Realignment Periods

Federalist Party

Oct 25, 1794

This was the original party of the United States. This party was all about following what the Constitution says, but they had a loose interpretation of the Constitution. John Adams was representing the Federalist party when he was elected as the second President of the United States. Major things the party did was national banks and keeping good relations with Britain.

Democratic Republican Party

Oct 25, 1800

This is the group known as the Jeffersonian Republicans that supported a strict interpretation of the Constitution. They were more of an anti-administration group. They were originally established in 1791, but the first success in Presidential elections came in 1800 when Jefferson won the election.

Jeffersonian Realignment

Nov 6, 1800

In the election of 1800, Jefferson defeated John Adams, the incumbent. This defeat brought in years of Republican rule and essentially spelled the end for the Federalist party. The major issues for the election were taxes being used for a front against the French and the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Democratic Party

Oct 25, 1828

The Democratic party rose to power in the 1828 election that got Andrew Jackson elected. This party came about through a different view on the National Bank, Indian relations, and supported state's rights. This party is one of the two that are still around today.

Jacksonian Realignment

Nov 6, 1828

In the presidential election of 1828, Andrew Jackson came to power, which represented a major realignment as people switched from the Democratic-Republicans, who had been in office for over 20 years, to the Jacksonian Democrats who gained major support. This election was a rout. Jacsom won 178 to 83. Another major significance was that this election was the first major mudslinging campaign.

The Republican Party

Oct 25, 1860

The party was formed when Abraham Lincoln ran in the election of 1860. He ran because he was going to be the person that stopped the growth of slavery and was someone who finally took a stronger stance on the issue that had been plaguing the country for decades. This is the other major party still in the United States.

Loncoln Realignment

Nov 6, 1860

In the election of 1860, there was a major realignment from the Democrats to the Republicans. Abraham Lincoln won this election in a landslide. The major issue at this time was slavery and the fact that people in the north wanted to stop slavery as a whole and the south wanted to keep it because of their agricultural economy. The people supported Lincoln's effort against slavery.

Populist Party

Oct 25, 1891

This party is also known as the people's party. Though the party failed to last two decades, it still had a major impact on the country at the time. It supported small white farmers wh were against the unfairness of the railroad industry and banks. They were essentially anti-elitism.

McKinley Republican Realignment

Nov 6, 1896

This was the climax of a heavily contested presidential race in which the Republicans brought down the Democrat William Jennings Bryan. This showed that the Republican candidate was more popular than Democrat, populists and other groups who also supported Bryan. The major issue was how to get the United States out of the depression they had been in for the past three years.

Bull Moose Party

Oct 25, 1912

The Bull Moose party was created in 1912 as a split off of the Republican party. He ran against Taft, a fellow republican, and the democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson. This party stood for more progressive views. They supported the FDA and the small time workers getting more benefits.

FDR Realignment

Nov 6, 1932

This represented the major change in views as blacks switched from the republican side to the democratic side and supported Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The major cause of the realignment was the Great Depression and afterwards FDR's New Deal changed many people's views on politics and who they supported.

Libertarian Party

Dec 11, 1971

The Libertarian party was created because they had different views from the democrats and the republicans on seperate issues. They are very liberal when it comes to social issue and very conservative when it comes to economic issues. They were founded because of the Vietnam war and the movement away from the gold standard.

Definition of Realignment

Oct 25, 2012

Realignment is a time when the citizens or groups of a countryswitch from one party or viewpoint to another. Usually there is a major issue that causes this change, such as slavery or the Great Depression.