WGU C121 Task 2 | Western Civilization II Performance Assessment | Study Guide & Practice
Resources | 2026 Edition
C121 Task 2
A. Explain (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs) the reasons for the rise of partisan politics
in the Early Republic (i.e., major conflicts and concerns, development of the First Party
System).
The creation of partisan politics came to fruition because of the disagreements on how
much power the federal government should, or should not, possess. The Secretary of
the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, led the federalists and those who supported a “strong central
government” (Norton, 2015). The Federalists believed that a strong centralized government
would lead to a strong independent Nation.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, was the
spearhead of those who believed the power should remain within the states, and that they should
be able to make their own decisions without the interference of the federal government. The
party that fought for the state’s rights was known as the Anti-Federalists. Anti-Federalists
believed that the government should remain small and focus on farming and agricultural growth.
B. Discuss the development of the Second Party System (suggested length of 2–3
paragraphs) by doing the following:
1. Compare the platforms of the Whig and Democratic parties.
In the late 1820’s, and early 1830’s, the Second Party System was created. The second-
party system thrived on ideological rivalry (Norton, 2015). The Whig Party, also known as the
Republican Party, closely followed the beliefs of the Federalists. John Adams, the leader of the
Whig Party, wanted the States to focus on developing commercially and not on expansion into
the West. The Whigs pushed for an activist government and believed in social reform, public
schools, prison and asylum reform (Norton, 2015).
The Democrats, led by Andrew Jackson, were in direct opposition to the Whigs. The
Democrat party believed that each state should retain its power rather than having a federal
government in complete control. The Democrats believed that for the nation to prosper they
, should continue to expand into the West. Rather than focusing on the country, the democrats saw
the society as 2 separate classes, the “haves” and “have nots” and believed that the wealthy
settlers had benefited from special favors (Norton, 2015).
2. Describe the leaders and constituents that defined each party.
The Whig Party was led by John Adams, David Webster, and Henry Clay. The Whigs
supported moral reform which helped to gain evangelical Protestant supporters as well as free
black men. However, by appealing to the evangelical Protestants, the other faiths, such as the
Catholics, were pushed to the side causing them to vote Democrat.
The Democrats, who were led by Andrew Jackson, promised to open additional lands for
settlement in the West. This pledge to open more land drew in yeoman farmers, wage earners,
frontier slave owners, and immigrants as supporters (Norton, 2015).
3. Explain how the second-party system contributed to the increased democratization of
American politics.
The second-party system thrived on rivalry (Norton, 2015) and assisted in the increase in
democratization in early American Politics. The Second Party System was the first system to
have two opposing parties with two separate beliefs, allowing those citizens who did not
completely align with the First Party system beliefs a chance to participate in the elections by
exercising their right to vote. This participation helped citizens express their ideals and beliefs to
others in their party. Although both parties had different beliefs, the one thing they both agreed
on was the need for more voters. When the States first gained their independence, only white
landowning males were allowed to vote. Both the Whigs and the Democrats supported voter law
reformation to increase the number of voters within the country. Because of the increase in
voters after the reformation of voter laws, both parties had to petition the new voters through
campaigns to try to gain their support. The Second Party System allowed both the Whig and the
Democrat parties to campaign to the citizens at the same time.
Resources | 2026 Edition
C121 Task 2
A. Explain (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs) the reasons for the rise of partisan politics
in the Early Republic (i.e., major conflicts and concerns, development of the First Party
System).
The creation of partisan politics came to fruition because of the disagreements on how
much power the federal government should, or should not, possess. The Secretary of
the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, led the federalists and those who supported a “strong central
government” (Norton, 2015). The Federalists believed that a strong centralized government
would lead to a strong independent Nation.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, was the
spearhead of those who believed the power should remain within the states, and that they should
be able to make their own decisions without the interference of the federal government. The
party that fought for the state’s rights was known as the Anti-Federalists. Anti-Federalists
believed that the government should remain small and focus on farming and agricultural growth.
B. Discuss the development of the Second Party System (suggested length of 2–3
paragraphs) by doing the following:
1. Compare the platforms of the Whig and Democratic parties.
In the late 1820’s, and early 1830’s, the Second Party System was created. The second-
party system thrived on ideological rivalry (Norton, 2015). The Whig Party, also known as the
Republican Party, closely followed the beliefs of the Federalists. John Adams, the leader of the
Whig Party, wanted the States to focus on developing commercially and not on expansion into
the West. The Whigs pushed for an activist government and believed in social reform, public
schools, prison and asylum reform (Norton, 2015).
The Democrats, led by Andrew Jackson, were in direct opposition to the Whigs. The
Democrat party believed that each state should retain its power rather than having a federal
government in complete control. The Democrats believed that for the nation to prosper they
, should continue to expand into the West. Rather than focusing on the country, the democrats saw
the society as 2 separate classes, the “haves” and “have nots” and believed that the wealthy
settlers had benefited from special favors (Norton, 2015).
2. Describe the leaders and constituents that defined each party.
The Whig Party was led by John Adams, David Webster, and Henry Clay. The Whigs
supported moral reform which helped to gain evangelical Protestant supporters as well as free
black men. However, by appealing to the evangelical Protestants, the other faiths, such as the
Catholics, were pushed to the side causing them to vote Democrat.
The Democrats, who were led by Andrew Jackson, promised to open additional lands for
settlement in the West. This pledge to open more land drew in yeoman farmers, wage earners,
frontier slave owners, and immigrants as supporters (Norton, 2015).
3. Explain how the second-party system contributed to the increased democratization of
American politics.
The second-party system thrived on rivalry (Norton, 2015) and assisted in the increase in
democratization in early American Politics. The Second Party System was the first system to
have two opposing parties with two separate beliefs, allowing those citizens who did not
completely align with the First Party system beliefs a chance to participate in the elections by
exercising their right to vote. This participation helped citizens express their ideals and beliefs to
others in their party. Although both parties had different beliefs, the one thing they both agreed
on was the need for more voters. When the States first gained their independence, only white
landowning males were allowed to vote. Both the Whigs and the Democrats supported voter law
reformation to increase the number of voters within the country. Because of the increase in
voters after the reformation of voter laws, both parties had to petition the new voters through
campaigns to try to gain their support. The Second Party System allowed both the Whig and the
Democrat parties to campaign to the citizens at the same time.
