Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism.

Abolitionists were anti-slavery activists who began to organize by the late 18th century, primarily in the Northern United States. In contrast to pro-slavery advocates and other anti-slavery groups that only sought the gradual abolition of slavery, abolitionists worked toward the immediate outlawing of slavery.

A political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, the Democratic-Republicans supported free trade, the separation of church and state, the interests of small farmers, and the power of the states over the federal government. They sympathized with the principles of the French Revolution and pushed for close ties between the United States and France. During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, the Democratic-Republicans would split and become the Democratic Party.

Forming out of the old Democratic-Republican Party, the Democratic Party was established in 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson. The party’s positions and constituencies have changed radically over the many years of its existence. When it was founded, it supported free trade over high tariffs, was skeptical of industrialization, and opposed federal interventions in the economy and civil rights for African Americans. By the late 20th century, the party had become known for relatively pro-labor policies, progressive cultural and social views, and support for a federal government active in environmental and business regulations and defending civil rights.