There were two major political parties in the early days of statehood, but one dominated more clearly than the other. Compare and contrast the two main parties and describe why one party held more power than the other. What did this mean for the people of Arkansas?
The two main political parties in the early days of Arkansas statehood were the Democratic Party and the Whig Party. The Democratic Party was the more powerful of the two, and it was largely supported by the rural population. The Democratic Party was in favor of states’ rights, limited government, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. The Whig Party, on the other hand, was more popular among the urban population and was in favor of a strong federal government, a loose interpretation of the Constitution, and a more active role for the government in economic and social matters.
The Democratic Party held more power than the Whig Party because it had more support from the rural population, which made up the majority of the state’s population. This meant that the Democratic Party was able to pass more of its policies and laws than the Whig Party. This had a significant impact on the people of Arkansas, as the Democratic Party was able to pass laws that favored the rural population, such as laws that protected the rights of farmers and small businesses. This allowed the rural population to have more economic and political power than the urban population.