In colonial politics, agrarian interests,
later to become a principal source of support for the Democratic
party, tended to organize and electioneer in opposition to the
policies of royal, mercantile, banking, manufacturing, and shipping
interests. Many of the colonies had so-called Country parties
opposing the Court parties in the 18th century. During the period
of the American Revolution and the Confederation, partisan collaborations
took place mainly in urban electioneering societies such as the
Boston Caucus Club, in and among colonial and state legislatures
through committees of correspondence, and in the factionalism
of the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. In the latter body, those who pressed
most strongly for complete separation from Britain were viewed
as radicals. Under the Confederation, many of the same people
resisted centralizing the political institutions of the new nation;
they became ANTI-FEDERALISTS who opposed ratification of the new
U.S. Constitution in 1788-1789.
Party alignments of national consequence began to form before
the end of the first administration of George WASHINGTON in 1793.
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander HAMILTON was the master politician
of the FEDERALIST PARTY. Secretary of State Thomas JEFFERSON,
in cooperation with his fellow Virginian, Representative James
MADISON, led what came to be the first loyal opposition in national
affairs--the Democratic-Republican party, also known as the Jeffersonians.
Jefferson spoke on behalf of the interests of farmers, veterans,
and urban immigrants and was in favor of minimum government, maximum
liberty, alliance with France, and easy credit for debtors. In
1792 he and Madison allied with New York's Governor George Clinton
(see CLINTON family), creating the first political coalition between
Northern and Southern politicians--a coalition that would later
serve as a pillar of the Democratic party. TAMMANY HALL in New
York City, under the leadership of Aaron BURR, threw in its resources
to become part of the coalition. Tammany would later become the
nation's most important urban political machine, recruiting workers
and immigrants into the Democratic party.
From about 1792 to 1800 the Democratic-Republican party was the
beneficiary of the rise of numerous patriotic societies throughout
the states, mainly in urban centers. At first interested in the
public issues of the day, these societies soon campaigned for
Democratic-Republican candidates.
Party organization also advanced in Congress. By the 4th Congress
(1795-97), Democratic-Republicans held enough seats to challenge
the dominant Federalists, and they held their first congressional
CAUCUS on Apr. 2, 1796, in a futile effort to defeat JAY'S TREATY
with Britain. Nonetheless, the caucus became a principal instrument
of Jeffersonian power during the next 2 decades. It nominated
Jefferson, Madison, and JamesMONROE--the "Virginia Dynasty"--for
the presidency, nominations that were tantamount to election.
Moreover, thecaucus enabled those presidents to promote their
policies in the Congress, which then was the most influential
branch of the national government.
After the election (1800) and reelection (1804) of Jefferson to
the presidency, Federalist strength tended to decline everywhere
except in New England. The great majority of practicing politicians,
particularly those in the new states of the West, referred to
themselves as Jeffersonians. New issues associated with the economic
development of the West and the growing number of urban workers
in the East demanded attention. The administrations (1817-25)
of James Monroe were designated the Era of Good Feelings, meaning
that there were no real party divisions; in fact, the period was
one of one-party politics dominated by the Jeffersonians.
This situation ended with a split among the Democratic- Republicans
in 1824. In the election of that year the popular vote for presidential
electors gave Andrew JACKSON, a hero of the War of 1812, a plurality
rather than the necessary majority in the electoral college. Under
the Constitution, the final choice fell to the House of Representatives,
where Speaker Henry CLAY withdrew his own candidacy in favor of
John Quincy ADAMS. The outraged and frustrated Jacksonians vowed
to correct the betrayal of the popular will at the very next election
and began to organize immediately to this end. They were joined
by New York's Senator Martin VAN BUREN, leader of the Albany Regency,
a party machine whose influence extended well beyond that state.
Jackson defeated Adams in the 1828 election.
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