Who was the central figure and leader of the Democratic Party during this era?
Andrew Jackson. His vision and policies shaped the party's platform.
What were the two major political parties of the Second Party System (c. \(1834\)-\(1854\))?
The Democratic Party and the Whig Party.
What were the core principles of the Jacksonian Democrats?
They championed individual liberty, states' rights, and a limited federal government. They were suspicious of banks, corporations, and federal support for internal improvements. They favored westward expansion.
Who formed the typical base of support for the Democratic Party?
Small farmers, rural dwellers, westerners, urban laborers, and new immigrants (especially Irish Catholics).
Why was the Whig Party formed in \(1834\)?
It was formed in direct opposition to what they saw as the monarchical overreach and executive tyranny of President Andrew Jackson, whom they called "King Andrew I."
Who were the key leaders of the Whig Party?
Henry Clay of Kentucky, Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, and William Henry Harrison of Ohio. John C. Calhoun was also a Whig for a time.
What was the central economic program of the Whig Party?
Henry Clay's "American System." It advocated for a strong federal government role in the economy through protective tariffs, a national bank, and federal funding for internal improvements (roads, canals).
Who formed the typical base of support for the Whig Party?
Industrialists and manufacturers in the Northeast, wealthy southern planters, merchants, and the emerging professional middle class. They were often associated with social reform movements.
How did Democrats and Whigs differ on the issue of westward expansion?
Democrats were enthusiastic expansionists, believing in "Manifest Destiny." Whigs were often more cautious, preferring to focus on the economic development and consolidation of existing territory.
What issue ultimately destroyed the Whig Party in the \(1850\)s?
The issue of the expansion of slavery into the territories. The party was deeply divided between its northern (conscience) and southern (cotton) wings, and it could not survive the sectional crisis.
