The Second (2nd) The Second (2nd) Party SystemParty System

EthanEthan

And now its time for your favorite thing everAnd now its time for your favorite thing ever THE PARTIESTHE PARTIES

1820s-50s1820s-50s In the red corner: In the red corner:

THE THE DemocratsDemocrats

Trace their origin back to the anti-Trace their origin back to the anti-federalists and Jeffersonian federalists and Jeffersonian democratic-republicansdemocratic-republicans

Apparently they were Apparently they were pragmatists,for they shortened the pragmatists,for they shortened the name to just “democrats”name to just “democrats”

In the blue corner: In the blue corner:

THE THE WhigsWhigs

Originated from the Federalists Originated from the Federalists and people like Alexander and people like Alexander HamiltonHamilton

Less focused on the economy, Less focused on the economy, thoughthough

THE CONTENDERSTHE CONTENDERS(party leaders)(party leaders)

DEMOCRATSDEMOCRATS Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren John C. CalhounJohn C. Calhoun James K. PolkJames K. Polk Lewis Cass Lewis Cass Stephen DouglasStephen Douglas

WHIGSWHIGS Henry ClayHenry Clay Daniel WebsterDaniel Webster William H. Seward William H. Seward Thurlow WeedThurlow Weed

WhigsWhigs Believed (as with their Believed (as with their

predecessors) that the predecessors) that the government should be used to government should be used to further the social situations of further the social situations of the peoplethe people

Focused less on the economy Focused less on the economy and more on how the and more on how the government could “moralize” government could “moralize” the American daily life.the American daily life.

Overall focused on “bigger Overall focused on “bigger government” policies government” policies

GENERALLY the more GENERALLY the more wealthy people, although there wealthy people, although there were supporters from every were supporters from every demographicdemographic

Whigs (cont.)Whigs (cont.)

Promoted (national)Promoted (national) RoadworkRoadwork National BankNational Bank SchoolsSchools HospitalsHospitals Asylums Asylums

Very concerned with Very concerned with moral issuesmoral issues ProhibitionProhibition SlaverySlavery

DemocratsDemocrats

Supported individual Supported individual freedom above all freedom above all elseelse

Feared elitismFeared elitism GENERALLY people GENERALLY people

of more “humble” of more “humble” origins, but retained origins, but retained members from all members from all social statussocial status

Democrats (cont.)Democrats (cont.) Opposed most national Opposed most national

programs supported by programs supported by WhigsWhigs

No program that harmed No program that harmed (or created the perception (or created the perception of harming) freedom.of harming) freedom.

Destroyed the national Destroyed the national bankbank

Westward expansionistsWestward expansionists Promoted forceful removal Promoted forceful removal

of Indians to the westof Indians to the west

SimilaritiesSimilarities

Different social demographics within Different social demographics within parties minimized radicalism stemming parties minimized radicalism stemming from individual social statusfrom individual social status Also preserved unityAlso preserved unity

Ultimately destroyed (both) by the issue of Ultimately destroyed (both) by the issue of slavery (leading to the third [3rd] party slavery (leading to the third [3rd] party system)system)