Democratic party.
For the origin and early development of the party, see the article Republican party.
Its main tenets were strict construction of the
Constitution and opposition to extension of the federal powers.
Jefferson,
Madison, and
Monroe were members of the then dominant party, and under the last-named
President party lines for a short time disappeared in the so-called “era of good feeling.”
Soon afterwards the Democrats came under the leadership of
Jackson, and were opposed to the
National Republicans and Whigs.
Jackson's successor,
Van Buren, was a Democrat.
A Whig interval (1841-45) ensued.
Then followed the
Democratic administration of
Polk, succeeded (1849-53) by another Whig administration.
Pierce and
Buchanan were the last
Presidents elected by the party for a long period.
In the general confusion caused by the increasing prominence of slavery the Democrats at first profited, while the
Whigs disappeared.
In the
Civil War many “war Democrats” acted temporarily with the Republicans.
McClellan, though defeated, received a large popular vote in 1864.
Seymour in 1868,
Greeley in 1872 were defeated.
In 1876 the Democrats came near success (see
electoral commission;
Hayes, Rutherford Birchard;
Tilden, Samuel Jones). The
House was now frequently Democratic, but the Presidency was again taken by their competitors in 1880.
In 1884 they succeeded in a close campaign.
The two wings of the party, revenue reform and protectionist, long refused to work together.
Under the leadership of
Morrison,
Carlisle, and
Cleveland, tariff reform became the dominating issue.
Defeated in 1888, the Democrats gained a sweeping victory in 1890, and in 1892
[
79]
regained control of all departments, only to lose all again in 1896, when the party allowed itself to be diverted from its original principles by the Populists and silver men. In 1900 the same elements controlled it, with the addition of the Anti-Expansionists.
In both 1896 and 1900 it lost its national ticket.
See
Bryan, William Jennings. 
