Historical Party Breakdowns

The history of the US Congress is important because it reflects on the values and trends of the past and can shed light on what is possible for the future of politics. It might remind everyone that the Democrats, in historical terms, are just coming off the longest domination of the House in US history. In similar terms, the longest one party has held the Senate was the Democrats from the 50s to Reagan, though this is a narrower win (the Senate runner-up? also the Democrats, this time from mid-Jackson to the Civil War).

The charts are based on election years, not when people were sworn into office. Beneath every chart, all the parties listed in that particular chart are briefly explained. Independents are not explained, for obvious reasons. This means that almost every party has a duplicate explanation under another chart on this page.

Democrats - The brainchild of Martin Van Buren and first characterized by the populist Andrew Jackson, the Democratic Party is the oldest party in the US today. Ultimately, it has changed a lot but it's always been marked by a vague hostility to markets, an abiding sense of identification with the people as a whole, and a general (if inconsistent) opposition to the power of elites.

Republicans - Established with the fusion of anti-slavery elements in the Free Soilers, Democrats and Whigs, the Republicans eventually captured conservatives, moderates, radicals and ex-Democrats in a broad coalition focused against slavery and on preserving the Union. They've gone through fewer changes than the Democrats and generally capture a middle class outlook on economics and society.

Americans (Know-Nothings) - Prominent briefly in the 1850s, the American Party was based around a collection of issues with immigration at the center. The party was also concerned with the influence of Catholics, the Pope, alcohol and so forth. They advocated a waiting period of many years before immigrants could vote and be citizens. Conservative Whigs, after the death of their party, joined the American Party out of the belief that it could be a truly national party and that the slavery as the Republican Party issue would be divisive and sectional. The American party had an enigmatic amount of influence since it had secretive rules and often operated as a political club with members in other parties holding allegiance to their beliefs. The American Party mostly died out when the Civil War broke out, with the members picking a new party based on allegiance in the North-South split.

Anti-Lecompton Democrats - Mostly Northern and Border-State Democrats, this Congressional grouping opposed the pro-slavery Lecompton constitution for Kansas. They were in the late 1850s.

Liberal Republicans - More moderate and conservative Republicans who wanted better post-Civil War relations with the South emerged in the early 1870s under the leadership of New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley. He ran for President in 1872, nominated by the Liberal Republicans and the Democrats, and lost to President Grant.

Unions, Unionists, Constitutional Unionists, Unconditional Unionists - Winning elections and caucusing in the 37th, 38th and 39th Congresses, the Unionists of varying labels supported prosceuting the Civil War against the South but were not Republicans. They of course died out as a caucus when the war ended, most of them becoming Northern and Border-State Democrats.

Conservatives, Conservative-Republicans - Similar to the Liberal Republicans, Conservatives wanted more focus on national unity, protective tariffs and national improvement projects. They were against slavery but, also like the Liberal Republicans, placed a lesser emphasis on the need for emancipation than other Republicans when compared with the need for national unity.

Nationals - Related to the larger Greenback movement, the Nationals supported an inflationary monetary policy, greater Congressional regulation of interstate commerce, women's suffrage, and a graduated income tax. It also advocated greater regulation of large businesses. It faded out and was replaced by subsequent groups, such as the Silvers, Populists and of course Greenbacks.

Readjusters, Readjuster-Democrats - The Readjusters were a post-Reconstruction mixed-race party that advocated readjusting the state debt of Virginia so that the antebellum and Confederate governments' debts would be reduced or eliminated, West Virginia would have be saddled with some of the debt, and the freed revenue would go to public education efforts. They fought the Democrats who were sometimes called the Conservatives, and succeeded in briefly winning control of the state legislature. In Congress they tended to work with the Republicans, though they generally insisted on independence from either side. The party faltered and died from the racial tensions of being a party that included so many black people and was doomed when the Democrats in Virginia eliminated black voting rights thereafter.

Labors, Socialists, Union-Labors, Farmer-Labors, American-Labors - A long-running variety of labor and socialistic caucuses appeared in the Congress. The first appearance was a brief, tiny caucus at the end of the 1880s. Other groups came and went, with most of the labor-socialist caucusers appearing in the 1920s and 1930s. The American-Labor caucus of one member held out through the 1940s, disappearing in the 1950 election.

