Two Party System in US History
A. Early Years
1. Why did parties form?
Resolve collective action problems.
a) Do business in legislature (late 1700s)
parties put together majority votes on bills
 universalism:
• super-majority on each bill
• distribute stuff to each legislator
 OR, win with 50% + 1
• minimum winning coalition
• costs less, winners get more
• requires organization, discipline
b) Contest elections: (1820s)
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mobilize voters
recruit candidates
raise resources
spread information
to win requires broad-based support
cant pass policies if not in office
B. Different “Systems” of 2 Party Competition
PARTY SYSTEM as long-term balance of power between 2 parties
Each party retains same coalitional base during period
A. System, defined (again)
 Enduring competition between two major parties
 Base of each party stable until a major crisis
 Six different “systems” of compt. in US history
When does party system change, realign?
1. First political parties in US
First “party system”= The Jeffersonian Era
Pre-modern parties
Parties as caucuses of elites
 Federalists v. Democratic Republicans (1790-1824)
 Federalists largely gone after 1812
Federalists:
• pro-GB,
• tariffs,
• Bank of US,
• commerce
• Northeast states
Dems Reps (Jefferson):
• France
• agricultural
• popular democracy
• state sovereignty
• South & West
2. Mass-based parties form latter (post 1820s)
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local voter-based organizations
broad slates of candidates for different races
contest local, state, and national races
recruitment, assistance to candidates
national nominating conventions for President
3x more voters in 1828 than 1824
Extension of franchise (Age of Jackson) changes
basis of political competition
not until 1830s
2nd party system Democrats v Whigs (1828-1856)
The Jacksonian Era
Democrats dominant
Origin of 'modern' mass-based parties
Whig coalition =
• “free-soil”
• pro manufacturing
• commerce,
• northern states
• pro-tariff
• infrastructure development
• stronger national powers
Democrat coalition =
• pro slave
• some anti slave
• agricultural
• strong in South
• state sovereignty
• anti-tariff (free trade)
Conflict over slavery changes basis of political competition
New parties, new issues
3rd system = Republicans (GOP) v. Democrats (1860 - 1896)
Reconstruction Era
No clear majority party, Republicans won more often
Age of the Urban Party Machines
GOP coalition =
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anti-slave Democrats
free-soil Whigs
pro-union (anti-confederacy)
commercial, industrial
Southern Blacks
Democratic coalition =
• white Southern
• farmers
• western Populists
• some urban Catholics (more latter)
Conflict over economic crisis, transformation changes
competition
New parties, new issues (trusts, industrialization)
4th system = Republicans v Democrats (1896 - 1932)
Industrial Republican Era
Republicans dominant
Anti-party reforms adopted
Republicans =
• commercial interests
• Progressive reformers
• Pro gold standard
• East and West
• Protestant
• rural
• less immigration
• some urban
Democrats =
• agricultural
• Free Silver (west)
• economic regulations
• Labor
• South
• immigrants in larger cities (by 1920s)
Third Parties:
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Populists 1890s
Prohibition early 1900s
Progressives 1912-20s
Socialists 1900-20
Great Depression changes basis of competition
5th system = Democrats v Republicans (1932 - 1964)
New Deal Era
Democrats dominant
Class-based parties
Democrats=
• Labor
• Northern blacks,
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Southern whites
Catholics
Urban
Govt managment of economy
Republicans =
• commercial
• Protestant
• Rural
• Small business
• middle class
• Northeast
6th system = Democrats v. Republicans (1968 – today ??)
Divided Government
Rise of ideology, social issues
Decline of partisanship?
No majority party until 2008
Democrats=
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Republicans=
Coastal (east & west)
Urban
Blacks
Ethnic minorities
Public service unions
Social service spending
Business regulations
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Rural, suburban
White
Protestant
Southern whites
Mountain west
Less social spending
fewer regulations
Labor? Catholics?
what long term “balance of power” now?
who is the majority party?
who is the minority party?
Party System Change
A. System, defined (again)
 Enduring basis of competition between two major
parties
 Long-term base of each party stable until a major
crisis
 Six different “systems” of compt. in US history
1) why of interest?
 Rare
 system change key to non-incremental policy change
 major changes in legislation occur
 system change = new parties
 Representation of NEW SOCIAL CONCERNS
B. Realignment
 major shift in basis of parties that endures over time
 long term shift in the “partisan balance of power”
 a new majority party organized around new issues
1) Critical realignment vs. gradual realignment
• Single election vs. over series of elections
• 1932 vs. 1994
2) Some elements of Critical Realignments:
 massive shift in voter loyalties
 increase in voter participation
 may corresponds with new “third” party
 old parties might disappear
 change in regional loyalties
 new majority party
or, new “balance of power” btwn 2 parties in system
1828, 1860, 1896, 1932, 1968 …. 2008 (nope).
C. Dealignment: Is the party over?
o Decline in mass loyalties to parties
o Decline of parties as organizations
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rise of TV
candidates run as independents for party nomination
fewer voters loyal to a party over long-term
no majority party
= no one wins elections w/ policy “mandate”
= no one to hold accountable when things
go wrong.....
1. Evidence
 more voters claiming to be “independent” 1952 –
1980
 More "third party" support
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Wallace 1968 15% ; 10 million votes, 43 EC
Anderson 1980 7%; 6 million votes
Perot 1992
19%; 19 million votes
Perot 1996
8%; 8 million votes
Nader 2000
3%; 3 million votes
 rise of ticket splitting
• 12% 1952
• 25% 1988
• 20% 2000
 rise of “switching” party vote year to year
 divided government now the norm (Pres &
Congress)
1900 - 1952: 22 elections “united,” 4 divided
1952 - 2004 9 elections “united,” 17 divided
Irony, strong “party in govt.” w/ weak mass loyalties to parties