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Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalists, led by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, advocated states’ rights instead of centralized power. -
The Federalists
The Federalists, led by Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, wanted a strong central government. -
Democratic-Republicans
James Madison coined the term Democratic-Republican Party, but the lack of a consensus candidate to assume the presidency only intensified party struggles. -
The Democrats and the Whig Party
The Democratic-Republicans were so popular, the party had no less than four political candidates pitted against each other in the presidential election. John Quincy Adams won the presidency, in spite of Andrew Jackson winning the popular vote. This sparked a strong political division within the party, which eventually caused the party to split in two: The Democrats and the Whig Party. -
Jacksonian Democrats
The Democrats were led by Andrew Jackson (Jacksonian Democrats). He was against the existence of The Bank of the United States and he largely supported state’s rights and minimal government regulation. Donkey symbolized democrats since opponents called Jackson a “jackass”. -
The Party of Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, who belonged to the Republican Party, won the presidential election. This new Republican Party had recently been formed by a group of Whigs, Democrats and other politicians who had broken free from their respective parties in order to form a party based on an anti-slavery platform. -
Roosevelt Democrats
Franklin Roosevelt became the first Democrat in 80 years to win the presidency by a majority vote, rather than a plurality. “Roosevelt Democrats” believed that the New Deal would save the country from The Great Depression. -
Modern Democrats
Modern Democrats support social programs, labor unions, consumer protection, workplace safety regulation, equal opportunity, disability rights, racial equity, regulations against environmental pollution, and criminal justice reform. -
Modern Republicans
Modern Republicans (The GOP) support small government, deregulation, lower taxes, gun rights, restrictions on immigration (including restrictions on illegal immigration), restrictions on abortion, restrictions on labor unions, and increased military spending.