Political Parties
Chapter 5
Unit 2
Political Parties Goals &
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Primary purpose of two party system.
Nominations, support organization, watchdog agent.
Ideological consensus, history and tradition of a two party
system.
Multiparty and One-party systems
3 eras of one-party dominance and it’s effects.
Divided government
Minor parties: Ideological, Single-issue, economic protest and
splinter parties.
Minor parties roles and influence on elections.
Political Parties
3rd Party Research
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Research 3rd Party; Research the Republican and Democratic
Parties: Platforms on PERSONAL & ECONOMIC issues.
Oral Presentation: Must present 3rd party as if “pitching”
parties platform.
Visual Aid: Poster of Parties: Name, symbol, platform, 4
major reasons to support party.
Power-point: List platform, issues, comparison to Democrats
or Republicans on specific issues.
Conservative or Liberal: Use 4 issues to define the party as
being constitutionally conservative or liberal.
Constitutional or Communist: Use 4 issues to define the
party as being constitutional or communist.
Democrats, Republicans,
Independents
1. $25.00 is the cost to be either a
Democrat or Republican.
2. Do candidates take a part platform test
or swear an oath to their party
preference?
3. What is an Independent? Are
Independents important in the political
arena?
What is a political party?



How are factions and political parties
alike and how are they different?
Do political parties have internal
factions? Explain by using specific
examples to support your answer.
What is the ultimate goal of both
factions and political parties?
Factions Within

1.
1.
Democrats:
Yellow-dogs: Southern
Democrats (Dixicrats).
Social Conservatives &
State Sovereignty

Blue-dog Democrats:
Northern, Pacific. Social
& Economic Liberals.
(Socialists,
Communists, Fascists,
Authoritarians)
2.
1.
Republicans:
Southern
Republicans: Social
& Economic
Conservatives.
Northern
Republicans
Economic
Conservatives and
Social Liberals.
(Libertarians)
Democrats Divided
Republicans Divided
Political Party Functions
Recruiting Candidates:
2. Organize and Run Elections
3. Present alternative policies to the
electorate.
4. Operate the government.
5. “Watch-dog” losing party.
GOAL: seek control and influence public
policy. George Washington’s warning
about a divided nation (factions/parties).
1.
2 Party System



1800 establishment of a two-party system.
Much less democratic than Europe.
A two-party system manages to eliminate
competition from the far left or far right.
Two moderate parties that James Madison
designed in the Constitution.
Americas Two Party System.
Ballot Access laws
9 Periods of Parties
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1789-1816: Creation of parties
1816-1828: One party rule
1828-1860: Andrew Jackson’s Era
1860-1896: Civil War & Reconstruction
1896-1932: Progressives/Populists
1932-1968: New Deal Period.
1968-1980: The Great Society
1980-2008: New Federalism
2008: “Change”
(Blue Dogs)
(Blue Dogs)
(Republicans)
(Yellow Dogs)
(Yellow Dogs)
(Yellow Dogs)
(Republicans)
(Yellow Dogs)
4 Major Eras of Party Power
1.
1800-1860: Era of the Democratic-Republicans
(Party of Thomas Jefferson; todays Libertarian Party)
1.
1820 Split of the Democratic-Republicans
1. Democrats vs. Whigs (to be Republicans)
2.
Who were the Democratic-Republicans?
1. Small farmers, debtors, frontiersman,
slaveholders.
3.
What caused the split?
1. Second Bank of the U.S., high tariffs, slavery
4.
Republican Party formed in 1854 (Anti-slavery)
4 Major Eras of Party Power
2.
1860-1932: Era of Republicans
1.
2.
Election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860
Who were the Republicans?
1.
3.
Business, financial interests, farmers,
laborers, freed slaves, gold bugs
1896 Election: Populist Party gains a
foothold in the South and Mid-West.
1. 1912: Populist Party Platform adopted by the
Democratic Party and move away from
sectionalism.
4 Major Eras of Party Power
3.
1932-1968: Era of Populist-Democrats
3.
Who were the Populist-Democrats?
3. Southerners, labor unions, graft
organizations, small farmers, socialists
and communist immigrants, African
Americans and other minority groups.
4.
Populist-Democratic Platform & Policy.
3. New Deal: Radical change in the role of
the federal government
4 Major Eras of Party Power
4.
1968-?: Start of a New Era (Divided government)
1.
President Johnson announces not to seek
reelection or nomination by the Democratic
Party.
2. Democratic Party splits: Governor George
Wallace of Alabama starts the American
Independent Party (Dixicrats)
3. Richard Nixon (Republican) wins election.
4. The House of Representatives, Senate and the
Presidency largely remain divided between party
control.
Federalists v Anti-Federalists
George Washington and Thomas
Jefferson’s warnings about factions and
party objectives
Explain in no less than 3 sentences the
meaning of: National Unity & Popular
Government
Federalists v Anti-Federalists