Populists, Independent-Populists, Greenbacks - Emphasizing inflationary policies and sporting rhetorical barrages against the East Coast and the influence of money-changers and Wall Street, the Populists and Greenbacks saw most of their following in poor farmers. Inflation would allow farmers to pay their bank debts easily, but since land, crops and cattle hold their value against money the farmers would weather the monetary repercussions far easier (in theory). Along with the Silvers, the Populists and Greenbacks died down in the face of strong public support for the gold standard and were subsumed by the Democrats. Their ideas would be updated and replayed by the Progressives in the early 20th century.

Silvers, Silver-Republicans - Representing miners in Western states, especially Nevada where the Comstock silver lode was discovered, Silvers wanted coinage of free silver to encourage both inflation and a healthy demand for the production of silver. Like the Populists and Greenbacks, the Silvers died amid popular approval for hard money and the gold standard.

Progressives, Progressive-Republicans - Coming to political power with the rise of a moralistic middle class, the Progressives supported women's suffrage, morals-based legislation, and humanitarian regulations on industry, wages and urban living. The party began with Republican Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 campaign for President. They were 'radicals' in the classical sense of emphasizing democracy, social value, and government intervention against large businesses while cherishing small businesses. In 1924 Republican Robert LaFollette ran for President as a slightly more socialistic Progressive and lost, but this second Progressive Party managed to win Congressional seats in the 1930s and early '40s. In 1948 Henry A. Wallace ran to the left of Harry Truman in a party bogged down by Communists and Stalinists and which did not see any federal electoral success. Interestingly, all three Progressive parties were started by former Republicans, and (except for the 1948 manifestation) most of the supporters came from the GOP and returned to the GOP.

Prohibitionists - Founded shortly after the Civil War, the Prohibition Party still exists today in a state of near-death. It's primary reason for existence was Prohibition, the legal enforcement of temperance or the rejection of alcohol, although there was a striking resemblance between the Prohibition and Progressive agendas. The Prohibition Party siphoned votes from the Republicans for years, likely the source of both of Gorver Cleveland's victories, until the Republicans finally passed the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act. At this time almost all Prohibitionists left for the Republicans or Progressives.

Pro-Administrations - Those who were generally among the Federalist camp that supported the Constitution and was less supportive of the Bill of Rights. They were business-minded, coastal, urban and pro-English.

Anti-Administrations - Those who were generally among the Anti-Federalist camp that opposed the new Constitution and was insistent on a Bill of Rights. They were agrarian-minded, inland, rural and took a more pro-French bent in world affairs.

Federalists - Direct successors to the Anti-Administrations. They died down to a rump base in New England after a deeply unpopular secession convention sparked on by the War of 1812 caused massive backlash. Their death, contributed to by other factors as well, led to the Era of Good Feelings and (Jeffersonian-) Republican domination.

Republicans - Often mis-labeled the Democratic-Republicans by those wishing to distinguish this group from the modern party of the same name, the Republicans were a Jeffersonian faction and the direct predecessors to the Anti-Administrations. They dominated early American politics in part due to the widespread popularity of Jefferson, the view of Federalists as elitist or monarchist, and the perception of Federalists as unpatriotic after their disastrous New England secession conference. The (Jeffersonian) Republicans split into the Democratic-Republicans of Jackson and Van Buren and the National-Republicans of JQ Adams and Clay, which were to become the Democrats and the Whigs and Republicans, respectively.

Adams-Clay Republicans - The plurality of the 18th Congress's House, which decided the 1824 Presidential election, went to Adams and Clay. Adams was the main leader of the National-Republican faction and Clay the main proponent of similar policies in the Congress. There's some rumor that Clay delivered the Congress to John Quincy Adams, who did not win the popular vote or the electoral vote, received strong Congressional support in exchange for giving Henry Clay the job of Secretary of State. Clay did receive the position, but historical evidence for the so-called Corrupt Bargain is slim to none. The Adams-Clay Republicans eventually became Whigs.

Adams-Clay Federalists - The majority of the Federalists still in the House after the 1822 election supported Adams and Clay. They would eventually become Whigs.

