After Jackson was elected, his supporters formed the Democratic Party. This party became one of the two major political groups in the country. The Democrats said they supported regular farmers and workers. They opposed strong institutions like the National Bank. They thought it gave too much power to wealthy elites. Democrats supported lowering land prices in the West for white settlers. This often meant forcing Native Americans off their land. They said the government should listen to the majority and protect the "common man.”
Opposing them was a new group called the Whigs. The Whigs believed the federal government should take an active role in building the nation’s economy. They supported higher tariffs to protect American businesses. They also wanted to improve roads and canals. They believed this would boost trade and growth. Whigs claimed these policies would help everyone, not just the rich.
The fight between Democrats and Whigs shaped U.S. politics for many years. Both parties built strong organizations. They campaigned hard and tried to win over everyday voters. The Second Party System started the modern political system in the United States.
