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1815
Federalist Party The Federalists bitterly opposed the rising power of the Democratic-Republicans and held secret meetings 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. The secrecy of the Hartford Convention discredited the Federalists who were seen as too extreme and disloyal and even branded as "traitors". -
1787
In 1787 they began calling themselves the Federalists. This was the first United States political party. In 1796, anti-Federalists gathered around Jefferson. Members of Jefferson's group called themselves Democratic-Republicans. -
1789-1800
Transcript of Development of Political Parties, 1789-1800. - Alexander Hamilton became the Federalist leader. Thomas Jefferson supported the Democratic-Republican party and believed the Constitution. By 1789, the Federalist became the dominant force. -
1825
John Quincy Adams became the last President under the Democratic-Republican ticket. During this time it split into the northern-dominated Republicans and the southern-dominated Democrats -
1837
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. -
1853
Whig Party
Free Soil 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 "Barnburners" anti-slavery faction and the Free-Soilers successfully prevented the re-nomination of Fillmore and destroyed the Whig Party in 1853. -
1856 - 1890s
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. -
1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860 as the first leader of the National Union 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. -
1869
Ulysses Grant was elected President and the first leader of the re-named Republican Party. -
1869
United States has two major political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans who share almost all the political power in the country to the present day. -
Fourth party system (1896–1932)
The Republicans' victory in the election of 1896 began an era of Republican dominance that lasted for 36 years. The only Democratic president during this period, Woodrow Wilson, was elected when the Republican Party split in 1912. -
1932
United States has two major political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans who share almost all the political power in the country to the present day. -
1968
Republicans. The Democratic Party by the late 1960s is deeply fragmented and seemingly incapable of dealing with the violence and turmoil, social and political, caused by the Vietnam War. In 1968, the Democratic Party candidate is Vice President Hubert Humphrey -
1992
After capturing 19 percent of the popular vote in the 1992 presidential election, H. Ross Perot formed the Reform Party. Still active today, Reformists seek to limit the power of special interest groups and return political power back to the people. In 1996, Perot again ran for president, but lost. In 1998, by winning the Minnesota gubernatorial race, Jesse Ventura became the first Reform candidate to win an election.