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Jefferson won over a number of distinguished men who had worked
for the adoption of the Constitution； the ablest of whom was
James Madison； often called 〃the Father of the Constitution。〃
The Jeffersonians； thus representing largely the debtor and
farmer class； led by men of conspicuous abilities； proceeded to
batter down the prestige of the Federalists。 They declared
themselves opposed to large expenditures of public funds； to
eager exploitation of government ventures； to the Bank； and to
the Navy； which they termed 〃the great beast with the great
belly。〃 The Federalists included the commercial and creditor
class and that fine element in American life composed of leading
families with whom domination was an instinct； all led；
fortunately； by a few idealists of rare intellectual attainments。
And； with the political stupidity often characteristic of their
class； they stumbled from blunder to blunder。 In 1800 Thomas
Jefferson； who adroitly coined the mistakes of his opponents into
political currency for himself； was elected President。 He had
received no more electoral votes than Aaron Burr； that mysterious
character in our early politics； but the election was decided by
the House of Representatives； where； after seven days' balloting；
several Federalists； choosing what to them was the lesser of two
evils； cast the deciding votes for Jefferson。 When the
Jeffersonians came to power； they no longer opposed federal
pretensions； they now； by one of those strange veerings often
found in American politics； began to give a liberal
interpretation to the Constitution； while the Federalists with
equal inconsistency became strict constructionists。 Even
Jefferson was ready to sacrifice his theory of strict
construction in order to acquire the province of Louisiana。
The Jeffersonians now made several concessions to the
manufacturers； and with their support linked to that of the
agriculturists Jeffersonian democracy flourished without any
potent opposition。 The second war with England lent it a doubtful
luster but the years immediately following the war restored
public confidence。 Trade flourished on the sea。 The frontier was
rapidly pushed to the Mississippi and beyond into the vast empire
which Jefferson had purchased。 When everyone is busy； no one
cares for political issues； especially those based upon
philosophical differences。 So Madison and Monroe succeeded to the
political regency which is known as the Virginia Dynasty。
This complacent epoch culminated in Monroe's 〃Era of Good
Feeling；〃 which proved to be only the hush before the tornado。
The election of 1824 was indecisive； and the House of
Representatives was for a second time called upon to decide the
national choice。 The candidates were John Quincy Adams； Andrew
Jackson； Henry Clay； and William H。 Crawford。 Clay threw his
votes to Adams； who was elected； thereby arousing the wrath of
Jackson and of the stalwart and irreconcilable frontiersmen who
hailed him as their leader。 The Adams term merely marked a
transition from the old order to the new； from Jeffersonian to
Jacksonian democracy。 Then was the word Republican dropped from
the party name； and Democrat became an appellation of definite
and practical significance。
By this time many of the older States had removed the early
restrictions upon voting； and the new States carved out of the
West had written manhood suffrage into their constitutions。 This
new democracy flocked to its imperator； and Jackson entered his
capital in triumph； followed by a motley crowd of frontiersmen in
coonskin caps； farmers in butternut…dyed homespun； and hungry
henchmen eager for the spoils。 For Jackson had let it be known
that he considered his election a mandate by the people to fill
the offices with his political adherents。
So the Democrats began their new lease of life with an orgy of
spoils。 〃Anybody is good enough for any job〃 was the favorite
watchword。 But underneath this turmoil of desire for office；
significant party differences were shaping themselves。 Henry
Clay； the alluring orator and master of compromise； brought
together a coalition of opposing fragments。 He and his following
objected to Jackson's assumption of vast executive prerogatives；
and in a brilliant speech in the Senate Clay espoused the name
Whig。 Having explained the origin of the term in English and
colonial politics； he cried： 〃And what is the present but the
same contest in another form？ The partizans of the present
Executive sustain his favor in the most boundless extent。 The
Whigs are opposing executive encroachment and a most alarming
extension of executive power and prerogative。 They are contending
for the rights of the people； for free institutions； for the
supremacy of the Constitution and the laws。〃
There soon appeared three practical issues which forced the new
alignment。 The first was the Bank。 The charter of the United
States Bank was about to expire； and its friends sought a
renewal。 Jackson believed the Bank an enemy of the Republic； as
its officers were anti…Jacksonians； and he promptly vetoed the
bill extending the charter。 The second issue was the tariff。
Protection was not new； but Clay adroitly renamed it； calling it
〃the American system。〃 It was popular in the manufacturing towns
and in portions of the agricultural communities； but was bitterly
opposed by the slave…owning States。
A third issue dealt with internal improvements。 All parts of the
country were feeling the need of better means of communication；
especially between the West and the East。 Canals and turnpikes
were projected in every direction。 Clay； whose imagination was
fervid； advocated a vast system of canals and roads financed by
national aid。 But the doctrine of states…rights answered that the
Federal Government had no power to enter a State； even to spend
money on improvements； without the consent of that State。 And； at
all events； for Clay to espouse was for Jackson to oppose。
These were the more important immediate issues of the conflict
between Clay's Whigs and Jackson's Democrats； though it must be
acknowledged that the personalities of the leaders were quite as
much an issue as any of the policies which they espoused。 The
Whigs； however； proved unequal to the task of unhorsing their
foes； and； with two exceptions； the Democrats elected every
President from Jackson to Lincoln。 The exceptions were William
Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor； both of whom were elected on
their war records and both of whom died soon after their
inauguration。 Tyler； who as Vice…President succeeded General
Harrison； soon estranged the Whigs； so that the Democratic
triumph was in effect continuous over a period of thirty years。
Meanwhile； however； another issue was shaping the destiny of
parties and of the nation。 It was an issue that politicians
dodged and candidates evaded； that all parties avoided； that
publicists feared； and that presidents and congressmen tried to
hide under the tenuous fabric of their compromises promises。 But
it was an issue that persisted in keeping alive and that would
not down； for it was an issue between right and wrong。 Three
times the great Clay maneuvered