The Two Party System in American History

With the creation of the two-party system in the 1790s, the US has had three different system of parties. In each system of party politics, one party focuses on issues of economic development and the other party focuses on issues intended to improve or protect the lot of the common man.

System	Years	Parties	Focus
1^st	1790-1815	Federalists Democratic-Republicans	Economic Issues Common Man
2^nd	1830-1855	Whigs Democrats	Economic Issues Common Man
3^rd	1856-Present	Republicans Democrats	Economic Issues Common Man

Only the Democratic Party dates to the first party system. Fifteen years interceded between the self-destruction of the Federalist Party and the birth of the Whig Party. However, many (but not all) Northern Whigs became Republicans when the Whig Party collapsed in the 1850s. Most former Whigs from the South joined the Southern wing of the Democratic Party following Reconstruction.

Last Updated: December 9, 2002