The American Party (more commonly known as the Know-Nothing Party) was a nativist movement most popular during the early 1850s that primarily sought to curb immigration and the growing influence of Catholicism brought in by immigrants. It origininated in the North, but it quickly gained a nationwide presence, even boasting a chapter in California. It died out almost entirely by the time of the Civil War and was absorbed into other parties by the end of it.

The "Radical Republicans," who were opposed during and after the Civil War by the moderate wing of their own party, controlled Congress during Reconstruction and implemented many harsh and sweeping measures on former Confederates. The Radical Republicans sought citizenship and voting rights for all newly freed slaves, the political exclusion of former Confederates, and the prosecution of Confederate leaders for their actions during the Civil War.

The Ocala Demands were a set of demands issued in 1890 by a group of agricultural institutions. It demanded, among other issues, that there be an amendment to the Constitution providing for the direction election of Senators, a reduction of tariff rates, the establishment of a graduated income tax, that the banking system be reformed and placed directly in the hands of the Federal government, and that “free silver” be used to support inflation in United States currency. In 1892 the Farmer’s Association formed into the Populist Party and the Ocala Demands were accommodated into the Party’s Omaha Platform.

The bulk of popular support for the War of 1812 came from the southern and western states of America. Henry Clay, as the most prominent representative of the Western states and John Calhoun, as the most prominent of the Southern States, both heavily supported war with Britain and were the two primary forces behind the passage of war through Congress. Andrew Jackson was an exceedingly prominent “war-hawk” and clamored for war, which he claimed was necessary to complete the break from Britain. Likewise, President James Madison was a supporter of a war which he believed was necessary to maintain American pride and neutrality. The only area of the country to generally oppose war was New England. Daniel Webster, as a prominent New England lawyer and politician, is by far the most likely of these five to have both publically and privately opposed a declaration of war.

The Compact Theory maintains that the United States Constitution was created by the agreement of the States; therefore, if the states disagree with the direction or interpretation of the Constitution, then they have the right to dissolve it. Thomas Jefferson was a notable proponent of this opinion, arguing passionately for it in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.

The quote is a perfect illustration of abolitionism, the movement to end slavery, espoused by one of its chief proponents, William Lloyd Garrison.

The Virginia Resolution was written by James Madison. The Kentucky Resolutions (note the plural) were written by Thomas Jefferson.

The above quote is taken from a speech given by John C. Calhoun defending the doctrine of nullification, the theory that states could invalidate Federal laws they believed were unconstitutional. Calhoun is often seen as the paragon of a states’ rights Southern politician thanks to his role in the Nullification Crisis of 1831-32, where he resigned his position as Vice President to Andrew Jackson due to their disagreement on South Carolina’s attempted Nullification of the Tariff of 1832.

The Compromise of 1850 was designed to prevent the threat of Southern secession and outbreak of Civil War. The Compromise included the admittance of California as a free state, and the admittance of New Mexico and Utah (with the caveat that they be able to determine the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty); it also included that the slave trade would be abolished in the District of Colombia, and that Congress would pass a new Fugitive Slave Act. The Compromise was proposed by Henry Clay, so we can assume he would have been in favor of it. Likewise, Daniel Webster and Stephen A. Douglas were ardent supporters of the Compromise, arguing convincingly to President Millard Fillmore about its necessity. Fillmore was initially reluctant, but was eventually swayed by their convictions. Of these five, only John C. Calhoun opposed the Compromise, which he feared would take away a great deal of power and control from the South. For Calhoun it was far from a compromise, and rather more an imposition of Northern will.

George Washington’s farewell address is perhaps the most famous in the history of the United States Presidency. In his speech, Washington warned against the subservience of the people to political parties. He also praised American political system and provided the above quote as a constant reminder to the American people of the power that democracy gives them.