The Democrat- Republicans (known as the Republicans casually) were basically formed as a more Libertanian alternative to the Federalists, who believed in a more centralized Government. They (the Dem-Repubs) supported states rights, which made them more popular in the South. The original Democrat- Republicans had little to do with the two parties we know today. Of course there were a lot of factions within the party and many of them broke off to what would become simply the Democrat Party. The Republican party that we know of today grew, unbelievably enough, as part of the Abolitionist movement just about the time Lincoln arrived on the scene.
I'll delve into the parties a little more as we cover the Presidents one by one. But after the Democrats- Republicans more or less wiped out the Federalists, they would have to contend with the Whigs who would also have some pretty strange characters. They started out as National Republicans (again nothing to do with today's GOP). Then, finally around the late 1850s's we got the Democrat and Republican two party ystem that we have today.
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Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds
But looking for quality interaction on MB is like trying to stay hydrated by drinking salt water.
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