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Period: to
Party Eras
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Federalist vs Democratic Republican Party. (1796-1824)
Critical Election: 1796
First political parties are formed in the fledgling country. Hamilton leads federalist while Jefferson leads Democratic Republicans. Jefferson and the Democratic republicans win control. Federalist dissolve (dealignment) -
Second era Democrats vs Whigs
Critical Election: 1828
Democratic-republicans split into two parties, democrats (under Jackson) and Whigs as slavery began to divide parties and the nation. Jackson takes the win for Democrats and the previous Whigs realign to form the Republican Party. -
Republican Eras (1860-1928)
Critical Elections: 1860, 1896
Lincoln wins in 1861 on promise to end slavery, civil war begins. Republican Party booms from the end of the civil war until the stock market crash.
Realignment to the Republican dominance during this era. -
New Deal Era (1932-1964)
Critical Election: 1932
Hoover screws Republican Party through inactivity during Great Depression so FDR comes in with New Deal plan and appeals to the minorities for the first time. The Democrats would hold the presidency pretty firmly until after the disastrous Vietnam war.
This era had a realignment to the Democratic Party dominance through the poor and minorities. -
Modern Era (1968-present)
Critical Election: 1968
After the disastrous Vietnam war under the democrats There was a realignment to the Republican Party which gave Nixon the presidency. Since then the presidents have been mostly republican with a democratic congress until just recently wher we might be witnessing a realignment to the Democratic Party with Bill Clinton, Obama, and possibly Hillary next.
