The Whigs, on the other hand, advocated the primacy of Congress over the executive branch as well as policies of modernization and economic protectionism. Central political battles of this era were the Bank War and the Spoils system of federal patronage. -
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Third Party System
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New Party
Emergence of the anti-slavery Republican Party, which adopted many of the economic policies of the Whigs. Democrats were conservative, republicans liberal. -
Critical Election
Lincoln's election marked rise of Republican party, who were more liberal because they wanted a big government. -
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Fourth Party System
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Critical Election
Beginning of Progressive Era with election of McKinley. -
The Great Depression
The stock-market crash of 1929, and the Depression, was a national trauma that spilt and once again realigned America’s political parties. Republicans took a laissez-faire approach to the economic depression, giving a free hand to business and saying that legislation could not cure America’s economic woes. Democrats took a hands-on approach, demanding government intervention. -
Critical Election
FDR won, which started an increase in the federal governments power. -
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FDR
President Roosevelt implemented many programs that made the national government more powerful.Set a precedent for the democratic party. -
Period: to
Sixth Party System
Democrats gain power, forcing Republicans to become the Moderate Party. http://truthalliance.net/Portals/0/Archive/images/news/2012/07/9326220-the-democrat-and-republican-symbols-of-a-donkey-and-elephant-facing-off.jpg -
Critical Election
In my opinion, 2016 will be a critical election. The GOP will lose again, and they will have to come more center in order to compete in the socialistic society we are entering.
