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The Federalist Party
One of the first political parties. The Federalist Party favored a strong federal government and dominated national politics in the 1790s.The party was formed by Alexander Hamilton, but also included George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison. Most of the supporters included urban bankers and businessmen, to support his fiscal policies.They wanted to ratify the constituion. This Party quickly faded away in 1816 -
Period: to
18th and 19th century
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Democratic and Republican Party
Thomas Jefferson founded it for the purpose of counteracting the federalists.The party insisted on a strict construction of the Constitution, and denounced many of Hamilton's measures (especially the national bank) as unconstitutional. The party was strongest in the South and weakest in the Northeast. It favored states' rights and the primacy of the farmers and the planters over bankers, industrialists, merchants, and investors.This party remained but has changed over the years. -
Whig Party
The party was formed in opposition to President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic Party. The Whig Party counted on its members such as Daniel Webster, William Henry Harrison, and their leader, Henry Clay.Most groups that were against Jackson joined forces within this political party.Yet during the party's brief life, it managed to win support from diverse economic groups in all sections and to hold its own in presidential elections.It ended in 1856. -
Liberty Party
A minor party which was only around to impact the election of 1844, it took away a presidential win for Henry Clay, Their main focus was on advocating the anti-slavery cause. Although numerically small, the Liberty party had a lot of influence in a number of northern states. In January 1848 the party nominated John P. Hale at its convention in New York City. Hale withdrew from the race, and the Liberty Party ended when many of its members joined Democrats and Whigs forming the Free Soil Party. -
Free Soil Party
Made by antislavery members in the North, this party supported the abolition cause. Also, they thought that the government should help the community more with internal improvements and handouts, such as homesteads.This party was impacted a lot by the nagging slavery issue. They ended in 1854 when they joined the Republican party. -
The American Party
Also known as the know-nothing party. Its members strongly opposed immigrants and followers of the Catholic Church. The people in this party were known as "nativists", because of their platform of restricting immigration as much as possible as well as their advocation of temperance. They later dissolved and became apart of the Republican party during the election of 1860. -
Rebublican Party
In Ripon, Wisconsin, former members of the Whig Party meet to establish a new party to oppose the spread of slavery into the western territories. The Republicans rapidly gained supporters in the North, and in 1856 their first presidential candidate, John C. Fremont, won 11 of the 16 Northern states. -
Prohibtion Party
The Prohibition Party advocates temperance. They look for the complete banning of alcohol. Also, they have adopted many religiously influenced views. Its first National Committee Chairman was John Russell of Michigan.The Prohibitionists are still strong advocators to this day. -
Liberal Republican Party
The Liberal Republican party's candidate was Horace Greeley. Forming to oppose the corruption during Ulysses Grant's presidency, they promoted the cleansing of the administration. They were also against the Reconstruction that followed the Civil War. Greeley died on November 29, 1872. Although the Liberal Republican Party did not survive Greeley's death, several of its reforms materialized in the following decade. -
The Greenback Labor Party
Consisting of mainly farmers, this party believed that inflation can lead to better conditions in the economy. Also, they had programs to improve labor. Its success was short lived though. As economic conditions improved across America throughout the first half of the 1880s, worker discontent subsided, and its 1884 presidential candidate, Gen. Benjamin Franklin Butler, failed in his campaign for the White House as well. After these two successive failures the party dissolved completely.