1.
2.
3.
4.
Federalists: John
Adams
Commercial Interests
Merchants.
Large Farmers
Strong National
Government
 Anti-Federalists:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Thomas Jefferson
Small Farmers.
Small Business.
Artisans.
States Rights
The Era of Good Feelings



1800-1825: Republicans opposed the
Federalists strong more active
central government.
Republicans controlled government
in Congress and Executive branches.
“Era of Personal Politics” like
Baldwin County, Alabama today.
Democrats and Whigs
•
1824: Return of 2 party system: 1824 election
of John Q. Adams split the Republican Party.
1. Adams: “National Republicans” (Whigs):
Bigger federal government
2. Jackson: Democrats: personal liberty and the
common man.
Civil War Crisis
Whig Split
• Northern Democrats and • Southern Democrats “a
Whigs form the
government strong
enough to build roads is
“Modern” Republican
Party
a government strong
enough to free your
slaves”
Scalawags and Carpetbaggers



End of Jeffersonian Government: small
limited government.
Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion:
Northern Democrats feared a strong
government. Republicans and Prohibition,
Religious Schools, Moral values in society.
Southern Democrats small government and
states rights over slavery & property issue.
Carpetbaggers after the War
Triumph of Republicans



Populists in the South
and West 1890’s
Populists: Wanted
cheap money, inflation
& income tax.
Democrats adopt
Populist Platform

Republicans: gold
standard, protect jobs
in America, and low
inflation.

Laissez-faire
Capitalism
Progressive Interlude
1900’s: Progressivism in both parties.
 1912: Republican Party split into Bull
Moose Party under T.Roosevelt
 1912: Democratic Progressivism under W.
Wilson marked “radical” change in
Democratic policies.

The New Deal Era
1932: John M. Keynes and Deficit
Spending: Fiscal Policy (New) “Taxes and
Spending”
 New Deal: Government Jobs, NIRA, AAA,
Social Security, Public Salary Tax
 Private Sector: Refuses to stimulate the
economy
 Why the “Great Depression”? Free
Enterprise is Modified? Explain….

Concept of Limited Government
changed by New Deal Policies
Divided Government, James
Madison’s Warning about factions
1.
2.
3.
4.

Vietnam War
Civil Rights Movement
Race Riots
Assassinations: MLK, JFK, RFK, Malcolm
X, George Wallace (attempt)
Explain the divisions: Race, Economics,
Cultural Values
Vietnam Conflict & Limited
Government
Red State/Blue State
Explain:
Race, Religion, Cities, Rural
areas, Education level
Why Blue?
Why Red?
2012 Election Results by
County
2 Major U.S. Parties Today
 Tweedledee
and Twedledum ??????
 How different are they really? Make a list.
 Repubocrats? Explain term.
 Why the explosion of 3rd parties and
explain what limits 3rd parties from being
elected to state wide and national
positions.
Parties Constituents

Democrats:

Republicans:
1.
Least Educated
Labor Unions
Blacks/Hispanics
Cities
Northeast
West Coast
Jews
Women
Government Employees
Single-Parent Families
1.
Upper Income
Businesspersons
Evangelicals
Men
Rural Areas
South
Rocky Mountain
Great Plains
Private Sector labor
Two Parent Households
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Economic and Cultural
Differences
Democrats:
1. Poor
2. Lower Middle
3. Less Religious
4. Diverse Norms or
values


1.
2.
3.
4.
Republicans:
Middle Income
Rich or Wealthy
Religious
Traditional
Cultural Norms &
Values
FDR and the New Deal
Factor

1.
Social Programs and Government
Intervention changed the landscape
of the Democratic Party:
Social Welfare 2. Govt regulation of
business 3. Affirmative Action 4.
Social Security/Medicare
Republicans




Self-Reliance, “pull yourself up by your
own bootstraps”
Limited Government Regulations and
taxes
Individual Worth, dignity and freedom
Private Property and Free Market
prinicples
The Big Switch!!!

