Page "Democratic-Republican Party" Paragraph 3

The party selected its presidential candidates in a caucus of members of Congress.

They included Thomas Jefferson ( nominated 1796 ; elected 1800-1, 1804 ), James Madison ( 1808, 1812 ), James Monroe ( 1816, 1820 ).

By 1824 the caucus system practically collapsed.

After 1800, the party dominated Congress and most state governments outside New England.

By 1824 the party was split 4 ways and lacked a center.

One remnant followed Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren into the new Democratic Party by 1828.

That party still exists.

Another remnant led by John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay formed the National Republicans in 1828 ; It held its first convention in late 1831 in Baltimore.

It morphed into the Whig Party by 1835.

The Whig Party fell apart in the mid-1850s because it could not bridge North-South differences on slavery, while the Democrats held together by taking positions favored by the South.