The History of the United States, 2nd Edition Season 1 Episode 30 Whigs and Democrats

The episode Whigs and Democrats from season 1 of The History of the United States, 2nd Edition explores the rise of the two major political parties in America during the mid-1800s and how their ideologies shaped the country's future.

The episode starts off by discussing the election of 1824, which marked the end of the Era of Good Feelings and the beginning of the two-party system in America. Four candidates, including Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, ran for president, but none of them received the majority of the electoral votes. This resulted in the election being decided by the House of Representatives, where Adams was ultimately chosen as president.

The episode then delves into the formation of the two major political parties that emerged after the 1824 election: the Whigs and the Democrats. The Whigs, formed in the mid-1830s, were a coalition of different groups, including former National Republicans and Anti-Masons, who were united in their opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson. The Democrats, on the other hand, were the party of Jackson and his supporters who believed in expanding democracy and opposing the centralization of power.

The episode examines the key issues that divided the Whigs and Democrats, such as tariffs, the national bank, and internal improvements. Whigs tended to support high tariffs to protect American industry, a national bank to stabilize the economy, and the government funding internal improvements such as roads and canals. Democrats, meanwhile, opposed these measures and believed in a more laissez-faire approach to the economy.

One of the major events that shaped the Whig and Democrat ideologies was the Panic of 1837, which was caused by the speculative frenzy of Jackson’s pet banks and the subsequent contraction of the money supply. The episode looks at how the Whigs blamed the Panic on Jackson and the Democrats, while Democrats argued that it was a natural result of the business cycle.

As the episode progresses, it discusses the key figures and leaders of both parties, including Martin Van Buren, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and William Henry Harrison. It also covers the major events of the time period, such as the election of 1840, which saw the Whig candidate, Harrison, use popular appeal to win the presidency over the Democrat incumbent, Van Buren.

Overall, Whigs and Democrats offers a comprehensive look at the rise of America's two-party system and how it was shaped by the key issues and events of the mid-1800s. The episode offers insight into the political ideology of both parties and how their views on the role of government, the economy, and democracy continue to shape American politics today.