Jackson Republicans - The second largest group of the House supported the charismatic war hero and Bank of the US opponent Jackson for President, but he was to lose the House vote in the 1824 election. This group generally became the Democrats later.

Jackson Federalists - A handful of Federalists elected in 1822 supported Jackson and would later join the Democrats.

Crawford Republicans - The conservative Crawford had a stroke in 1823 that doomed his campaign despite his recovery. His nomination by 'King Caucus' was by this time somewhat controversial and one of the last times the practice was used. This was the third-largest group in the House at the time. The Crawford supporters generally became conservative Whigs.

Crawford Federalists - Two Federalists supported Crawford in the 1824 election. They would have become Whigs later.

Adams/Anti-Jacksons - Supporters of John Quincy Adams and opponents of Andrew Jackson supported national improvements, a national Bank of the US, and a protective tariff. They labeled Jackson King Andrew I and derided him as power-hungry. Jackson remained quite popular.

Jacksons - Supporters of Andrew Jackson, fueled by his narrow loss in 1824, pushed for the populist and his policies of eliminating the Bank of the US and expanding electoral participation. They also opposed public works projects, national improvements like Clay's 'American System' and protective tariffs. It was common for supporters of Jackson to view the East Coast with suspicion as hoarders of money. Jackson became an incredibly popular President under whose leadership the franchise expanded. His economic policies resulted in a nationwide fiscal calamity that came to fruition during Martin Van Buren's presidency and limited Jackson's successor Democrat to a single term.

Anti-Masonics - Arguably the first 'third' party in US history, founded in the late 1820s. Believing that Freemasons represented a secret, powerful influence in American life with dangerous, elitist and anti-Christian elements, the party started slowly. Anti-Jackson politicians in the eastern states used the rising party to push other problems of the East, including failure to complete public works like the Erie Canal and social disorder associated with various cults and communes in upstate New York. Though not a single-issue party, the Anti-Masons failed to hold much appeal since their signature issue, masonry, stood in the face of many famous Freemasons such as Jackson and many Founding Fathers. The party died within a few years and its members joined the Whigs.

Nullifiers - In response to a tariff seen to benefit the North against the South, John C. Calhoun and others in South Carolina supported candidates known as Nullifiers. They wanted South Carolina to be able to nullify the tariff which was seen to hurt their economy. The Nullifiers appeared in the 1830 election and gained strength in the face of continuing tariffs and Jackson's failure to help. They fizzled out after Henry Clay, the Great Compromiser and a strong supporter of tariffs, passed a bill to phase the tariff down to the 1816 level. The Nullifiers rejoined Jacksons faction in the mid-1830s, now the Democrats.

Whigs/Oppositions - The Whigs were the primary vehicle of opposition to Jackson and are named for the anti-monarchy British party, since President Jackson was often accused of behaving like a King. They were generally supportive of tariffs, national improvements and the business mindset. They eventually become the Republicans.

Law and Orders - This was a Rhode Island party organized in response to the People's Party and the Dorr Rebellion there associated with the fight for universal suffrage. At the time, suffrage in Rhode Island was still determined under the 1663 constitution which limited voting rights to landholders, and the industrial revolution meant that fewer and fewer people were landholders. The rebellion was squashed by a state force and the Law and Orders supported the move against the rebellion. The group only caucused after the 1842 election.

Conservatives - Similar to the Liberal Republicans, Conservatives wanted more focus on national unity, protective tariffs and national improvement projects. They were against slavery but, also like the Liberal Republicans, placed a lesser emphasis on the need for emancipation than other Republicans when compared with the need for national unity.

Free Soilers - Dedicated to the middle class ideology of free labor generally and halting the spread of slavery into the new territories specifically, the Free Soil Party rose in response to the Mexican War and the acquisition of new territories. It was widely perceived that the Mexican War favored the South and the feeling in many Northern states was that the territories had to be preserved for the well-being of the country's economy and sustainment, not to mention ethical reasons. The Free Soilers were also classical liberals more broadly; they endorsed more rigorous attention be paid to free press, free speech, the right to bear arms, and they extolled the virtues of small business, hard work and individual achievement. They took many supporters from the abolitionist Liberty Party as well as Conscience Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats. The Free Soilers joined the Republicans in the mid-1850s.

