The establishment of the Democratic Party in U.S. history is largely attributed to the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828. His victory represented a shift toward greater participation in politics by the “common man,” contrasting with the elitist attitudes of previous administrations. Jackson's supporters, called Democratic-Republicans, favored states' rights and agrarian interests, leading to the formation of a distinct party identity that prioritized populism. The Democratic Party emerged from internal divisions within the earlier Democratic-Republican Party and focused on implementing policies that appealed to the working class and emphasized individual liberty, significantly shaping American political dynamics moving forward.