Second Party System facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Second Party System

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1824–1856

United States presidential election results between 1828 and 1852. Blue shaded states usually voted for the Democratic Party, while olive shaded states usually voted for Anti-Jacksonian parties (National Republican/Anti-Masonic/Whig).

The Second Party System was a time in American history when two main political parties were very powerful. This period lasted from about 1828 to early 1854. It came after the First Party System and saw a huge increase in how interested people were in politics. More people voted, attended rallies, and read party newspapers. People also felt very loyal to their chosen party.

The two major parties were the Democratic Party, led by Andrew Jackson, and the Whig Party. The Whigs were put together by Henry Clay from groups who opposed Jackson, like the National Republicans. Smaller parties also existed, such as the Anti-Masonic Party and the abolitionist Liberty Party. Later, the anti-slavery Free Soil Party also appeared. This party system shaped the politics, society, and economy of the time, known as the Jacksonian Era. It eventually ended and was replaced by the Third Party System.

This new party system began around 1828. Different groups of voters from the old Democratic-Republican Party joined the new Democratic Party. This party became a successor to the Democratic-Republicans, especially in the South and non-coastal Northern areas. At the same time, voters who had supported the Federalists joined the National Republican Party in 1828.

Later, in 1836, these Northern National Republicans, along with wealthy Southern slave owners and the Anti-Masons, formed the Whig Party. When the Whig Party declined around 1856, some of its members joined the Know Nothing party and then the Constitutional Union Party in 1860.

One big difference between the parties was their ideas about government. Democrats believed in the "power of the people" and that the majority should rule. Whigs, however, believed in the "rule of law" and protecting the rights of smaller groups against the majority.

How the Parties Worked
Key Leaders of the Era
How the System Started
Jackson and the Bank War
- The Spoils System
The Whigs: Modernizing the Economy
More People Voting
Party Strategies
See also

How the Parties Worked

Historian Richard P. McCormick helped define this period. He noted several important things about the Second Party System:

It was a unique party system.
Leaders created national groups to help win the presidency.
Different regions of the country had strong effects on how parties grew. For example, Jackson's supporters were strong in the Southwest.
For the first time, two-party politics spread to the South and West. Before this, these areas often had only one main party.
In most regions, the two parties were almost equally strong. This was unusual for American party systems.
Because of this balance, the system was sensitive to issues that affected specific regions, like slavery.
The same two parties were active in every state, competing for both presidential votes and state offices.
A key change was the sudden rise of a two-party system in the South between 1832 and 1834.
The Anti-Masonic Party only did well in states where the second main party was weak.
Political meetings called conventions replaced older ways of choosing candidates.
The parties themselves became important, as activists sought government jobs.
This system brought a new, exciting way of campaigning to the public.
Close elections, not just popular candidates, made more people vote.
Party leaders helped shape the parties based on their own ideas.

Key Leaders of the Era

Many important figures were part of the Second Party System.

Democrats: Key leaders included Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, John C. Calhoun, James K. Polk, Lewis Cass, and Stephen Douglas.
Whigs: Important Whig leaders were John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, William H. Seward, and Thurlow Weed.

Historian Robert Remini noted that Martin Van Buren was very important in developing the nation's politics. He helped organize the Republican Party in New York and created a system to manage the state's politics. Van Buren believed that political parties were a good way for the country to be run democratically. This idea eventually became widely accepted.

How the System Started

The presidential election of 1824 was unusual because there were no strong political parties. Four main candidates, all from the Democratic-Republican Party, ran for president. Each had support in different parts of the country. No one won enough votes in the Electoral College, so the decision went to the United States House of Representatives.

Andrew Jackson had won the most popular votes and electoral votes, but he was not chosen. Instead, John Quincy Adams became president, and he chose Henry Clay as his Secretary of State. Jackson and his supporters called this a "corrupt bargain" because they felt the election was unfair.

Jackson then started a strong campaign against what he saw as corruption in Washington. He gathered support from military groups and state politicians. This group became the early Democratic Party. They defeated Adams in the 1828 election. Martin Van Buren was a key helper for Jackson, bringing in many votes from Virginia and Pennsylvania. Van Buren was rewarded by becoming Secretary of State and later Vice President. The Adams-Clay part of the Democratic-Republican Party became known as the National Republicans.

Historians explain that Jackson's victory in 1828 showed that the people's will had won. The Democrats became the first well-organized national party in the U.S. Strong party organization became a key feature of American politics in the 1800s.

Democrats generally believed in a society based on farming, like Thomas Jefferson had imagined. They thought the central government should not have too much power, as it could threaten individual freedom. They feared that government involvement in the economy would help special groups and create monopolies that favored the rich. They wanted to help ordinary farmers and workers by limiting federal support for banks and corporations. Jackson used his presidential power often, vetoing more laws than all previous presidents combined. Democrats also tended to oppose reforms like public education, believing they interfered with parents' rights or religious freedom. Jackson also supported the removal of Native American groups, leading to events like the Trail of Tears.

Jackson and the Bank War

Jackson saw himself as a reformer who wanted to stick to old American ideals. He strongly opposed anything that seemed like special favors for certain groups. A major reason the Second Party System developed was Jackson's strong desire to destroy the Second Bank of the United States. This bank, based in Philadelphia, acted somewhat like a central bank for the country. Many local bankers and politicians were annoyed by the bank's rules. Jackson disliked all banks, especially paper money, believing only gold and silver coins should be used. After big struggles with Henry Clay, Jackson succeeded in closing the bank.

Jackson continued to challenge the banking system. In July 1836, his Specie Circular rule said that federal land could only be bought with gold and silver coins, not paper money from banks. Most business owners and bankers then joined the Whig party, and cities became Whig strongholds. Jackson, however, became even more popular with farmers and laborers who did not trust bankers.