1960’s: Started The Big Switch
– Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Civil Rights
Laws, Affirmative Action, Income Tax, Death Tax,
Gift Tax
Has the Democratic Party or Republican Party
changed party ideology?
Or
Have party constituents switched parties? Explain
 Republicans and Tariffs?
 Democrats and Free Trade?

Social Class Warfare?
1. Cultural Politics, Socioeconomic Status:
“A working person voting for the
Democrats is like a chicken voting for
Colonel Sanders”? Explain.
--Economic Conservatism: associated with
higher incomes
--Social Conservatism: associated with
lower-income groups
Regional Factor in Cultural Politics
1.
2.
3.
4.
Cultural Liberals: ??
San Francisco &
Gays
Nevada & Casinos
Southwestern States
& Immigration
Wash./Oregon Drug
Laws
Cultural
Conservatives: ??
1. Solid South & Bible
Belt
2. Mid-Western States
& Farmers lives
3. Texas and
Independence
4. Alaska and oil access
3 Faces of a Party
1. Party-in-the-electorate: loyalty,
emotional ties, attachment to party
 2. Party Organization: structural
framework of the party; volunteers,
caucuses, conventions, election campaigns
 3. Party-in-government: Appointed and
elected officials (Superdelegates—
appointed, delegates—elected)

Why has the 2 party system
endured?
History of 2 Party System
2.
Political Socialization: Schools, Churches, Media,
Educational level
3.
Winner-take-all system (plurality)
--Electoral College System: Single Member Districts &
plurality
--Maine and Nebraska split electorate
4. Ballot Access Laws: State laws which restrict 3rd party
ballot access
5. What will cause the demise of the 2 party system and
our political consensus? Social Media
1.
Role of Minor Parties in U.S.
Politics

1.
2.
3.
3rd Parties:
Special-Single Interests: Green,
Prohibition
Issue Oriented: Constitution, Socialist
Ideology: Libertarian, Communist
Ideological Third Parties
Research each party’s platforms or issues:
Compare them to the Republican or Democratic
party platforms.
1.Libertarian:
2.American Independent
3.Reform
4.Green
5.Communist
6.Socialist
Ideological Functions
1. Psychological Cohesiveness: People like to
identify themselves with a group.
2.
Pull 2 party system towards their agenda
a. Libertarian Party and the Republican Party’s Free
Enterprise System and laissez-faire economic
philosophy.
a. Communist Party and the Democratic Party’s
progressive income tax, death, and gift tax
philosophy.
Splinter Parties
•
•
•
•
1. Bull Moose Party (Split from Republican)
2. Reform Party (Split from Republican)
3. Constitution Party (Split from Republican)
4. American Independent Party (Split from
Dixicrat)
• Impact of 3rd Parties: “Spoiler Effect”
• 2000 Ralph Nader
• 1992-1996 Ross Perot
Multiparty Systems
• European democracies
– Broader representation of the electorate
– Instability in government
• America’s 2 party system prevents multiple
parties winning elections: Ballot Access Laws,
Single-Member Districts, Consensus
One Party Systems
• One Party Systems can equal Democratic
Dictatorship
– How is the American system of “checks and
balances” supposed to protect its people from
democratic dictatorships or one-party rule?
National Party Machinery
1.
The National Convention: Adoption of Party Rules &
Platform
2. The National Committee: prepares the agenda for the
national convention
3. The National Chairperson: Leader of the party, nominated
by the most recent presidential candidate: Raise money, party
unity, recruit new voters
4. Congressional Campaign Committees: Reelect incumbents,
campaigning,
State & Local Machinery
1. State Organization:
1. State Central Committee
2. State Chairperson: Works directly with Governor
3. Further the parties interests
2. Local Organization:
1. Wards: City party organizations
2. Precinct: Areas of cities
3. Blocks: In large cities
New York Mayor & Local Politics
Political Change
1. Realignment:
--1968 Richard Nixon’s southern strategy
reformed the Democrats and Republicans
--Dixicrats (Southern Democrats or Blue Dogs)
switch to the Republican Party
--1896-1932 unification of Industrial Workers
and Capitalists into the Democratic Party
Realignment
A fundamental problem with “the party”
will create a realignment. 1980: Blue-dogs
switch to Republican Party (Christian
Coalition)
New Deal brought together
Segregationists and African Americans
into the same party. Why?

Southerners and Federal Grant Money
Dealignment




A surge of Independent or 3rd party
participants in an election period.
Fewer people voting straight-ticket
Increase of swing voters:
Increase of tipping: Age, Race,
Religion, Entitlement eligibility,
Gender, National Origin, etc…