Jeffersonian Democrats - Essay Example

Jeffersonian Democrats America at its founding had no parties but factions. One faction favored the draftconstitution (federalists) and the other opposed (anti-federalists). George Washington a federalist assumed power in 1789 with John Adams as vice president. Alexander Hamilton became secretary of treasury, and Thomas Jefferson secretary of state. However, Jefferson and James Madison were opposed to Hamilton’s economic program of strong central government, assumption of state debts by federal government, National Bank of US and enactment of whiskey tax (Maisel 28). In 1791, divisions began to grow as Madison urged Jefferson to join him in organizing against Hamilton leading to formation of the Democratic - Republican Party mainly by anti-federalists. The founders of this party included: Madison, Jefferson, Robert Livingstone and George Clinton of New York and Senator Aaron Burr of Virginia. In midterm Congressional elections, the party garnered majority seats in Congress with 65 members. Madison was supported by Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, New York and Pennsylvania while New England opposed him (Reichley 32). The Democratic - Republican Party appealed to rural population and farmers; it was an agrarian party. It also advocated economic and social equality and liberal ideals. The French revolution also was an issue at the time and its supporters formed democratic societies (Democratic or Republican) and campaigned in 1794 elections for Republicans (Democratic - Republican Party). They were joined by some federalists’ to become majority party in 1795. Washington did not seek reelection for third term thus the 1996 elections pitted Adams a federalist against Jefferson a Republican. The Republican Party was defeated narrowly by Adams with 71 votes against 68. Thomas Pinckney a federalist got 59 votes and Burr (Republican) 30 votes. Jefferson became the vice president (Reichley 39). The party build up organizations to support Republican candidates and in mid elections Republicans garnered majority seats in Congress. In New York, Burr managed to get a uniform vote for the party ticket. The party got support from evangelicals who were Presbyterian New lights. Support also came from converts of rural families in South and Western frontier (Baptists and Methodists) and Catholics because of it equalitarian ideals (Maisel, 31-75). In 1800 elections Republicans won with narrow margin with Jefferson 73 votes and Aaron Burr 73 votes, Adams 65, Pinckney 64. Due to tie, the winner was decided by House of Representatives whereby Jefferson got 10 votes and Burr 4, 2 did not vote. Jefferson became president and Burr vice president both on Republican ticket. This was mainly due to switch of New York to the Republican Party. The Republican Party remained strong for most part as the Federalist Party died out after the 1800 elections. In 1804 Jefferson got 162 votes against 14 for Pinckney a federalist while George Clinton got 162 votes for vice presidency against Rufus King 14. Burr defected to the Federalist Party after he was dropped by Jefferson as running mate. The party emphasized social equality and was strong in South and West. It was supported by economic and social populists. In 1808 election James Madison was running against Pinckney and emerged the winner with 122 votes against Pinckney’s 47 while Clinton got 113 votes for vice president against King 47 (Reichley 58). In 1812 Madison got 128 votes against De Witt Clinton a federalist 89. For Vice president Elbridge Gerr (131) Jared Ingersol (86). The party got support from Henry Clay of Kentucky (speaker of the House) and John C Calhoun and Monroe. The party was still very strong in 1816 and 1820 elections with James Monroe as president in both elections. In 1816 Monroe got 183 against King 34 and in 1820, 231 against 1 for John Quincy Adams. There was no candidate for Federalist Party. For second term Republicans were divided. The elections of 1824 pitted Andrew Jackson against Quincy Adams. Former federalists supported Adams while Jackson was supported by young politicians, evangelical Protestants. Democrats in support of Adams administration called themselves National Republicans (N-R) while Jacksonians referred themselves as Democratic-Republicans (D-R) and later Democrats (Reichley 76). Adams won in 1824 elections against Jackson with 84 against 99 electoral votes and 113,122 popular votes against 151,271 for Jackson. William Crawford got 41 and Henry Clay 37. The outcome was decided by House of Representatives where Adams won by 13 delegates against 7 for Jackson and 3 Crawford. D-R saw this as a corrupt bargain and vowed to get the 1828 elections. In 1828 Jackson won election against Adams (N-R). In 1832, Jackson (D) won with 219 votes and Henry Clay (N-R) got 49. In 1836, opposition to Democratic ideals was resisted by others who formed a new party called Whig party. This comprised of National Republicans and other groups. However Democrats under Buren won presidency with 170 votes against William Henry Harrison a Whig 73 votes but in 1840 it was reversed as William (234) defeated Jackson (60) and John Tyler for V.P (234) against Richard Johnson (48). The party regained strength in 1844 with James Polk as president with 170 votes against Clay a Whig 105 votes. The compromise of 1850 and Fugitive Slave Act caused realignment in politics. It broke the Whig party giving advantage to Democrats. Democrats were defeated in 1848 elections by Whigs but with narrow margin but reclaimed seat in 1852 (Franklin Pierce 254 v 42 Winfield Scott) and in 1856 James Buchanan (D) got 174 v. John C Fremont (R) 114 (Maisel 28-75). The Democratic Party broke along sectional lines due to Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 leading to creation of Republican Party that became its main rival for decades. Democrats were supported by those who believed in Manifest Destiny. The Democratic Party lost dominance from 1860 to 1932 especially due to the issue of slavery with Republicans dominating the period although the solid south was for them. In 1860, two Democratic candidates run for presidency: Buchanan for North and John Breckinridge for South. As a result, Lincoln won the elections (Maisel 29-75). During civil war, Democrats split into war democrats, peace democrats and Copperheads thus weakening party. In 1876 Democrats got almost same support as Republicans of 185 vs. 184 and the House decided Rutherford Hayes a Republican be president. Democrats reclaimed seat in 1884 with Gorver Cleveland as president with 219 votes against Republican James Blaine 182. Grover lost in 1888 but was elected in 1892 against Harrison. Democrats also won in 1912 and 1916 with Woodrow Wilson as president with 435 votes against 88 by Roosevelt. 1916 Woodrow got 277 votes and Charles Hudges 254. The party lost support until 1932 when Roosevelt was elected on its ticket garnering 472 against 59 for Herbert Hoover. Roosevelt became president for four terms (1932-1944) and was succeeded by Harry Truman after his death in 1945. Democrats relied on the New Deal platform of ‘Relief, Recovery, Reform’ which appealed to labor unions, Southerners, liberals and minorities like Catholics and Jews. Democrats however lost to Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 elections with only 89 votes against Republicans 442. They won again in 1960 with John Kennedy 303 against Richard Nixon 219 and 1964 with Lyndon Johnson 486 and Barry Gold ware (R) 52 votes. He elicited support from African Americans by passing Civil Rights Act 1964. However, the Tet Offensive weakened the party and led him not to seek another term. Democrats were defeated by Nixon in 1968 and 1972 elections until 1976 when Jimmy Carter reclaimed seat. This time they got support from North instead of Traditional South as Southerners were against civil rights. They did not win again until 1992 when William J Clinton won against George Bush (Reichley 69-201). Though Democrats were defeated by Republicans in most presidential elections, they still remained more competitive in Congress with majorities in the House of Representatives. Democratic Party has been the party of ideological left for the longest period. Before, the party was for limited federal government as they were opposed to strong central government, National Bank, and federal debts. However, in 1896 the Democratic Party joined with Peoples Party thereby altering its political ideologies, The conservative Democrat Cleveland was replaced by William Bryan and the party began advocating social justice and increased role of government and supported progressive issues such as income tax and anti-trust. Roosevelt in liberal New Deal coalition furthered federal government expansion to regulate economy. It also advocated social welfare, labor unions and civil rights (Reichley 167-200). Major Conservative Parties The major conservative parties emanated from the Federalist Party led by George Washington. The party was for strong national government, national Bank, assumption of sate debts by Federal government, protective tariff and robust economic growth. The party was led by Washington until his retire in 1796 and consequently the split of the party into Federalist and Democratic-Republicans. Party was led to victory by John Adams in 1796 and he was running against Jefferson (D-R). Federalists were supported by clergy and Presbyterian Old lights who favored state-religion as means of protection against Republicans. The party also got support from Quackers and