Trego's Mountain Ear

No one ever mandated that the US would have a two party political system – but it definitely grew that way.  Back in 1824, with Andy Jackson getting an “Anti-Andy” movement that might have rivaled today’s “Never Trump” folks, the political powers arranged that John Quincy Adams would take the presidency, rather than Andrew Jackson, a man supported by the voters and hated by the political elite of the time.

In 1828, Andrew Jackson won the Presidency so decisively that no chicanery could keep him out of the White House, and became the leader of the Democratic party.  Meanwhile,  former president John Quincy Adams ran Congress on the Anti-Masonic ticket. 

For those who like the idea that history doesn’t always repeat itself but it sometimes rhymes, looking at John Quincy Adams and Joe Biden provide a bit of fun – John Quincy Adams, often considered one of our most intellectual Presidents, left the office to become an Anti-Masonic candidate; Joe Biden, recognized as the least intelligent President of his time, left office to be made a Mason by the Grand Master of South Carolina’s Prince Hall lodges. 

With Jackson and the Democrats ascendant, it became time for a political party for the opposition – and the Anti-Masonic party replaced the weak National Republicans.  That party nominated William Wirt for President in 1832, and did win all of Vermont’s electoral votes.  By 1836, the Anti-Masonic party had joined with the remnants of the National Republican party to become the Whigs – although their last act was to nominate William Henry Harrison and John Tyler.  The Anti-Masonic party dissolved, Harrison and Tyler ran as Whigs, starting a Whig Party that would last until Lincoln and the Republicans sent them onto the ash can of history.  (Millard Fillmore, elected vice-president as a Whig, was the last Anti-Masonic Party member to occupy the White House.)

The country, split over Andrew Jackson’s Presidency, developed the first third party – the Anti-Masonic party – and then as it collapsed, moved that party’s stalwarts into the new second party – the Whigs.  After about 25 years of opposing the Democrats, the Whigs were replaced by the Republicans.

We have seen political parties form and die.  The Democrats essentially formed in 1824, building a group that could press Andy Jackson’s visions of America onto the country.  That vision included slavery, manifest destiny, and, for those who were termed ‘the civilized tribes’ the Trail of Tears.  The Anti-Masonic Party died quickly – but our history shows four presidents from that group – John Quincy Adams, Harrison, Tyler, and Fillmore.  The first was as the party formed, the last four were elected as Whigs.  The Whig party died as it was replaced by people who found slavery and secession unacceptable, and the Republicans became the group to oppose the Democrats.

MAGA seems to be an alliance of people whose common interests are less ideological than directed at how the Democrats are governing.  The Dem’s governing seems to be reminding them of George Carlin’s observation “It’s a big club and you ain’t in it.”  I recall one of my grad students explaining that libertarians should never be running government because “They don’t believe that government works.”  It looks like they, like Ronald Reagan, were correct – Government has become the problem.  Let’s see if lack of ideology leads to party death, or if excessive venality does.  I’m not optimistic.