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George Washington was elected
Constitution was ratified. There were no political parties yet, so Washington was elected without opposition. -
Period: to
Political Parties form
During the 1790's, two parties formed around different opinions in Cabinet. The Federalists whose leader was Alexander Hamilton supported a strong central government, whereas Democratic-Republicans and their leader Thomas Jefferson supported a weak central government -
Election of 1796
John Adams won the first election of two parties. Beating Thomas Jefferson. -
Election of 1800
This was the first peaceful exchange of political power between two parties when Thomas Jefferson beat John Adams -
Election of 1804
Thomas Jefferson remained in power, beating Charles Pinkney -
Election of 1808
James Madison was elected keeping the power with the Democratic-Republicans. He beat Charles Pinkney as well -
Change of Views
Democratic-Republicans began to agree with some Federalist ideas, like support for manufacturing and commerce and a stronger central government. -
Election of 1812
Madison stayed in power, beating DeWitt Clinton -
Election of 1912
Debs(Socialists), Woodrow Wilson(National Democrats), Roosevelt(Progressive), Taft(Republicans), and Chafin(Prohibition) ran for President. Wilson won bringing power back to the Democrats. -
Federalist lost support
The federalist opposed the War of 1812, and the American victory lost them support -
Election 1816
James Monroe was elected into office, keeping the power with the Democratic-Republicans. He beat Rufus King -
Era of Good Feelings
Federalists couldn't put in a presidential candidate, so James Monroe won re-election. -
Election of 1824
Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, Henry Clay, and John Quincy Adams all ran for president, calling themselves Democratic-Republicans. Jackson won the most votes, but no one won the majority for electoral college. The election went to the House of Representatives and they chose Adams. -
Election of 1828
Jackson supporters began to call themselves Democrats. They wanted small government and hated trade protection, national banks and paper money. Adams supporters called themselves National Republicans. They wanted strong central government that supported internal improvements and promote commerce. -
Election of 1832
In New York and New England, opposition to Jackson created the Anti-Masonic Party, which feared Freemasons in government. The nominated William Wirt for President. He lost along with Henry Clay when Jackson remained in presidency. -
Election of 1836
Opponents of Jackson's Democrats created the Whig Party. They opposed autocratic rule and supported social, economic, and moral reforms. They nominated Willie Person Magnum, Daniel Webster, Hugh Lawson White, and William Henry Harrison, hoping to throw the election and sent it to the House, where the Whig majority would pick a president. They failed and Martin Van Buren won for the the Democrats. -
Liberty Party was formed
Liberty Party was created in the 1840s to advocate for abolition of slavery. Barely had any success, but was a great start for anti-slavery efforts. -
Election of 1840
Whig Party had their first win when Van Buren wasn't re-elected and their nominee, William Henry Harrison, won. He also beat James Bierney, the Liberty Party's nominee. -
Election of 1844
Power went back to the Democrats when James Polk beat Bierney and Henry Clay. -
Free Soil Party was created
The Free Soil Party opposed slavery expanding int western territories. They elected several men into Congress -
Election of 1848
Power went back to the Whigs when Zachary Taylor won beating Van Buren, who moved to the Free Soil Party, and Lewis Cass -
Know-Nothing Party
The Know-Nothing Party was created to oppose immigration, specifically Catholics. They first worked in secret, and got their name for saying the "know nothing" when asked. In the 1850s they renamed themselves the American Party. -
Election of 1852
Presidential power went back to the Democrats when Franklin Pierce beat John P. Hale(Free Soil) and Winfield Scott(Whig). -
Whig Party Split
Slavery divided the Whig Party in the 1850s. The Northern Whigs formed the Republican Party and the Southerners became Democrats. -
Whig and Free-Soilers joining forces
The Northern Whigs joined with the Free-Soilers and created the Republicans. The Republicans opposed slavery expanding and supported railroads, city growth, education, and homesteads for farms. -
Democrats adopted some Whig ideas
Democrats began to adopt some Whig ideas in the 1850s. All Democrats believed that slavery should be allowed in the West. By 1856, Democrats were almost the only party in the South. -
Election of 1856
Power stayed with Democrats when James Buchanan won. The Know-Nothings ran a joint ticket with the few remaining Whigs and nominated their first and last candidate, Millard Fillmore.The Republicans nominated John C. Fremont. -
Democrats split
Democrats split over slavery and couldn't agree on a candidate on 1860. Their division allowed the Republicans to get into the White House. The South nominated John C. Breckenridge and the North Stephen Douglas. -
Constitutional Union
