Democrats & Republicans: History of Political Parties in the US | Laughing Historically

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• published: 10 Mar 2016
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How did we end up with the political mess we have today? In less than 4 minutes, we give you the whole dirty story from Giant Balls to Zombie Voters. Watch "Democrats & Republicans: The History of Political Parties in The United States!" Don’t miss history, SUBSCRIBE ►http://bit.ly/1U0izNE Follow us on TWITTER ► http://www.twitter.com/laughhistory Like on FACEBOOK ► http://www.facebook.com/laughinghistorically --- ABOUT US: Join brothers Brandon and Nevin on their crazy trip through time as they dive into some of the weirdest (but true!) and interesting bits of world history. Laughing Historically is an educational web show that’s teacher/classroom friendly and great for kids of all ages! — TRANSCRIPT: The Constitution doesn’t mention Political Parties, because back when it was created, they didn’t exist.. This democracy thing was new, guys. Although believe me, The Founders had their disagreements, they were afraid of the country falling into factions. Plus, they loved GEORGE WASHINGTON, like he won every single electoral college vote. Even though The Founders didn’t set a limit, WASHINGTON decided to retire after two terms. By this time, the country had split into two camps. On one side, JOHN ADAMS and ALEXANDER HAMILTON who called for a strong government with a big bank, and close ties to England. They form The Federalists. On the other side, JAMES MADISON and THOMAS JEFFERSON who were really just against everything Alexander Hamilton, so for small government and siding with revolutionary France.. They form the Democratic Republicans. By 1815, after The War of 1812 (when the British returned and BURNED DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE), people wanted unity and the two party system dissolves in The Era of Good Feelings.. but things quickly fall apart with the bitter feud between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson during the elections of 1824 and 1828. The pro-JACKSON side rebrands the small-government loving DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS into THE DEMOCRATS. THE WHIGS rise up as a party against JACKSON, believing him a tyrant and a jerk (which you’d agree with if you were a Native American, or one of the guys he beat senseless with his cane). THE WHIG PARTY campaign WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON against JACKSON’S VP VAN BUREN (or the guy with the crazy hair). Although they lose in 1836, THE WHIGS run HARRISON again but step it up with parades featuring free hard-cider, The Log Cabin HARRISON didn’t actually grow up in, and a giant rolling ball. Which literally coined the phrase “Keep The Ball Rolling.” HARRISON would be elected in 1840, BUT died in 1841, only 32 days into office after going outside without a coat on... Bundle up, kids! THE WHIGS would successfully elect another president in 1849, ZACHARY TAYLOR, but he would die only 16 months into his presidency from getting sick after drinking some milk. So unsurprisingly, THE WHIGS fall apart, and in 1852, ex-Whigs join-up with northern anti-slavery activists to form THE REPUBLICANS. Being from the north, they believed in liberty for everyone, from slaves to big business. THE REPUBLICANS firmly rise with the Election of their ABRAHAM LINCOLN in 1860, after THE DEMOCRATS fall into disarray and split into north/south over the issue of slavery. The big guy’s election in turn starts a little something called The Civil War! During Reconstruction, DEMOCRATS firmly grab The South and REPUBLICANS, The North. These post-Civil War DEMOCRATS were pretty abusive of elections, which leads to laws like registering voters and making sure dead people don’t vote, which was a big problem. Unsurprisingly, THE DEMOCRATS were pretty unpopular and didn’t win a single presidential election between 1896 and 1932 aside from WOODROW WILSON, who only made it in because the Republican vote was split between current PRESIDENT TAFT and former PRESIDENT TEDDY ROOSEVELT who had formed THE BULL MOOSE PARTY. However, The Great Depression would prove the Republican economic views of letting Big Business do whatever it wanted, and traditional views like prohibition, no longer worked for the country. Democratic PRESIDENT FDR believed that the government could help the poor, and regulate business - which was something the growing Socialist Party stood for. The great success of his New Deal would shift the lower class, blacks, immigrants, and catholic voters to the DEMOCRATICS. By the 1960’s with Democratic PRESIDENT JOHNSON siding with the Civil Rights movement, and Republican RICHARD NIXON being more regressive towards race, THE DEMOCRATS lose all the southern “dixiecrats” that were left over from the Good Old Gays and THE REPUBLICANS fully take over the South and fly over states. Meanwhile, THE DEMOCRATS cement the coasts.