Why we have political parties

     Political parties are found in most civilized countries. The political parties in ancient Greece and Rome fought bloody battles; modern political parties - in England and the United States at least -have changed their tactics to the more harmless word and pen fights. Political parties are believed to be necessary, especially in democracies. They bring matters of public interest to the attention of the people and direct reform movements to make life safer and better. A great drawback to political parties, however, is that the victorious party has often been unfair to the smaller or defeated party.

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The Whigs wanted banks

     The Territorial officers of Iowa were mostly Democrats and most of the members of the Territorial legislature were likewise Democrats. The Territorial governors, Lucas and Clarke, were Democrats, and so were the first two State governors, Briggs and Hempstead; but Chambers, the second Territorial governor, was a Whig. The two political parties in early Iowa were thus democratic and Whig parties.

    We have already learned something about the difference between parties. Since there were more Democrats than Whigs in 1846, the constitution of 1846 was more to the liking of the Democrats, who thought Iowa would be better off without banks. Against this were the Whigs, who believed banks would hasten prosperity. More Whigs than Democrats also were opposed to slavery. This, however, was not of much importance to the State as to the United States since slaves could not be owned lawfully in Iowa.

    In the eighteen fifties there were a few people in Iowa who belonged to the Liberty Party and the Free Soil Party, both antislavery parties. When the Kansas-Nebraska Act had been enacted by congress in 1854 some dissatisfied Democrats and many more Whigs joined the anti-slavery parties and formed the Republican Party. This party elected James W. Grimes governor in 1854.

The constitution of 1857

     The result of this political overturn was the constitution of 1857, which, with a few changes, is still in force. The new constitution change the term of State officers from four to two years and added a lieutenant governor to the number of Sate officers. Also the State representatives were henceforth to be chosen for two years and the State senators for four years.

    Contrary to the constitution of 1846, the constitution of 1857 permitted banks to operate in the State. It had provisions for free State supported schools, and it transferred the capital from Iowa City to Des Moines, leaving the old Territorial capitol to the Sate University, which the constitution of 1857 states must remain in Iowa City.

Questions and Exercises: Compare ancient and modern political parties. Why are political parties desirable? Compare the stand on banks by Democratic and Whig parties. To what parties did the Territorial governors of Iowa belong? What parties united to form the Republican Party? What changes were made by the Constitutions of 1857?