Political Parties Throughout History

The Federalists
Back when the U.S. was a small country, the Federalists were the leading party of the eighteenth century. The first president who was a member of this party was John Adams. After his defeat for re-election in 1800, the Federalists slowly started to lose power. It officially disappeared in 1820.
The Democratic-Republicans
In 1800, Thomas Jefferson was elected president. Jefferson was the leader of a new and popular party called the Democratic-Republicans. Unlike the Federalists, the Democratic-Republicans remained in power until 1828, when it broke-up.
The Democrats
Andrew Jackson lost the election of 1824 to John Auincy Adams because of a "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Speaker of the House Henry Clay. In self-defense, Jackson's supporters formed the modern Democratic party. It lost power in 1840, 1860, 1896, 1920, 1952, 1976, and 2000. It has power today.
The National-Republicans
The only party left to oppose the growing Democratic Party was the National-Republican party, who backed John Quincy Adams in 1828. After Adams' defeat, the party broke-up.
The Free-Masons
In the 1830s, a new party arose to oppose the Democrats, the Free-Mason party. It mainly opposed Jackson's ideas and opposed secret societies, like the Masons. However, it only survived two elections before it broke-up.
The Whigs
During the 1830s, break-aways from the National-Republicans and the Free-Masons fromed the Whig party to oppose the Democrats. It lost it's first election in 1836, but gained the presidency in 1840. It rised and fell in power only in 1848. It then broke-up.
The American Know-Nothings
In the 1850s, break-aways from the Whigs made-up yet another party, the American Know-Nothings. It's first canidate it ran was former president Millard Fillmore. However, it servived for two elections before it's break-up.
The Rebublicans
The next party to survive more than two elections was the Republican party. It was formed by break-away Whigs and American Know-Nothings. It would rise and fall to power from 1860 to 2004.
The Constitutional Union
In the election of 1860, a new party called the Constitutional Union fought for the office. It survived for a surprising three elections and in two of them it gained the office.
The Southern Democratics
The Democratic Party split-up in the 1860 election. The southern part of the party formed the Southern Democratic party. It collasped after the 1860 election.
The Liberty Party
Although it existed since the 1836 election, the Liberty Party reached it's peak in the 1860 election, although it lost. The party still exists today since it's formation from break-away Democrats.
The Free-Soilers
In 1848, a new anti-slavery party called the Free-Soil party nominated former president Martin Van Buren for president. However, it still lost. It died in 1852.
The Independece Party
First formed in 1820 under John Quincy Adams, it disappeared for nearly two hundred years before it made a comeback in the 2000 election, which it lost.
The Populist Party
In the 1890s, some farmers and silver-owning people formed the Populist party to oppose the gold-backing Republican party. Even though it planned to extend it's place in political parties, it disappeared after it's fourth election.
The Progressive Party
First formed in 1896, the party did not find a canidate to nominate until former president Thoedore Roosevelt accepted the party's nomination in 1912. It disappeared after the election.
The Socialist Party
First formed as the Workingman's party in 1874, the party has found little canidates to nominate. It still exists but is near collapsion.
The Socialist Labor Party
A generatly different basis from the original party, the Socialist Labor party survived for one election. It then disappeared.
The Greenback Party
The latest party to be formed(in 1996), the Greenback Party has ran in two elections so far.
Political Party Trivia
Only twelve presidents have come from third parties: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Abraham Lincoln(as a Constiutional Union party member in the 1864 election), and Andrew Johnson.
In all, 18 third parties have been created, from the Frederalists to the Greenbacks.

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