Chapter 5: Proliferation of Parties

Despite this dire warning, political parties appear in full force the minute Washington leaves office. Thus the 1796 election pits the hard core Federalist, John Adams, against his perpetual adversary and friend, the Anti-Federalist, Thomas Jefferson.

From there on, the contests will focus on two major parties at a time, with the Democrats – heirs of Jefferson – facing off against National-Republicans, then Whigs, and finally, Lincoln’s Republicans.

Still a host of often single-issue “third parties” will surface from time to time, never winning the White House but often gaining influence at the state or local levels:

• The Nullification Party (1828), mostly South Carolinians opposing the tariff on cotton.
• The Anti-Masons (1828), questioning the patriotic loyalty of its members, most notably Andrew Jackson.
• The Liberty Party (1840), comprising abolitionists who believe that political action is needed to end slavery.
• The Free Soil Party (1848), proposing to ban slavery in the Mexican Cession lands on behalf of “free soil, free labor and free men.”
• The American Party (1848) also known as the Know-Nothings, aimed at suppressing Catholic immigration and participation in public offices.
• The Unionist Party (1851), founded by moderate Georgia Democrats to counteract talk of succession among the Southern fire-eaters.
• The Southern Democrats (1860), who break away at the national convention over slavery and soon form the Confederate States of America.
• The Constitutional Unionist Party (1860), still seeking a last second compromise on slavery to save the Union.