A few remaining Whigs and Know-Nothings ran John Bell on the Constitutional Union ballot in 1860. -
Election of 1860
Because the Democrats split, the Republicans were able to put their nominee, Abraham Lincoln, in office. -
Election of 1868
The Democrats became one again and nominated Horatio Seymour. They lost and power remained with the Republicans with Ulysses S. Grant as President. -
Election of 1872
Republicans split due to differences about Reconstruction. Some ran Horace Greely with the Democrats. Greely lost and Ulysses S. Grant remained President. -
Greenback Party
The Greenback Party supported government issue of paper money because it helped farmers and businesses. In 1884, they advocated for income tax, eight-hour work day, and women's right to vote. They didn't last long -
Election of 1876
Hayes became President, but there were some issues because some southern states were still undecided. The Democrats and Republicans came to a compromise. If the Republicans removed troops from the South ending Reconstruction then Hayes would be President. Hayes beat Samuel J. Tilden(Democrats) and Peter Cooper(Greenback). -
Waving the bloody shirt
Republicans "waved the bloody shirt", which reminded people that they had won the Civil war, gaining them support in th election. -
Election of 1880
Power stayed with the Republicans when their nominee, James Garfield won beating Winfield Scott Hancock(Democrats) and James Baird Weaver(Greenback) -
Prohibition Party
Main issue was the banning of alcohol. They had a small percentage of the votes until 1920. -
Election of 1884
Power went back to the Democrats when their nominee, Grover Cleveland, won. Greenback nominated their last person Benjamin Franklin Butler. Republicans nominated James Blaine. The Prohibition Party nominated their first person, John Pierce St. John. -
Election of 1888
Power went back to the Republicans when Benjamin Harrison won. He beat Clinton Bowen Fisk(Prohibition) and Grover Cleveland(Democrats). -
Populist party
Populists Party opposed the gold standard and supported a free money supply. They advocated for farmers and industrial workers and a stronger government. -
Election of 1892
Power went back to the Democrats when Cleveland won. Populists nominated their first person, James Weaver. Benjamin Harrison(Republican) and John Bidwell(Prohibition) were also nominated. -
Democrats braking up?
By the mid 1890s, the Democrats farmers, immigrants, and businessmen were breaking up. In the election of 1894, the Republicans almost swept the northern states, -
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan's supporters took control of the national Democratic Party. He argued that farmers and workers would be crucified by conservative bankers and businessmen who wanted a tight money supply. -
William McKinley
William McKinley, with the Republicans, argued that Bryan's policies would make everyone poor. He reassured immigrants that he would welcome them into America. Hos campaign manager, Mark Hanna, raised millions and used it for new advertising techniques, resulting in a republican landslide. -
Election of 1896
Bryan, John Palmer(National Democratic), McKinley, and Joshua Levering(Prohibition) ran for President. McKinley won, giving power back to the Republicans. -
Election of 1900
Democrats began to adopt Populist ideas and ran a fusion ticket, nominating Bryan. A few Populists also ran Wharton Barker. McKinley ran again and Prohibition Party ran John Granville Wooley. McKinley won again -
Socialist Party
Was a melting pot of smaller parties. It got support from trade unionists, progressive social reformers, populist farmers, and immigrant communities. -
Election of 1904
Eugene V. Debs(Socialist) Alton B.Parker(National Democratic), Theodore Roosevelt(Republicans), and Silas Comfort Swallow(Prohibition) ran for President. Roosevelt won keeping the power the Republicans. -
Election of 1908
Debs(Socialists), Bryan(National Democratic), William Howard Taft(Republicans), and Eugene W. Chafin(Prohibition) ran for President. Taft won keeping the power with the Republicans. -
Roosevelt's comeback
Roosevelt retired in 108, but he felt like Taft was too into business interests so he ran again in 1912 under the Progressive or "Bull Moose" Party ticket. He split the Republican cote, which allowed Democrats to win Presidency. -
Election of 1916
Wilson won re-election, beating Allan Louis Benson(Socialist), Charles Evans Hughes(Republicans), and James Franklin Hanly(Prohibition). -
Election of 1920
Warren G. Harding won for the Republicans after he promised a "return to normalcy" after WWI. He beat Debs(Socialists), James M. Cox(Democrats), and Aaron S. Watkins(Prohibition) -
Revive to Progressive Party
In 1924, Wisconsin Senator Robert M. La Folette, Jr., broke from the Republicans and ran for president in the Progressive Party. He wwas supported by a farmer-labor coalition and endorsed the Socalist Party. -
Election of 1924
Republicans stayed in power when Calvin Coolidge became President. He beat La Follette(Progressive) and John W. Davis(Democrats). -
Election of 1928
There are now two main parties left, the Republicans and the Democrats. The Democrats nominated Alfred E. Smith, and the Republicans nominated Hebert Hoover. Hoover won th election.
