Political Party System
www.mbhs.edu/~grossmam/.../Party%20
Power%20Point.ppt
Political Parties:
What do they do?
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Promote a political agenda to influence
government policy and action
Select candidates for election
Educate voters
Finance election campaigns
Fill government positions
2 “Big Tent” Parties
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Republicans and Democrats
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“Big Tent” parties
Different groups that support unrelated issues
Associate with same party
Third parties limit interests to single issue.
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Example, Green Party = environmentalists
Role of Political Parties
Role
Description
Select candidates Parties select candidates,
present them to voters and
work to win elections
Educate voters
Parties inform people by
presenting information about
issues or beliefs through
pamphlets, newspapers,
rado, tv, speeches,
conventions
Roles, continued…
Govern
Those who govern are chosen on
the basis of party; appointments
are made with an eye to the party
of the potential officeholder
Finance
Parties raise funds to ensure that
campaigns candidates have financial support
to run their campaigns
Roles, continued…
Watchdog
The party that is not in power
criticizes the policies of the
party in power. This party plays
the role of the “loyal opposition.”
Question:
Which role of a political party do you think
most influences the political process?
Political Parties:
Who are they?
What do they want?
Democrats and
Republicans
History of Democrats
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Federalists
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George Washington
John Adams
Strong central government
Wealthy property owners concerned with improving
commerce and ensuring property rights.
Anti-Federalists
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Evolved into Democrat-Republican party
Thomas Jefferson
Supported by working class, small farmers from the South
Valued liberties
Resented big business
Possessed general suspicion of government
George Washington and John
Adams were both Federalists who
believed in a strong central
government.
Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, the 3rd and
5th Presidents of the United States signed the
Constitution in support of a strong federal
government. Came to distrust an all powerful
central government.
Andrew Jackson
First Democrat elected President!
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7th President of the US
War hero who defeated British at Battle of New
Orleans
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War of 1812
First presidential candidate to run as Democrat
First to frequently veto laws
Responsible for enfranchising all white males (right to
vote)
Large Indian removal projects
Distribution of land to white southern farmers
Jackson’s Democrats
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In favor of slavery
Typically won elections in south
Andrew Jackson used a donkey to symbolize
working class roots. Democrats have been
known as donkey ever since.
Democrat History Continued
Evolved into party representing working
classes of cities in the North and white
agricultural workers in the South until 1932.
Famous Democrats of this time period
included James Polk, Andrew Johnson, and
Woodrow Wilson.
Franklin Delanor Roosevelt
transformed Democrat party.
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Captured White House in 1932
Led U.S. out of Great Depression
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Expanding government services
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welfare, social security, jobs programs
lesser extent, supported civil rights laws
John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Baines
Johnson
 Continued
the tradition
 Civil Rights Act of 1964
 Created Medicare and Medicaid
 Expanded welfare
History of the Republicans
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Born in 1854
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Support of abolitionists
Wanted strong federal government
Abraham Lincoln
 First
Republican elected President
 Radical Republicans
 Responsible
for pushing Reconstruction efforts
in South
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Late 1880s
 Became
known as big business party
Republican Party was born amidst free
and slave state tensions in 1850s. Tended
to find more support in the north.
History of Republicans
1920s
 Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover
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 Laissez faire
 Isolationism
economics (free market)
Favored small government
 Against taxes
 Thought economy could take care of
itself
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Republicans came to be associated with
elephants due to the political cartoons of
Thomas Nast in 1874.
The Republican Party transforms, 1968.
Party of North to one of South and West
 Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy
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 Proclaimed
support of states rights
 Promised to make US safer
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Today
 Policies
that limits government size and
cuts taxes
What are the differences between
Republicans and Democrats
today?
The Economy and Taxes
Democrats
 Larger government
 Progressive tax system
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(wealthy pay a larger share
than the poor)
Against international free
trade agreements
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Claim such agreements hurt
American workers, unions
Believe in balanced budget
Willing to raise taxes if
needed
Protect American
businesses from
international competition
Republicans
 Smaller government
 Free market agreements
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with other countries, like
NAFTA
Against raising taxes
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even if it means budget
deficit
Believe in global trade
Don’t protect US
businesses from
international competition
National Defense and Security
Democrats
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Cut the military budget
Avoid American military
intervention
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unless supported by the
United Nations
Believe in diplomacy
Slow to go to war
Republicans
 Strong military
 Willing to pay for it with
government money
 Believe in confronting
enemies with or without
UN support
 Use military intervention
when American
interests or security
threatened, more
quickly
Entitlements- Welfare, Medicaid,
Social Security, Health Care
Democrats
 Government should
provide broad safety net
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health care, education,
welfare, food stamps
Policies to help
common good
Compassionate
Republicans
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Government should
limit or reduce the
safety net
Private businesses and
non-profit charities can
provide same services
Crime and Punishment
Democrats
Republicans
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Rehabilitation programs
over long prison
sentences
Against death penalty
Focus on rights of
accused
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Prison sentences as a
deterrent to crime
For death penalty
Stiffer penalties
Environmental Protection
Democrats
Republicans
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Favor stricter
regulations
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to protect environment
Believe global warming
is a real threat
Fewer restrictions
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hopes wealthier
companies will be able to
be more environmental
Do not believe global
warming is a real threat
Abortion and Stem Cell Research
Democrats
Republicans
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Pro-choice
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woman should always
have the right to choose
Pro-life- do not believe
that
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Favor stem-cell
research
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women don’t have a right
to have an abortion
call abortion a form of
murder
Against stem-cell
research
Energy Policy
Democrats
 Researching
alternative energy
sources for the
future
Republicans
 Securing existing
energy sources for
the present and
future
Education
Democrats
 Oppose using tax
money for school
choice
Republicans
 Favor using tax
money for school
choice
Immigration
Democrats
 Looser immigration
laws
 “Amnesty” for illegal
immigrants already
in the country
Republicans
 Stricter immigration
laws
 Some favor
punishment or
deportation for
illegal immigrants
already in the
country
Check Out How Each Party Feels About
Issues That Are Important to You?
Which Candidate Do You Agree With?
Democrats
Republicans