Due to the Anti-federalist factions that arose from the growing opposition of Alexander Hamilton in the late 18th century, the Democratic-Republican Party was formed. Led by James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and other prominent Anti-federalists, the newly formed party’s interests included the enlargement of state rights. In 1800, the Democratic-Republican Party managed to win it’s first presidential election with Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson defeated the incumbent Federalist John Adams, with fifty-three percent of the popular vote and seventy-three electoral votes.

After the War of 1812, the Democratic-Republican party began to divide, and the Federalist Party emerged from the party faction. When Andrew Jackson took office in 1828, the Democratic Party was finally formed. As the Democratic Party continued through the 19th century, the majority of Democrats supported slavery, and the majority of voting Democrats were found in the South.

As tensions began to rise in the country over the issue of slavery, the 1860 election went to Republican Abraham Lincoln because of split votes between Democrats Stephen A. Douglas and John Cabell Breckenridge. The Republicans held on to office during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War, and it was not until 1884 when Grover Cleveland was elected president, that the Democrats held office.

In 1910, Democrats managed to get control of the House, which then led to the election of Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and in 1916.

The election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 was by far one of the most influential presidencies in United States History. FDR’s New Deal legislation opened the door for many liberals in the country, and his policies affected the country for decades afterward.

During the Second World War and the years that made up the Cold War, Republicans began to take conservative and Southern votes away from the Democratic Party. However, there was a shift in African American votes as many began to vote Democratic as well as a large majority of people in Northern states.

In the 90′s Bill Clinton took office as a Democrat, and his liberal view points appealed to many in the country. Since the election of George W. Bush in 2000, the Democratic party seems to be growing momentum as it looks to take back the White House in 2008. This is apparent due to the Democratic sweep that occurred in the 2006 midterm election.