Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Democratic-Republican Party

BLOG 10
The Democratic-Republican Party was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 1792. Madison started the party among congressmen in Philadelphia the national capital, as the Republican Party[1]. Their political ideology included classical liberalism, states' rights, agrarianism and republicanism. After the war of 1812 a faction was created called National Republicans, they favored high tariffs, a stronger national defense and international improvements.[2] After the Election of 1824, factions developed in support of Adams and in support of Andrew Jackson. Adams politicians, including most ex-Federalists such as Daniel Webster and Samuel Adams would gradually evolve into the National Republican party, and those politicians that supported Jackson would later help form the modern Democratic Party. Later the Whig party emerged; it was considered integral to the second party system and operated from 1833 to 1856[3]. This party was later succeeded by the modern Republican Party that we know now. The Republican Party is now one of the largest political parties, along with the Democratic Party. The Republicans political ideology includes conservatism, pale conservatism, social conservatism and neo-conservatism.

I think that the founders of the Democratic - Republican Party may have been a little disappointed that the party divided into several different parties and especially the fact that the Democratic Party was created. I also think that they would not have been happy with the fact that they only have 49 seats in the senate and 199 seats in the House of Representatives. But I also think that they would have been proud of the fact that the party is one of the two largest political parties in the US, and that its numbers have grown.







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[1] James Madison to Thomas Jeffersonian and March 2, 1794.) "I see by a paper of last evening that even in New York a meeting of the people has taken place, at the instance of the Republican Party, and that a committee is appointed for the like purpose."*Thomas Jefferson to President Washington, May 23, 1792 "The republican party, who wish to preserve the government in its present form, are fewer in number. They are fewer even when joined by the two, three, or half dozen anti-federalists,..."*Thomas Jefferson to John Melish, January 13, 1813. "The party called republican is steadily for the support of the present constitution"
[2] Wiltse (1944), Chapters 8–11.
[3] Holt (1999), p. 231.

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