US Political Parties

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Political Parties in the United States: Definitionof Political Parties
Definition of Political Parties: United States Political parties are formed by groups or collections of people who share the same ideas, beliefs or views  about the way the United States should be governed. The United States Political parties work to influence government policies and to introduce new laws to the Constitution and to make amendments to existing laws.

History of Political Parties in the United States - The Independent President
The political affiliation of President George Washington was termed as Independent. Although members of the government had very different ideas they wanted to give new Constitution a fair trial and they supported George Washington as an independent and impartial President. 

History of Political Parties in the United States - The Federalist and Anti-Federalists
The differing ideas of the politicians and statesmen resulted in the formation of the Federalist Political Party and their opponents were called the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists believed that the new central government should be in the power of the wealthy, well-educated classes. The Anti-Federalists, who would emerge as the Democratic-Republican Party, believed that the vast majority of ordinary, less educated people, had the life experience, skills and common sense required to run the new government. For detailed facts, history and information refer to the Federalist and Anti-Federalists.

History of Political Parties in the United States - The Democratic-Republican Party
The Democratic-Republican Party was the political party founded by Thomas Jefferson in opposition to the Federalist Party which had monarchical tendencies.  Some refer to the party as the Jeffersonian Republicans. The beliefs and views of the Democratic-Republican Party were based on civic duty encompassing allegiance to the government and the protection of its citizens. The Democratic-Republican Party strictly adhered to the Constitution in order to limit the powers of the federal government. The Democratic-Republican Party strongly opposed to aristocracy, monarchy, corruption and elitism and was supported by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and John Quincy Adams.

History of Political Parties in the United States - Demise of the Federalist Party
The History of Political Parties in the United States continued to evolve during the history of the American Political parties. The secrecy of the Hartford Convention totally discredited the Federalists and the Federalist party was destroyed. The demise of the Federalist Party was politically significant.  The Democratic-Republicans split into the northern-dominated Republicans and the southern-dominated Democrats and established the political alignment of the 19th century.  As the Federalist Party had been destroyed there was only one political party during the presidency of James Monroe which led to are more stable government during the presidency of James Monroe and heralded the "Era of Good Feelings".

History of Political Parties in the United States - The National Republicans
In the Era of Good Feeling there was only one political party - the Democratic-Republican party. Starting in 1824 the Democratic-Republican party split into several factions. The factions took the names of their party leaders: the Adams men (supporting John Quincy Adams), the Jackson men (supporting Andrew Jackson), the Clay men (supporting Henry Clay). Soon the Adams and Clay factions began to act together and to call themselves National Republicans, because they wished to build up the nation's resources, especially the military following the War of 1812.

History of Political Parties in the United States - The Democrat Party
The Jackson men called themselves Democratic Republicans, because they upheld the rights of the people. Before long the Democratic Republican party of Andrew Jackson dropped the word "Republican" and simply called themselves simply Democrats and so began the formation of the Democrat Party. The first presidents to support the Democrat Party were Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.

History of Political Parties in the United States - The Whig Party
The National Republicans dropped the whole of their name and adopted the name of the great English liberal party emerging as the Whig Party. They favored the name because, like the English Whig party, they favored reform and so began the formation of the US Whig Party. The Whig party was created in 1832 when President Andrew Jackson vetoed the re-chartering of the Second Bank of the United States sparking the Bank War. The Whig Party was led by Henry Clay and before long consisted of all the political opponents of Andrew Jackson who disliked his high-handed conduct as president. The Whig Party saw two of its candidates, William Harrison and John Tyler, elected as president but both died in office before being able to make the party's impact on the nation. Zachary Taylor followed. President Millard Fillmore was the last Whig president and his policies led to division in the party. The anti-slavery faction successfully prevented the re-nomination of its own incumbent and destroyed the Whig Party.

History of Political Parties in the United States - The National Union Party and the Republican Party
The Free Soil Party and the National Union Party was formed to further the beliefs of national interest above sectional interests and states' rights. It was organized in 1854 in opposition to the extension of slavery. In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected as its first leader. Upon Abraham Lincoln's death in 1865, Andrew Johnson became the only other National Union President. The 'National Union Party' then changed its name to the Republican Party. Party politics changed to the familiar contest of Democrats versus Republicans.

History of Political Parties in the United States - The Republican Party and the Democratic Party
The history of the political parties ended with a political landscape producing the Democrats versus Republicans major Party alignment, a two party system, which continues to modern day. The United States therefore has only two major political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans who share almost all the political power in the country.

Political Parties in the United States - Video of the US Presidents
The article on the History of the Political Parties in the United States provides a fast overview of the history of the US Government. The following Presidents of the USA video enables you to sit back and listen to the history of all the Presidents of the USA - a useful educational resource for kids, children and schools that complements the information found in the History of the Political Parties in the United States.