What trend was observed in the frequency of divided governments in early American history before the Civil War?

The frequency of divided governments in early American history before the Civil War is correctly identified as having decreased. This trend can be understood in the context of the political landscape during that period.

In the early years of the republic, particularly during the formation of the two-party system, there were instances where the presidency was held by one party while the opposing party dominated Congress. However, as political parties evolved and became more organized, particularly with the rise of the Democratic Party and the decline of the Federalist Party, there emerged a tendency for greater party unity. This often led to instances where both the executive and legislative branches were controlled by the same party, resulting in fewer occurrences of divided government.

Additionally, the period leading up to the Civil War was characterized by intense political polarization over issues such as slavery, which further solidified party cohesion. As a result, it is evident that the overall trend was a decrease in the number of divided governments during this time frame when examining the alignment of party control across different branches of government.