John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson were the two key players in the so-called Corrupt Bargain, a scandal concerning the 1824 electoral results. The Presidential election of that year was a bitter one, with John Quincy Adams (the son of past-President John Adams) and Andrew Jackson both running as members of the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans, against two additional candidates. When it came time to tally the results, it was revealed that none of the four candidates had won a majority in the Electoral College and so, as per the Constitution’s instructions, the House of Representatives was charged with electing the rightful winner. Influential Senator Henry Clay, who was himself a candidate, dropped out of the race but then threw his support behind John Quincy Adams, who was ultimately selected as the next President by the House. Incensed at both his loss and its circumstances, Andrew Jackson suspected corruption, especially when the newly-elected Adams named Clay as his Secretary of State. Despite Jackson’s claims, no evidence of actual corruption has ever been discovered, but the allegations won many supporters over to Jackson’s side.

Although James Madison and Alexander Hamilton would declaim political factionalism together in The Federalist Papers, Hamilton would later found the Federalist party and Madison the Democratic-Republicans. These two parties would go on to be bitterly partisan before the Era of Good Feelings, in which the Federalist Party dissolved. Students should be able to recall the basic political positions of Hamilton and Madison, particularly which parties they formed.

The modern Democratic Party tends to be supported by minorities, women, young people, people living in cities, whereas the modern Republican party tends to be supported by wealthy people, southerners, and white males.

John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson were the two key players in the so-called Corrupt Bargain, a scandal concerning the 1824 electoral results. The Presidential election of that year was a bitter one, with John Quincy Adams (the son of past-President John Adams) and Andrew Jackson both running as members of the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans, against two additional candidates. When it came time to tally the results, it was revealed that none of the four candidates had won a majority in the Electoral College and so, as per the Constitution’s instructions, the House of Representatives was charged with electing the rightful winner. Influential Senator Henry Clay, who was himself a candidate, dropped out of the race but then threw his support behind John Quincy Adams, who was ultimately selected as the next President by the House. Incensed at both his loss and its circumstances, Andrew Jackson suspected corruption, especially when the newly-elected Adams named Clay as his Secretary of State. Despite Jackson’s claims, no evidence of actual corruption has ever been discovered, but the allegations won many supporters over to Jackson’s side.

At the most basic, intrinsic level, all political parties have one single goal in mind: winning elections. Victory is crucial to a party’s survival– without a solid record of electoral success (on the local, state, and federal levels), a party is incapable of holding itself together and carrying out the functions which are necessary for its existence. By winning elections, a party is able to hold on to its voter base, as well as to recruit new members, and is also able to amass funds, power, and influence.

Although James Madison and Alexander Hamilton would declaim political factionalism together in The Federalist Papers, Hamilton would later found the Federalist party and Madison the Democratic-Republicans. These two parties would go on to be bitterly partisan before the Era of Good Feelings, in which the Federalist Party dissolved. Students should be able to recall the basic political positions of Hamilton and Madison, particularly which parties they formed.

At the most basic, intrinsic level, all political parties have one single goal in mind: winning elections. Victory is crucial to a party’s survival– without a solid record of electoral success (on the local, state, and federal levels), a party is incapable of holding itself together and carrying out the functions which are necessary for its existence. By winning elections, a party is able to hold on to its voter base, as well as to recruit new members, and is also able to amass funds, power, and influence.

The modern Democratic Party tends to be supported by minorities, women, young people, people living in cities, whereas the modern Republican party tends to be supported by wealthy people, southerners, and white males.

Supply-side economics is a macroeconomic theory that suggests that the best way to encourage economic growth is to remove obstacles for those who produce goods. Essentially it proposes lowering regulations and taxes on wealthier individuals and corporations, supporting the notion that such a policy will cause a "trickle-down" effect that will improve the economic and social conditions of the working and middle classes. It is most closely associated with Ronald Reagan and was part of the platform on which he won his landslide election victory in 1980 over Jimmy Carter.

In reality, third parties are hardly ever successful in their bids to win election; the Democrats and the Republicans simply enjoy far too much entrenched support to be at all easily dislodged. Third parties, however, do not need to win to order to still play a decisive role in the political process. A good third party candidate is often able to steal voters away from one of the two main parties, which can have a great influence on the election’s final outcome. Third parties also provide arenas where voters can safely express their anger or concerns against their government and where discussion of controversial issues or groups can take place. These features are often attractive to individuals who have either never before voted or who had stopped voting for a period of time, drawing them into the political sphere.