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Federalist Party
The Federalist Party was started by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. It was started after the constitution with the goal of getting the U.S. Constitution ratified. They believed in
• A desire to establish a strong central government.
• A corresponding desire for weaker state governments
• The support of many large landowners, judges, lawyers, leading clergymen and merchants
• The support of creditors (banks). -
Anti Federalists
Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were the founders of the Anti-Federalist party. The Anti-Federalists did not want to ratify the Constitution. Basically, they argue that:
• It gave too much power to the national government at the expense of the state governments.
• There was no bill of rights.
• The national government could maintain an army in peacetime.
• Congress, because of the `necessary and proper clause,' wielded too much power.
•The executive branch was too powerful -
Republican Party
The Anti-Federalist Party transforms into the Republican party led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The goal was fight the Federalist policies of the Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. -
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. -
National Republican Party
The National Republican Party, led by John Quincy Adams, was formed. Supporters favored strong economic nationalism, much like the former Federalists. -
Anit-Mason Party (Third Party)
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. -
Whig Party
As the National Republican Party dissolved, the Whig Party emerged. Led by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, the Whigs supported an expanded national government, increased commercial development, and cautious westward expansion. -
Free Soil Party (Third Party)
The Free Soil Party formed. Free Soilers supported the Wilmot Proviso, which proposed to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. -
Know Nothing Party (Third Party)
The Know-Nothing Party (also known as the American Party) was formed. Supporters were former Democrats who objected to the wave of Catholic immigrants entering the United States. -
Republican Party
The Whigs and Free-Soilers joined to form the Republican Party, which strongly supported the abolition of slavery. Some Republicans believed in freedom for blacks, while others merely believed slavery would keep white men from available labor and create laziness. -
Democratic Party Split
The Democratic Party split into two factions: The Southern Democrats, who supported the federal protection of slavery in the western territories; and The Northern Democrats, who wanted all questions of slavery left up to the U.S. Supreme Court. -
Democrats reunite
At the end of the Civil War, the Democratic Party's two factions joined back together. -
Republican Party Splits in three.
Civil War Reconstruction caused the Republican Party to split into factions: The Conservatives, who wanted the confederate states to quickly rejoin the union with no consideration for racial relations; The Radicals, who wanted to punish the confederate leaders, confiscate confederate property, and protect the rights of former slaves; and The Moderates, who didn't want to punish the confederate leaders, but did want some protections for former slaves.