Unionists - Winning elections and caucusing in the 37th, 38th and 39th Congresses, the Unionists of varying labels supported prosceuting the Civil War against the South but were not Republicans. They of course died out as a caucus when the war ended, most of them becoming Northern and Border-State Democrats.

Conservatives - Unlike the Conservatives of earlier periods in US political history, the Conservative Senator for New York was elected in 1970 on a more forthright platform rather than a more compromising, unity-focused platform. The Conservative Party of New York uses cross-endorsement to affect the outcome of elections in that state and to try and defeat Republican candidates they deem poor candidates. Senator James Buckley won in 1970, ran for reelection in 1976 as a Republican but lost. The Conservatives still operate as a party, with most of their power residing in the cross-endorsement system still used in New York.

Readjusters - The Readjusters were a post-Reconstruction mixed-race party that advocated readjusting the state debt of Virginia so that the antebellum and Confederate governments' debts would be reduced or eliminated, West Virginia would have be saddled with some of the debt, and the freed revenue would go to public education efforts. They fought the Democrats who were sometimes called the Conservatives, and succeeded in briefly winning control of the state legislature. In Congress they tended to work with the Republicans, though they generally insisted on independence from either side. The party faltered and died from the racial tensions of being a party that included so many black people and was doomed when the Democrats in Virginia eliminated black voting rights thereafter.

Farmer-Labors - A Minnesota-based party founded in 1918 that focused on agriculture and unions and advocated welfare and nationalization policies. The party was unable to successfully expand beyond Minnesota, but it was successful at electing Governors and Congressmen from that state. Some of the Farmer-Labors joined the Republican Party, including sitting F-L Senator Henrik Shipstead, but the bulk of the party stayed loyal when the F-Ls joined the Minnesota Democratic Party. In Minnesota, the Democrats are still called the DFL or Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Populists - Emphasizing inflationary policies and sporting rhetorical barrages against the East Coast and the influence of money-changers and Wall Street, the Populists saw most of their following in poor farmers. Inflation would allow farmers to pay their bank debts easily, but since land, crops and cattle hold their value against money the farmers would weather the monetary repercussions far easier (in theory). Along with the Silvers and Greenbacks, the Populists died down in the face of strong public support for the gold standard and were subsumed by the Democrats. Their ideas would be updated and replayed by the Progressives in the early 20th century.

Progressives - Coming to political power with the rise of a moralistic middle class, the Progressives supported women's suffrage, morals-based legislation, and humanitarian regulations on industry, wages and urban living. The party began with Republican Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 campaign for President. They were 'radicals' in the classical sense of emphasizing democracy, social value, and government intervention against large businesses while cherishing small businesses. In 1924 Republican Robert LaFollette ran for President as a slightly more socialistic Progressive and lost, but this second Progressive Party managed to win Congressional seats in the 1930s and early '40s. In 1948 Henry A. Wallace ran to the left of Harry Truman in a party bogged down by Communists and Stalinists and which did not see any federal electoral success. Interestingly, all three Progressive parties were started by former Republicans, and (except for the 1948 manifestation) most of the supporters came from the GOP and returned to the GOP. Only the second Progressive Party, founded by LaFollette, managed to win a Senate race.

Adams-Clay Republicans & Federalist - The minority of the 18th Congress's Senate went to Adams and Clay. Adams was the main leader of the National-Republican faction and Clay the main proponent of similar policies in the Congress. There's some rumor that Clay delivered the Congress to John Quincy Adams, who did not win the popular vote or the electoral vote, received strong Congressional support in exchange for giving Henry Clay the job of Secretary of State. Clay did receive the position, but historical evidence for the so-called Corrupt Bargain is slim to none. The Adams-Clay Republicans eventually became Whigs.

Jackson & Crawford Republicans - The majority of the 18th Congress' Senate supported the charismatic war hero and Bank of the US opponent Jackson for President or the conservative, pro-caucus Crawford. This group generally became the Democrats later, though a number of Crawford supporters became Whigs.

National Republicans - The more formal name for the John Quincy Adams faction in the Jeffersonian Republican Party, the National Republicans urged internal improvements, tariffs and improvement of business conditions.