AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Antebellum Democratic Party (Day 101/309)

Welcome to today’s explanation of the Antebellum Democratic Party in my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

U.S. presidential election results from 1828 to 1852. Darker shades of blue indicate states that generally voted for the Democratic Party, while darker shades of yellow/brown indicate states that generally voted for the Whig or National Republican Party. Wikimedia Commons

The election of 1824 brought the end of the one-party system. Two distinct parties emerged that disagreed about the role and powers of the federal government and issues such as the national bank, tariffs, and federally funded internal improvements.

Andrew Jackson, Wikimedia Commons

The Democratic Party, primarily led by Andrew Jackson, was supported by the South and the West and by urban workers. Democrats favored states’ rights and believed the wealthy would corrupt the government. They believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

Harrison Campaign Ribbon, New York Historical Society

Domestically, Democrats were concerned with monopolies, the national bank, high tariffs, and high land prices. They opposed the American System. They supported opportunities for the “common man,” or white men.

Election Results 1836-1848, 270towin

Similar to the Jeffersonian Democratic Republicans, antebellum Democrats maintained an ideology of agrarianism and territorial expansion that was favored by many southerners including slaveholders.

In the antebellum period, Democrats were characterized by support for states’ rights, opposition to the American System, and promotion of the “common man.”

Join me tomorrow as I explain the Antebellum Whig Party in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!