Chapter 5 Political Parties

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Political Parties
History Minor Parties
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Evolution of Political Parties7 periods

• 1. 1789-1816 Creation of Parties
• 2. 1816-1828 Era of one Party rule
• 3. 1828-1860 Andrew Jackson pre Civil War
• 4. 1860-1896 Civil War and Post Civil War
• 5. 1896-1932 Rep. ascendancy progressive per.
• 6. 1932-1968 New Deal
• 7. 1968-present Modern period

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1. Formative Years

• Federalists vs Anti-Federalist over ratification
  of Constitution
• Washingtons warning baneful effects
• Threat to national unity
• Threat to popular government
• Need to identify political differences
• Federalist commercial interests, strong nat.
  gov.
• Anti-Fed became Rep. (Dem-Rep) artisans,
  farmers, states rights diff from Lincoln
• 1800 1st peaceful transfer of power

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2. Era of One Party Rule

• Era of Good Feelings
• Republicans elected on a regular basis
• President and Congress
• Federalist Party disappeared no competition
• Not support strong national gov, but . . .
• Louisiana Purchase
• Florida
• Established a national bank
• James Monroe 1817-1825

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3. Two Party Rule Dem Whigs

• Republican Party split
• John Quincy Adams National Republicans
• Andrew Jackson Democrats (defeated Adams 1828)
• Favored personal liberty, common man
• National Republicans became Whigs
• 1820 Dem. encouraged participation of masses
• Food and drink _at_ polling places
• Rallies, parades
• Made citizens feel part of process

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4. Civil War post 1860-1896

• Whig party split slavery
• Southern Whigs ceased to exits as a party
• Northern Whigs united with Democrats and Free
  Soil Party
• Formed the Republican Party Lincolns party
• After war, south joined Democratic Party
• Grew in strength 3/5 count abolished
• Golden Age 1874-1912 period of stability

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• Republicans grew in strength with development of
  populist movement in West
• Farmers inflation reduced real value of
  outstanding debts - Democrats
• Urban blue collar worker reduced purchasing
  power of paycheck Republicans
• Early 1900s Progressivism
• Fear of growing power of great corporations
• Need to regulate the economy
• 1912 Republican Party split Bull Moose,
  spoiler role Woodrow Wilson won
• W. Wilson introduced eco regulations

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6. New Deal

• Republican Party opposed federal relief
• FDR elected 4 terms
• Opened New Deal programs to all
• African-Americans flooded to party
• Eisenhower in 1950s only Republican during this
  era.

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7. Modern Era

• Divided Government
• No one party controlled the government
• Democratic Party
• African Americans and those who were hostile to
  them
• Southerners left party Dixiecrats
• 1960s decade of civil rights movement, race
  riots, Viet Nam protests, assassinations
• Social issues became more important than economic

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• Republicans had more success in the Whitehouse,
  Democrats in Congress
• Democrats controlled WH Congress
• 1977-1981 Carter
• 1993-1995 Clinton (only 2 years)
• Republicans controlled WH Congress
• 2003-2005 GW Bush

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Future of Political Parties

• Power lost
• Recruit member through spoils system
• Conduct elections, Print ballots
• Primaries selecting nominees
• Civil service laws merit based
• Issue-oriented politics, ticket-splitting
• TV emphasizes individuals over party
• Independents 19 1958, 40 2012

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• Political Parties provide
• Nomination of candidates
• Vetting of candidates
• Inform voters
• Activate voter participation
• Policy formulation and promotion
• Watchdog function for out-of-power party

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Third Party / Minor Partyhttp//www.presidentsusa
.net/thirdparty.html

• 2000 Ralph Nader, Green Party
• 1996, 1992 Ross Perot, Reform Party
• 1968 George Wallace, Am Independent
• Party
• 1924 Robert LaFollette, Progressive Party
• 1912 Teddy Roosevelt, Bull Moose Party
• 1856 Millard Fillmore, American Party

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3rd Party Rise

• Sectionalism Dixiecrats 1968
• Economic protest Populists 1892
• Specific Issues Green Party 2000
• Ideology Socialists, Communists, Liberterian
• Charismatic Personalities George Wallace,
  American Independent Party
• Failures of Major Parties Perot, Nader

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Why do 3rd Parties remain Minor Parties?

• Single-member plurality- winner takes all
• Major parties automatically placed on ballots
• 3rd parties gather signatures
• PA 67,000 signatures, registered voters who voted
• Not invited to debates
• Legislatures organized for 2 parties
• Public funding more generous to major party
• Media tends to ignore non-winners

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Value of Minor Parties

• Popularize new ideas
• Anti Masons 1st to nominate candidates at
  National Conventions
• Vehicle for popular discontent critic
• Induce change in major parties
• Spoiler Role in elections
• 2000 Nader, Gore, Bush
• 1912 Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson

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Types of Minor Parties

• Ideological Libertarian, Socialist,
• Long lived
• Single-issue Know Nothings, Free Soil
• Disappears once resolved
• Economic Protest Greenbacks, Populists
• Disappear once the economy improves
• Splinter split away from a major party
• Most important minor party
• Formed around strong personalities
• Bull Moose, Green, Reform

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Party in the Government

• Congressional Party
• Selects party leaders and committee appts.
• Organize and operate Congress
• Majority party generally holds more power
• Hurt by Individualistic nature of current
  politics
• Independents
• Split-ticket voting

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Party in Electorate

• Citizens personal affinity for a political party
• Sources
• Parents
• Marriage and other aspects of adult life
• Charismatic political personalities
• Cataclysmic events
• Social class