-
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists Emerge
The Federalist Party, led by Alexander Hamilton, believed in a strong national government with centralized authority. Although George Washington never embraced a party, he leaned toward these ideals. The Anti-Federalists came about because they believed that a strong national government would just lead them back down the road of tyranny. They also favored limited commercial activity, and strong farming communities.
Significance: Trial and error regarding how to best govern the new country. -
Federalists Defeated
This year was a realignment period because the Jeffersonian Republicans defeated the Federalists and the Federalists disappeared as a political party.
Significance: This was a realignment period, the Democratic Republican Party formed in the Federalists place to rise as a major political party. -
Democratic Republican Party
The Democratic Republican Party, led by Andrew Jackson, was formed. Supporters favored a limited national government and were opposed to an economic aristocracy. Eventually, this party changed its name to the Democratic Party, which is now the oldest political party in the United States.
Significance: This was the very beginning of the rise of the Democratic party, in it's purest form. -
Anti-Mason
A group of National Republicans who resented Andrew Jackson's membership in the Society of Freemasons formed the Anti-Mason Party, the first independent third party.
Significance: It was the first major 3rd Party. -
The Whigs: Rise and Fall
The Whigs emerged in opposition to Andrew Jackson and his Democratic ways. They dominated elections after that for almsot 20 years. Around 1852, they dissolved and the Southerners went to the Democratic party while the Northerners became part of the new Republican party.
Significance: Whigs were a major political party for a long time and the split was considered a realignment period due to the fact that the Republican Party (a 3rd party at the time) came to power after the collapse. -
Rise of Republicanism
Whig party collapsed and Republican party under Lincoln came to power. The democrats had spilt into two groups - the first led by Stephen Douglas, the second led by John Breckinridge. Republicans won and After that point, the two major parties recieved different sources of support. parties that "tried to straddle the fence" were destroyed.
Significance: This was the 3rd realignment period and it identified the Republicans and Democrats as the two major political parties. -
Democrat with a Populist Platform- 4th Realignment Period
Economics was a big issue at the time because a series of depressions came about and it hit the farmers hard. Bryan won the Democratic nomination. Finding out afterwards that the platfrom of the party was populists, other Democrats who were anti- populist joined the Republican party. McKinley defeated Bryan, but he continued to run.
Significance: Bryan changed the meaning of the Democratic platform because the Republicans have always had farmers' support, until this election. -
Progressives -- Bull Moose Party
Led by Teddy Roosevelt, this party emerged because Roosevelt couldn't run on the Republican ticket because of Taft, so he decided to run as a 3rd party candidate with his Progressive ideas. This ended up splitting the vote for Republicans between he and Taft, causing Wilson to win.
Significance: When TR became the face of the Progressive/Bull Moose party, it split the Republican party support almost in half. In 1918, however, the party dissolved and merged back with the Republican party. -
FDR and the New Deal
The New Deal era is considered a realignment period because it redefined what "liberal" meant and changed the views of the Democratic party to favor government hands in social welfare programs.
Significance: Following this shift in ideas, shift in support drastically increased due to the vast majority of the African-American race would now support Democrats because of their efforts for social/economic equality instead of letting the wealthy run everything, -
American Independent Party
This 3rd party emerged because they felt as though Americans were losing sight of what America means. They wanted to reincorporate God back into our Government in order to create a more serene and peaceful country.
Significance: This party has become one of the largest 3rd parties around today and are slowly making an impact in government; starting in places like local/state governments.
