Term: Democratic Party (in Wisconsin)

Definition:

under Andrew Jackson (1829-1837), it espoused popular government against aristocratic rule, and won all but two presidential elections in the period 1837-1860, when many Democrats also held local office in Wisconsin. As the Civil War approached, the national party split apart over slavery, with Southern Democrats led by Jefferson Davis and Northern Democrats by Stephen Douglas. For almost a century, the party was extremely weak in Wisconsin, with Republicans controlling virtually all offices until 1930, either through the traditional "stalwart" wing or the "progressive" wing of the party. In 1934 the latter broke off to form the Progressive Party, which lured many potential Democrats. The party was only effectively resurrected after World War Two by Gaylord Nelson, William Proxmire, and other modern leaders.

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