two party
The Reemergence of a Two Party System
Regarding the controversy of political parties, Martin Van Buren argued, “Political parties are inseparable from free governments and are highly useful to the country… Doubtless excesses frequently attend them and produce many evils, but not so many as are prevented by the maintenance of the organization and vigilance.” Van Buren repudiated the traditional belief that political parties were antirepublican, advocating that they would create organization in society. The return of the two party system in the United States during the early to mid-1800s was due greatly to important political figures and the economic conflicts of the time.
The rise of major political personalities contributed to the return of political parties. In 1824, after John Quincy Adams was elected into presidency and Henry Clay was appointed as the secretary of state, a new tariff was established. The tariff protected manufacturers in New England and Pennsylvania against imports of iron goods and expensive woolen and cotton textiles. When Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson’s allies won control of Congress in the election of 1826, they offered higher tariffs on wool, hemp, and imported raw materials. In addition, Van Buren advocated policies that appealed to northern farmers and artisans and southern slave owners and smallholders. The goal of Van Buren and his Jacksonian allies were to win the support of wool and hemp producing famers for Jackson’s presidential candidacy in 1828. The Jacksonians orchestrated publicity campaigns by declaring their support for Jackson in newspapers and organizing mass meetings. Jacksonians initially referred to themselves as Democratic Republicans, but later became known as Democrats or “the Democracy”. Major political personalities such as Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren contributed to the rise of a Democratic Party.
Regarding the controversy of political parties, Martin Van Buren argued, “Political parties are inseparable from free governments and are highly useful to the country… Doubtless excesses frequently attend them and produce many evils, but not so many as are prevented by the maintenance of the organization and vigilance.” Van Buren repudiated the traditional belief that political parties were antirepublican, advocating that they would create organization in society. The return of the two party system in the United States during the early to mid-1800s was due greatly to important political figures and the economic conflicts of the time.
The rise of major political personalities contributed to the return of political parties. In 1824, after John Quincy Adams was elected into presidency and Henry Clay was appointed as the secretary of state, a new tariff was established. The tariff protected manufacturers in New England and Pennsylvania against imports of iron goods and expensive woolen and cotton textiles. When Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson’s allies won control of Congress in the election of 1826, they offered higher tariffs on wool, hemp, and imported raw materials. In addition, Van Buren advocated policies that appealed to northern farmers and artisans and southern slave owners and smallholders. The goal of Van Buren and his Jacksonian allies were to win the support of wool and hemp producing famers for Jackson’s presidential candidacy in 1828. The Jacksonians orchestrated publicity campaigns by declaring their support for Jackson in newspapers and organizing mass meetings. Jacksonians initially referred to themselves as Democratic Republicans, but later became known as Democrats or “the Democracy”. Major political personalities such as Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren contributed to the rise of a Democratic Party.