Historians have studied the economic ups and downs during Jackson's time. Many agree that the financial problems of the 1830s were caused by international events, not just Jackson's policies.

The Spoils System

Jackson used a system called the Spoils System. This meant he gave government jobs to his supporters. He believed this would prevent corruption and allow more people to serve in government. While Jackson did not invent this system, he used it more than previous presidents. It became a major part of the Second Party System and continued into the Third Party System until the 1890s. Jackson's supporters saw it as a way to make the party stronger and reward loyal members.

The Whigs: Modernizing the Economy

Both the Whigs and Democrats came from the same political roots and believed in many basic American principles. Generally, Whigs were wealthier, better educated, lived in cities, and were involved in business. Democrats were stronger in frontier areas and among farmers who grew just enough for their families. Immigrants, especially Irish and German Catholics, strongly supported the Democrats. Many Protestant groups and English and Scots-Irish immigrants were typically Whigs.

The Whigs and Democrats had different ideas about the economy:

Whigs wanted the government to help the economy grow. They supported things like corporate charters, a national bank, and paper money. They also favored reforms like public schools, prison reform, and temperance (limiting alcohol). Whigs were generally more optimistic and believed that helping specific groups could benefit everyone.
Democrats wanted a limited central government. They opposed corporate charters, a national bank, and paper money. They were wary of too much economic power in one place.

Business leaders, bankers, commercial farmers, and Southern planters who disagreed with Jackson's policies joined together to form the new anti-Jackson force, calling themselves Whigs. They saw themselves as fighting against "King Andrew" (Jackson), just as the original Whigs fought against King George III. In the Northeast, a movement against the secret Masonic order grew into the Anti-Masons, which soon joined the Whigs.

The Whigs had a plan to modernize the economy. They wanted a high tariff (tax) on imported goods to help new factories in the U.S. The Democrats argued this would only benefit the rich and wanted low tariffs. Whigs believed banks and paper money were necessary, while Democrats thought honest people did not need them. Whigs also supported public works projects like roads, canals, and railroads to help the country develop quickly. Democrats preferred a simpler way of life, focusing on more farms and expanding the country to the South and West. Jackson added Florida to the U.S., and his successor, James Polk, added Texas, the Southwest, California, and Oregon.

In most cities, wealthy men were usually Whigs. In rural areas, Whigs were stronger in market towns, while Democrats were stronger on the frontier. Different ethnic and religious groups also tended to support one party over the other.

More People Voting

The American political system changed a lot after 1820, a period known as Jacksonian democracy. While Jackson did not start all these changes, he benefited from them and became a symbol of them. For the first time, politics became a central part of voters' lives. Before 1828, fewer people were interested in politics or voted. After the economic shock of 1819 and Jackson's election in 1828, with his strong personality, things changed. By 1840, politics had become more democratic. Campaigns involved appeals to the common person, large meetings, parades, and great excitement. Elections saw many more people voting.

Party Strategies

Both parties relied heavily on their national networks of newspapers. Editors were often key political figures in their states. They filled their papers with information about rallies, speeches, candidates, and party platforms.

Party Strengths

The Whigs built strong party organizations in most states, except on the frontier. They were strongest in the Northeast and among business owners, merchants, commercial farmers, and professionals. The Whigs used newspapers well and adopted exciting campaign methods that brought 75% to 85% of eligible voters to the polls. Abraham Lincoln became a Whig leader in Illinois.

Democrats were somewhat behind the Whigs in newspaper work, but they made up for it by focusing on party loyalty. Anyone who attended a Democratic meeting was expected to support the chosen candidate. This helped Democrats control and mobilize their members more effectively than the Whigs.

Whig Weaknesses

Democratic poster in 1840 warning that Whigs' Log Cabin campaign was a trap for poor people

A major weakness for the Whig Party was its inability to take a clear stand on slavery. Because the party included both Northern National Republicans and Southern Nullifiers, members in different regions had opposing views on slavery. The Whig party could only succeed as long as the issue of slavery was avoided.

By the early 1850s, slavery became the main political issue. The Whigs, unable to agree on how to handle it, began to fall apart. Some Whigs tried to argue they were the only party that could keep the country together, as the alternatives were a pro-Northern Republican party and a pro-Southern Democratic party. In 1856, the remaining Whigs supported Millard Fillmore's Know Nothing campaign, and in 1860, they supported the Constitutional Union ticket of John Bell. However, with the start of the Civil War in 1861, the Whig party ceased to exist.

Most prominent men in towns and cities were Whigs. They controlled local offices and judgeships, as well as many state offices. In Springfield, Illinois, a Whig stronghold in a Democratic area, records show the Whigs grew strong in 1836 against Martin Van Buren and became even stronger in 1840. Springfield Whigs were often native-born, professionals, or farm owners, and dedicated to their party. Abraham Lincoln's career reflected the Whigs' rise. However, by the 1840s, Springfield began to become more Democratic as immigrants changed the city's population. By the 1860 presidential election, Lincoln barely won the city.

Democrats Take Over in 1852

By the 1850s, many Democratic leaders had accepted some Whig ideas. Factories and railroads were rapidly modernizing the economy. The old economic issues faded as leaders like Calhoun, Webster, Clay, Jackson, and Polk passed away. New issues, especially slavery, nativism (anti-immigrant feelings), and religion, became more important. The 1848 election was the last strong showing for the Whigs. Everyone realized they could only win if the Democrats split. After the Free Soil movement calmed down after 1852, it seemed the Democrats would stay in power. The Whigs slowly disappeared, and the Third Party System began to emerge.