Unit 4
Chapter 16, Section 1
Political Parties
Mr. Young
American Government
Essential Questions
 Even
though George Washington did
not want political parties, why did
they eventually become prevalent?
 What is the importance of third
parties in America today?
Political Parties Definition
A group of people who organize to
promote common beliefs and goals by
electing officials who share their views.
 An ongoing coalition of interests joined
together to try to get their candidates for
public office elected under a common label
 An organization designed to elect
government office holders under a given
label
 An organization that runs candidates for
public office under the party’s name.

Parties and Party Systems

Political Partygroup of people
with broad
common interests
who organize to
win elections,
control
government, and
thereby influence
government
policies
One-Party System
The Party is the
government
 Political differences
arise only within
the party itself
 Usually found in
authoritarian
governments,
come to power by
force

Cont.
In an election, only
one party is on the
ballot
 Theocracygovernment
dominated by
religion, such as
Iran

Multiparty Systems
Most common
political system
among
democracies and
nations allowing
more than one
party
 Ideologies- basic
beliefs about
government

Cont
One party rarely
gets enough
support to control
the government
 Will form a
coalition
government- when
several parties
combine forces to
make the majority
 Usually the nation
is very politically
unstable

Two-Party System
When only two
major parties
usually can control
the government
 Sometimes called
“big tent theory,”
many different
approaches and
polices fall under
same umbrella
 Examples: United
States, Jamaica,
and Malta

Quote by John Ellis (pg. 15)
 “I
mean that the (American)
revolutionary generation found a way
to contain the explosive energies of
the debate in the form of an ongoing
argument or dialogue that was
eventually institutionalized and
rendered safe by the creation of
political parties.”
History of American
Political Parties
George
Washingtonwarned against the
harmful effects of
political parties
 Even so, political
parties began
before but was
rampant after his
presidency

James Madison/
Thomas Jefferson
Madison likened
parties to special
interest groups
 Jefferson disliked
parties so much,
he was quoted as
saying, “if I could
not go to heaven
but with a party, I
would not go there
at all.

Federalist View




Favored the
Constitution
Merchants and Cities
Strong national
government
Bill of Rights not
needed, 8 states
already had one
Anti-Federalist View






Opposed the
Constitution
Farmers and Laborers
Constitution drafted in
secrecy
Extralegal (not
sanctioned by law)
States Rights
Wanted a Bill of Rights
Pre-Party Era
Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist
The Split and Start of Parties
(1796-1800) Jeffersonian
Federalist
 Alexander Hamilton
 Manufacture and
Commercial Interest
 Northeastern/New
England States
 Strong National
Government
 Broad/ Loose
Interpretation of the
Constitution
 Only Elite in politics
Democratic-Republican






Thomas Jefferson and
James Madison
Farmers and small
debtors
Southern States
Weak Central
Government, stronger
state’s rights
Strict interpretation of
the Constitution
Only Elite in politics
Federalist
DemocraticRepublicans
Election of 1800



Jefferson defeats
John Adams and
Jeffersonians take
over from 18001824
First peaceful
transition from one
party to another in
American (maybe
world) history
Beginning of end for
Federalist Party,
which eventually
dissolved in 1820
Growth of American Politics

Anti-Federalist turn
into Democratic
party of today
under Andrew
Jackson in 1828
 Republican
Party
started as an
anti-slavery
party and first
president was
Abraham Lincoln
Role of Minor Parties



Third Party- any
party other than one
of the two major
parties
All have one thing in
common: believe
that neither party is
meeting certain
needs
Want to propose
remedy to this
situation
1) Single-Issue Party
Focuses exclusively
on one major
social, economic,
or moral, issue
 Generally is short
lived because issue
fades away or
major party adopts
the issue

2) Ideological Party
Focuses on overall
change in society
rather than on an
issue
 Examples: Socialist
Labor Party and
Communist Party

3) Splinter Party
Splits away from
one of the major
parties because of
some
disagreement
 Typically fade away
with the defeat of
their candidate

Impact of Third Parties



Have influenced the
outcome of national
elections
Have often promoted
ideas that were at first
unpopular or hotly
debated
Example: minimum
wage, five-day
workweek,
unemployment
insurance, and health
insurance
Obstacles of Third Parties
 Third
party candidates are usually
required to obtain a large number of
voter signatures in a short time
 Single-member districts- no matter
how number of candidates, only one
person will win
 Proportional representation- offices
are filled in proportion to the votes
that each party’s candidates receive
Cont



One major problem
is financing a
campaign
Americans are
reluctant to support
or contribute to a
campaign that they
don’t think has a
chance of winning
Third Parties must
plant political roots
at the national level,
and few can
Texas Rangers
Created by
Stephen F. Austin
in 1823
 Used to protect the
governor, track
down fugitives
 Jurisdiction is
Austin (capital) of
Texas

Texas Rangers
Oldest state law
enforcement
agency in the US
 Were involved in
the Bonnie and
Clyde case and
John Wesley
Hardin, who once
killing a man for
snoring

Causes of Death
Number of
deaths
Accidental
1
Assault
23
Automobile
accident
1
Duty related
illness
7
Gunfire
65
Gunfire
(Accidental)
2
Stabbed
1
Struck by train
2
Struck by vehicle
1