-institutionalized divisions that had vexed the Revolutionary generation and came to constitute an important part of the nation's checks and balances
-glorified the liberty of the individual and were fiercely guarded on guard against inroads of the privilege into society
-W, trumpeted the natural harmony of society and the value of community, and were willing to use government to realize their objectives; berated their leaders, whose appeals to self-interest fostered conflict among individuals, classes, or sections
-D, clung to states' rights and federal restraint in social and economic affairs, basic doctrines
-W, favor a renewed national bank, protective tariffs, internal improvements, moral reforms
= mass-based, tried deliberately to mobolize as many votes as possible for their cause
-commanded their loyalties of all kinds of Americans, fostered horse-trading compromises within each party that prevented either from assuming radical positions
-separate over slavery ;