by Willie Higgins

Created on: January 19, 2008

Political Parties of 1850's

To be able to give an account of the political parties of 1850's one must go back to the start of each party and give some history on them first.

Democratic party, was first called Democratic Republican's or Jeffersonian Republican's. The party was formed in 1790. The party adopted it's name (Democratic Party) in 1830 under the presidency of Andrew Jackson. Democrat's won nearly every presidential race from 1836 to 1860.

Whig Party, Took it's name from the British Antimonachist party. The U.S. Whig favored a program
of National Development William H. Harrison was the parties candidate in 1840 and won the presidential election. The Whig party controlled congress, how ever, Harrison gave his inaugural speech in a drizzling rain without a coat or hat, he contracted pneumonia and died on April 14th. 1841.
His death halted the Whig program. The party started to split into the conscience, The Whig's divided even more so by the Compromise of 1850. By 1852 most of the southern Whig's had joined the Democrat's. In 1854 when the Republican party was formed most of the Northern Whig's joined them.
Some joined the Know Nothing Party. That was the end of the Whig Political Party.

The Free Soil Party, In 1846 the Free Soil Party was formed by the proponents of an antislavery faction. Martin Van Buren was to head the party and was nominated to run for president in1848. He lost, but other members of the party was elected to the house of representatives. In 1854 the Free Soil Party was absorbed by the Republican Party. Thus ending another Political Party.

Know Nothing Party, Was a group of man known as the Secret Order of the Star Spangled Banner. It was formed in New York City in 1849. When a member was ask about the party the member would answer, I Know Nothing the name cough on. As the party grew into other cities and states, the party became more open, they called for restrictions on immigration and naturalized citizenship. In 1850 the party took on the official name of the American Party.

Republican Party, 1854 Was formed for the Democrat's, the Whig, and the Free Soil Party the name was taken from the Jeffersonian Republican's, The party was opposed to slavery. And it's extension into the western territories. The Lincoln / Douglas debates brought national attention. Slavery was band in the territories. This came about when California applied for statehood with an amendment to not allow slavery.

Up to this point, the Democrat's had held office of president for 24 years. They had held on strong to the belief in slavery. When the Republican party came out against slavery so hard the Democratic the party started to split. And in 1860 the first Republican President was elected. Abraham Lincoln. Thus bring about the Civil War. 160 years later Our country is yet to recover completely from the act's of those people. Slavery was wrong no matter what color a person was.

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