U.S.Political Parties

1832-1860

Presidential Timeline 1789-2009

Andrew Jackson

Martin Van Buren

Wm. Henry Harrison John TylerJames K. PolkZachary Taylor Millard FillmoreFranklin 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

Political Parties in 1836

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)

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)

Political Parties in 1844

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

Election of 1848James K. Polk did not seek re-election

Zachary Taylor, Whig Party Lewis Cass, Democratic Party Martin Van Buren, Free Soil Party

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

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.

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

Political Parties in 1852

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

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 1858Stephen 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