U.S. Political Parties

U.S.Political Parties 1832-1860

Presidential Timeline 1789-2009 Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren Wm. Henry Harrison John Tyler James K. Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore Franklin Pierce James Buchanan

Election of 1832 • Andrew Jackson, Democratic Party • Henry Clay, National Republican Party • John Floyd, National Republican Party • William Wirt, Anti-Masonic Party

Parties in 1832 Democratic National Republican Opposed to banks Favored local rule Favored limited government Opposed high tariffs Opposed monopolies Champion of common man Favored national projects (roads, canals, infrastructure) Favored protective tariffs Opposed immorality, vice and crime, some blamed on immigrants

Election of 1836 • Martin Van Buren, Democratic Party • William Henry Harrison, Whig Party • Hugh L. White, Whig Party • Daniel Webster, Whig Party • W.P. Mangum, Whig Party

Democratic Party (same as 1832) Plus: --Avoided Texas annexation for fear of political problems with expansion of slavery in Texas territories Whig Party (same as former National Republicans in 1832) Political Parties in 1836

Election of 1840 • William Henry Harrison, Whig Party • Martin Van Buren, Democratic Party (incumbent, not re-elected) • James G. Birney, Liberty Party

Political Parties in 1840 Democratic Party Martin Van Buren still opposed annexation of Texas Van Buren painted as aristocrat who oversaw Panic of 1837 Still favored laissez-faire government Whig Party Finally wins an election, defeating an incumbent Advertised their candidate as the common man Liberty Party Strongly anti-slavery party emerges, does not receive many votes in 1840

President Wm. H. Harrison & VP John Tyler • Harrison dies in office one month into term • VP John Tyler, a Va. Aristocrat put on the ticket to appeal to Southerners, takes over • Tyler is a former Democrat—favors states’ rights and many other Democratic policies • Tyler vetoes many Whig bills, even though he is one • Tyler strongly promoted annexation of Texas

Election of 1844 • James K. Polk, Democratic Party • Henry Clay, Whig Party • James G. Birney, Liberty Party (Tyler was disowned by the Whigs, rejected by the Democrats, and tried to run as an independent before finally dropping out)

Democrats Supporter of Texas annexation, Oregon & manifest destiny (Oregon was an important issue in the north, Texas in the south) Whigs Main campaign issue was an economic plan Opposed to annexation of Texas Political Parties in 1844

Election of 1848James K. Polk did not seek re-election • Zachary Taylor, Whig Party • Lewis Cass, Democratic Party • Martin Van Buren, Free Soil Party

Whig Party --Had to shift from anti-Mexican War to support of treaty of Guadaloupe-Hidalgo --Also shifted to opposition to slavery in the territories --Taylor a Whig in name only—more like Dems. --Began to break apart into northern and southern factions due to slavery. Political Parties in 1848 Democrats --Remained silent on slavery, but nominee suspected of pro-slavery views --Northern Democrats favored “popular sovereignty --Southern Democrats favored “common property” Free Soil Party --Opposed further expansion of slavery into the western territories

Death of Zachary Taylor1850 • His VP, Millard Fillmore, took over • Daniel Webster had turned down the Vice-Presidential spot before the election and unknowingly lost his best chance to be President • Fillmore, unlike Taylor, supported slavery in the territories (though personally detested slavery itself)

Election of 1852--The end of the Whig Party • Franklin Pierce, Democratic Party • Winfield Scott, Whig Party • John P. Hale, Free Soil Party

Democratic Party --Candidate was a northerner (Pierce) who supported southern causes Whig Party --Took 53 ballots at the nominating convention before Winfield Scott is selected --Southern Whigs support Pierce in large numbers Political Parties in 1852

Death of the Whig Party The regional disagreements finally caused the Whigs to fall apart The “Know Nothing” Party, later called the “American Party” organizes around anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic sentiment The Republican Party emerges, founded on the opposition to extension of slavery to the territories (not on opposition to slavery, an important distinction)

Election of 1856 • James Buchanan, Democratic Party • John C. Fremont, Republican Party • Millard Fillmore, American Party

Political Parties in 1856 Democrats --Nominate James Buchanan, another northerner with southern sympathies --This enables them to carry some northerners as well as the south Republicans --Nominate John C. Fremont, anti-slavery western explorer --Party begins to form around the slavery issue

Illinois Senate Election 1858 Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat --Well-known from Great Compromise passage --Proponent of popular sovereignty --Wants to be President Abraham Lincoln, Republican --Former Congressman --Objected to slavery on moral grounds Series of debates between the two candidates became of national interest Lincoln said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Douglas’ half-hearted endoresement of Fugitive Slave Law made him unpalatable to the south

Election of 1860 • Abraham Lincoln, Republican Party • Stephen A. Douglas, Democratic Party • John C. Breckinridge, Democratic Party • John Bell, Constitutional Union Party

U.S. Political Parties