Despite admonitions from George Washington to avoid divisive partisan politics, America’s “First Party System” is well established by the time he leaves office in 1797.
The period between the formation of the Union and its break-up in the Civil War is marked by four distinct “Political Systems,” each with one party possessing dominant power nationally, and one or more opponents offering different platforms, and seeking to win control at the next election.
First Political System: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: 1789-1828
Parties
Starting
Presidents
Dissolution
Independent
1789
Washington (1789-1797)
1796
Federalist
1797
John Adams (1797-1801)
1820
Anti-Federalist/Democrat-Republicans
1789
Jefferson (1801-1809) Madison (1809-1817) Monroe (1817-1825)
1828
Federalist/National-Republicans
1828
JQ Adams (1825-1829)
1832
First Political System Comparisons
Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
Political Avatar
Hamilton
Jefferson
Geographical tilt
New England
South
Political Philosophy
Republic/leader class
Democracy/common man
Concentration of power
Washington/federal control
De-centralized/state’s rights
Important to avoid
Indecision during warfare
Recreation of a monarchy
Economic vision
Diversify/industrialize
Agriculture/farming
Finance
Soft money/federal bank
Hard money/state banks
Foreign tilt
Pro-Britain
Pro-France
Second Political System: Democrats vs. Whigs: 1829-1849
Parties
Starting
Presidents
Dissolution
Democrats (unified)
1828
Jackson (1829-1837) Van Buren (1837-1841) Polk (1845-49)
1860
Nullifiers
1828
None
1839
Anti-Masonic Party
1828
None
1838
Whigs
1834
Harrison/Tyler (1841-45)
1852
Second Political System Comparisons
Jackson’s Democrat Party
Clay’s Whig Party
Political Roots
Jefferson
Hamilton
Political Philosophy
Democracy/common man
Republic/leader class
Economic focus
Agriculture
Industrialization
Core Constituency
Small farmers
Farmers + city wage earners
Core Geography
South + West
Border + Northeast
Labor
Manual power
Manual + machines
Government Power
De-centralized/state’s rights
Washington/federal control
Federal spending
Limit it/balance budget
Invest in infrastructure
Tariff
Lower and on fewer goods
Higher to protect US mfrs.
Price to buy US land
Lower
Higher to fund investments
Money
Hard/specie to avoid inflation
Soft/paper to support capitalism
US Bank
Opposed/rigged for privileged
Supportive/control currency
Capitalism
Suspicious/elites/corruption
Fundamental to growth
Third Political System: 1849 – 1857
Parties
Starting
Presidents
Dissolving
Whigs
1834
Taylor/Fillmore (1849-1853
Democrats (unified)
1828
Pierce (1853-1857) Buchanan (1857-1861)
1860
Free Soil
1848
None
1854
American/Know Nothings
1848
None
1860
Third Political System Comparisons
Whigs
Democrats
Free Soil
American
Avatar
Clay
Douglas
Chase
Levin
Wilmot Proviso
Support
Oppose
Support
Support
Hot Button
Infrastructure
Expand slavery
West for free white
Immigration
Core Geography
Northeast/Border
South
Midwest
Massachusetts
Fourth Political System: 1857-1885
Parties
Starting
Presidents
Dissolving
Constitutional Union
1860
None
1864
Northern Democrats
1860
None
1865
Southern Democrats
1860
None
1865
Republicans
1856
Lincoln (1861-1865) Johnson (1865-1869)
Ongoing
Democrats (re-unified)
1885
Cleveland (1885-1891)
Ongoing
Fourth Political System Comparisons
Party
Platform On Slavery In The West
Republicans
Ban it in all the new territories
Northern Democrats
Decide based on popular sovereignty/state elections
Southern Democrats
Pass a law in Congress allowing slaves into all territories