Political Party Timeline

The Era of the Democrats

1800-1828

The Federalists were dominant until 1800, while the Republicans were dominant after 1800. Both parties originated in national politics, but soon expanded their efforts to gain supporters and voters in every state. The Federalists appealed to the business community and the Republicans to the planters and farmers.

The Federalists were dominant until 1800, while the Republicans were dominant after 1800. Both parties originated in national politics, but soon expanded their efforts to gain supporters and voters in every state. The Federalists appealed to the business community and the Republicans to the planters and farmers.

Democrats & Whigs

1832-1856

The Second Party System was the political party system operating in the United States from about 1828 to 1852, after the First Party System ended. The system was characterized by rapidly rising levels of voter interest, beginning in 1828, as demonstrated by Election Day turnouts, rallies, partisan newspapers, and high degrees of personal loyalty to parties.

Two major parties dominated the political landscape: the Democratic Party, led by Andrew Jackson, and the Whig Party, assembled by Henry Clay from the National Republicans and from other opponents of Jackson. Minor parties included the Anti-Masonic Party, an important innovator from 1827 to 1834; the abolitionist Liberty Party in 1840; and the anti-slavery expansion Free Soil Party in 1848 and 1852. The Second Party System reflected and shaped the political, social, economic and cultural currents of the Jacksonian Era, until succeeded by the Third Party system.

The Era of the Republicans

1860-1892

which featured profound developments in issues of American nationalism, modernization, and race. This period, the later part of which is often termed the Gilded Age, is defined by its contrast with the eras of the Second Party System and the Fourth Party System.

It was dominated by the new Republican Party, which claimed success in saving the Union, abolishing slavery and enfranchising the freedmen, while adopting many Whig-style modernization programs such as national banks, railroads, high tariffs, homesteads, social spending (such as on greater Civil War veteran pension funding), and aid to land grant colleges. While most elections from 1876 through 1892 were extremely close, the opposition Democrats won only the 1884 and 1892 presidential elections (the Democrats also won the popular vote in the 1876 and 1888 presidential elections, but lost the electoral college vote), though from 1875 to 1895 the party usually controlled the United States House of Representatives and controlled the United States Senate from 1879–1881 and 1893–1895.

Republicans & Progressives

1896-1928

The fourth party system was a party system dominated by the Republican Party in the United States from approximately 1896 to 1932, except for the 1912 split when the Democrats occupied the White House and held power for eight years.

Central domestic issues involved government regulation of railroads and large corporations ("trusts"), currency issues (gold vs. silver), protective tariffs, role of trade unions, child labor, demand for a new banking system, party politics, corruption, primaries, Introduced federal income tax, direct election of senators, racial segregation, government efficiency, women's suffrage, and immigration controls. Foreign policy centers on the Spanish-American War of 1898, imperialism, the Mexican Revolution, World War I, and the formation of the League of Nations.

This period was characterized by a shift away from the issues of the third system, which focused on the American Civil War, Reconstruction, race, and currency issues. The era began with a severe depression in 1893 and an unusually heated election in 1896. It includes the Progressive Era, World War I, and the beginning of the Great Depression. The Great Depression led to a reorganization that gave rise to the Fifth Party System, which was dominated by the Democratic New Deal coalition until the 1970s.

The Return of the Democrats

1932-1964

When the 1932 came by The Great Depression caused great shit on American's attitude when the stock market crash. How they should solve this well when the president Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the election in 1932 and promise them the "New Deal" and start the second Era of Democrats. They even try to keep a better position for the party just to help out everyone. The economic depression caused FDR to promise the country a New Deal giving measures to counter the depression. Scores of economic bills were passed as the federal government took a more active role in foreign and domestic policy.

The Modern Era I

1968-1988

As various social and political trends that had been developing over the years reached critical mass, a traumatic event ensued. A half-century ago, 12 months ago, there were two shocking assassinations, growing and sometimes violent opposition to the escalating war in Vietnam, deepening class divisions, serious economic problems, and increasingly An impatient civil rights movement gave rise to combative and angry black power advocates. That's not all. Add to this the rise of feminism, doubts about the credibility of national leaders, growing rebellion among young people against their parents' values, campus rebellion against authoritarian administrators and lifestyle restrictions, new sexual freedoms made possible by birth control pills, and overall In his words, there was a fierce culture war over "values issues" such as abortion, crime, patriotism, school prayer, free speech and respect for institutions. This is all dramatized and amplified by pop culture and an increasingly aggressive news media eager to hold political and cultural leaders accountable for society’s shortcomings.

Then came the Tet offensive, which began on January 30th. It was a series of surprise attacks by communist forces across Vietnam that showed how badly the war was going and how far the United States was from winning. Concerns about Vietnam intensified as the fighting raged in Hue, a major Vietnamese city that was captured by Communist forces during the Tet Offensive and recaptured after weeks of bloody fighting. The Tet Offensive was a turning point that crystallized American opposition to the war.

The Modern Era II

1992-2020

Polarization among U.S. lawmakers is asymmetrical, with Congress becoming more conservative since the 1970s when the country also became more polarized, and polarization increasing rapidly since the 2000s.