The Democratic Party is the eldest of the two major political parties of the United States of America. This party actually began in 1791 by the formation of the Republican Party, that later changed its name to the Democratic-Republican party, and was founded by the Third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson and the Fourth President of the United States, James Madison. They formed this party in opposition to Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists. This party soon became the Anti-Federalists' party as more of them became members. The Democratic-Republican party began as staunch supporters of republicanism and the protection of all citizens inalienable rights. This political party was against having a national bank and national debt. Its members felt the national government should lead the example of being fiscally responsible. They were also opposed to Alexander Hamilton's Jay Treaty of 1794 fearing closer economic ties with England would strengthen the Federalists in the newly formed national government. The Democratic-Republican party was in opposition of a large and strong federal government which was what the Federalists were advocating. This is the root platform of the Democratic Party. Instead this party was pro a constitutional republic where the inalienable rights of the citizens would be adhered and be law by being in the social contract known as a constitution. This was the reasoning behind this party's staunch advocating for strictly adhering to the main body of the United States Constitution and the first ten amendments (the Bill of Rights).
In 1824 the Democratic-Republican party split into two factions and dissolved. One of these factions led by the Seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson and the Eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren became the Democratic Party and the other the Whigs. Both of these parties proclaimed their stand for American Republicanism. The Democratic Party kept the platform of the Democratic-Republican party as its own. The Democratic Party was the majority party in the United States until the American Civil War. In the 1850's this party split again and those in opposition to slavery left the Democratic Party and helped with the formation of the Republican Party. Those known as the War Democrats helped with the campaign that made President Lincoln, a Republican, the first president for the Republican Party to get elected. The Democratic Party further split into what was called the Southern Democrats who were in support of the Confederacy in the South. By the 1890's the Democratic Party was primarily a Southern party whose members voted party-line each election. These Democrats were known as the "solid South."
The modern Republican Party was formed in 1854 to oppose the expansion of slavery, and many former Whig Party leaders joined the newly formed anti-slavery party. The Democratic-Republican Party inspired the name and ideology of the Republican Party, but is not directly connected to that party.
The Republican Party grew out of opposition to the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which was signed into law by President Franklin Pierce in 1854. The Party began as a coalition of anti-slavery Conscience Whigs such as Zachariah Chandler and Free Soil Democrats such as Salmon P. Chase.