Episcopalians except in New England. John Adams got 71 votes against 68 for Jefferson (Maisel 29). The party did not clinch presidency for nine terms from 1800 to 1832. It declined in this period due to Adams authoritarian policies such as the Sedition Act (Reichley 39). They also did not have a capable leader after Hamilton was murdered by Aaron Burr. Furthermore, Jefferson adopted all policies of federalists hence they had no campaign platform. The party also lost electorates due to its anti-war stance during Madison’s presidency. According to Reichley (46) there were also divisions within the party between Adams, Hamilton and others. The opposers of Jackson (Democrat) had formed a party called National Republicans in 1824 under John Quincy Adams. In 1834, they joined forces with other groups to create the Whig party. The party was founded by Henry Clay, James C Calhoun and Webster (Reichley 80). The party had supporters nationally as they represented different interest groups. The Whigs advocated for big government, the Bank and federal-sponsored internal improvements. They were defeated in 1836 elections by Democrats but won the 1840 election with William Henry Harrison garnering 234 against his Democratic opponent’s 60 votes. John Tyler was elected Vice president with 234 votes against Richard Johnson 48. However, Harrison died in 1841 and was replaced by Tyler. The Whigs won again in 1848 with Zachary Taylor getting 163 votes against Democratic Lewis Cass 127 votes. However, they were defeated by Democrats in 1844 and 1852 elections. The Whigs were opposed to Manifest Destiny hence rejected war with Mexico and Getting Oregon from Britain. However, the compromise of 1850 which included a Fugitive Slave Act led to dissolution of the Whig Party. The Northerners were against the Act while the Southern Whigs were for its enactment (Reichley 77-80). This division led to defeat of Scott (W) by Pierce (D) in 1952 elections. The Kansas-Nebraska Act also led to divisions within Democratic Party leading to formation of the Republican Party. This was a sectional party with support from the Northerners. Most of its adherents were the northern Whigs and its aim was to prohibit the expansion of slavery into the territories (Maisel 56-75).The Republicans lost in 1856 to Buchanan of Democratic Party but dominated the presidency for decades. The party was supported by African Americans and Northerners who were abolitionists. The party also attracted Northern Democrats who were free soilers and against spread of slavery. Between 1860 and 1900, the party lost only two elections in 1884 and 1892 as shown in the table below and was dominant until 1992. DATE REPUBLICANS VOTES OPPONENTS VOTES 1860 Abraham Lincoln 180 John Breckinridge (D) John Bell Stephen Douglas (D) 72 39 12 1864 Abraham Lincoln 212 George McClellan 21 1868 Ulysses Grant 214 Horatio Seymour 80 1872 Ulysses Grant 286 Horace Greeley 0 1876 Rutherford Hayes 185 Samuel Tilden 184 1880 James Garfield 214 Winfield Hancock 155 1888 Benjamin Harrison 233 Grover Cleveland 168 1896 William McKinley 271 William Bryan (D-P) 176 1900 William McKinley 292 William Bryan (D-P) 155 1904 Theodore Roosevelt 336 Alton Parker 140 1908 William Taft 321 William Bryan 162 1920 Warren Harding 404 James Cox 127 1924 Calvin Coolidge 382 John Davis 136 1928 Herbert Hoover 444 Alfred Smith 87 1952 Dwight D Eisenhower 442 Adlai Stevenson 89 1956 Dwight D Eisenhower 457 Adlai Stevenson 73 1968 Richard Nixon 301 Hubert Humphrey 191 1972 Richard Nixon 520 George McGovern 17 1980 Ronald Reagan 489 Jimmy Carter 59 1984 Ronald Reagan 525 Walter Mondale 13 1988 George Bush 426 Michael Dukakis 111 1992 George Bush 168 William Clinton 370 At first, the party was liberal in nature as it advocated strong national government and protective tariffs but for most part it became conservative hence was a party of ideological right. The Radical Republicans also advocated for full civil rights for African Americans and even passed Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the constitution. However, during Coolidge presidency in 1924, Republicans became conservatives and started advocating limited governments. They were also opposed to President Roosevelt’s New Deal of relief and recovery. According to Reichley (119) the Republicans had slower pace on civil rights in 1870s. The liberal Republicans also were for freer international trade and reform instead of protectionism. They also had no programs for economically less fortunate or redistribution of wealth. Works Cited Maisel, L Sandy. American Political Parties and Elections: Avery Short Introduction. New York: OUP, 2007. Reichley, A James. The Life of Parties: A History of American Political Parties. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000. Read More