Timeline sml

Political Party Timeline

By Tokubuchi

  • Revolutionary War begins

  • Continental Congress signs Declaration of Independence

  • The Continental army's "Retreat Across the Jersey's"

  • Washington wins the first Battle of Trenton

  • Victory at Saratoga, the turning point of American revolution

    Sep. 9-Oct.10

  • Article of confederation adopted

  • Battle of Yorktown

    Sep.28 - Oct 19

  • Treaty of Paris ented the formal acknowledgement of the US as an independent nation

  • Northwest Ordinances outline process for sale of new lands

  • Massachusetts farmers rise up in Shays Rebellion

  • Philadelphia Constitutional Convention drafts plan for federal government

  • Constitution is debated across country

  • The independent party

    George Washington becomes the 1st President of the United States. He was not formally affiliated with any Political Parties during his two terms in office and therefore classed as an Independent.

  • Federalist Party founded

    The Federalist Papers explained the Constitution to the American people and promoted the concept of Federalism. The Federalist Party originated in opposition to the Democratic-Republican Party in America during President George Washington’s first administration.

  • In Philadelphia's Congress Hall, the Bill of Rights, which constitutes the first ten amendments to the Constitution

  • Anti-Federalist Party founded

    they believed that the vast majority of ordinary, less educated people, had the skills and common sense required to run the government.

  • Democratic-Republican Party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

  • Period: to

    First Party system

    It featured two national parties competing for control of the presidency, Congress, and the states: the Federalist Party, created largely by Alexander Hamilton, and the rival Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party, formed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, usually called at the time the "Republican Party."

  • The cornerstone for the U.S. Executive Mansion (called the White House since 1818) in the new District of Columbia

  • George Washington signs the Proclamation of Neutrality in the French Revolutionary Wars

  • Tennessee is admitted into the Union as the 16th state.

  • John Adams elected president for the Federalist Party

    He believed that the new central government, and the well-educated, wealthy classes, should be given the greatest power of government.

  • Republican principle

    The Antifederalist party was re named as the Republican Party reflecting the ideals of Republicanism supporting states’ rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution

  • Thomas Jefferson, leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, was elected the third president of the United States.

  • The James Madison followed Jefferson as leader of the DemocraticRepublican Party

  • Fall of Federalist Party

    The Federalists bitterly opposed the rising power of the Democratic-Republicans and held secret meeting at the Hartford Convention to air their views reproaching Madison’s administration and the War of 1812, some delegates favored secession. The War of 1812 ended with a sense of victory and sealed the destruction of the Federalist Party.

  • National Republican Party founded

    1824 - 1833

  • Democratic Party founded

  • Whig Party founded

    to oppose President Andrew Jackson and the Democrats.

  • Martin Van Buren was elected president on the Democrat ticket.

    The party lost its popularity due to the Panic of 1837, the president was given the nickname 'Martin Van Ruin' and the electors turned their affiliation to the newly formed Whig party.

  • The Whig Party achieved power through the election of William Harrison and John Tyler but both died in office before being able to make the party's impact on the nation.

    1841 - 45

  • Fall of the Whig Party

    The Whig Party came into power again with the election of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore. The policies of Fillmore led to division in the Whig party. The anti-slavery faction of the Whigs, including members of the "Barn-burners" anti-slavery faction and the Free-Soilers successfully prevented the re-nomination of Fillmore and destroyed the Whig Party in 1853.

  • James Knox Polk was elected president as leader of the Democrat Party and added a vast area to the U.S.

    its acquisition precipitated a bitter quarrel between the North and the South over expansion of slavery

  • National Union Party(Republican Party) founded

    o further the beliefs of national interest above sectional interests and states' rights.

  • The election of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan brought the Democrats into power

  • Change name from National Union to Republican party

    Upon Abraham Lincoln's death in 1865, Andrew Johnson became the only other National Union President. The 'National Union Party' then changed its name to the Republican Party.

  • Abraham Lincoln was elected President as the first leader of the National Union Party.

  • Ulysses Grant was elected President and the first leader of the re-named Republican Party.

  • Period: to

    Two Party system

    a party system where two major political parties dominate the government. One of the two parties typically holds a majority in the legislature and is usually referred to as the majority or governing party while the other is the minority or opposition party.