Encore: Political Parties | The Golden Age of the GOP | 4

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2020

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As the Civil War came to a close, the government set its sights once again on the future of the United States. Working closely with a Republican President, the Republican Congress expected a swift and peaceful road to Reconstruction. But then, a mere four weeks into his second term, Lincoln was assassinated, leaving the country in the hands of Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat who had personally owned slaves just three years before.

While Johnson’s unwavering commitment to states rights cultivated a fraught relationship with his Congress, the tumult would ultimately be short-lived. After just four years of a Democratic president, America’s Grand Old Party would ascend to power—and hold it—for over 70 years.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American History Tellers, add free on Amazon Music,
0:05.6	download the app today.
0:08.0	This is a special encore presentation of our series on political parties in the United
0:12.5	States.
0:13.5	As we head into November and face a contentious and consequential election, it seems
0:17.3	a ripe time to revisit how we got here in the first place.
0:20.4	It wasn't always Democrats and Republicans.
0:22.9	And if you'd like even more insight into our American political process, search for and
0:27.0	subscribe to another one of my podcasts, American Elections Wicked Game.
0:31.1	It chronicles every single presidential election from 1789 to 2020.
0:36.1	Both in this series and in that podcast, you'll find our current strife isn't so new,
0:40.7	and certainly not any worse than it has been.
0:43.0	Hopefully, that's a comfort.
0:44.0	Imagine it's March 4th, 1865.
0:58.9	You're the Vice President of the United States, and it's your last day in office.
1:03.7	You're seated at the front of the Senate Chamber, which is packed with lawmakers and spectators.
1:09.1	President Abraham Lincoln was reelected to a second term in November, but you weren't
1:13.3	on the ballot with him.
1:15.0	Your last act as Vice President is to swear in the new Vice President, Andrew Johnson.
1:20.9	Afterwards, Johnson will swear in the newly elected Senators.
1:24.8	Next to you, a new Senate clerk is fanning himself.
1:27.4	Not enough?
	...

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