Let’s Get This Party Started:A History of Political Parties in

the United StatesChapter 12

Why do political parties form?What are the incentives to joining a political party for

the electorate? Candidates?How have politics changed since 1791?

Why were the Founding Fathers against political parties?

What is a political party?• “organized effort by

office holders, candidates, activists, and voters to persue their common interests…”

Remember:• Politics: how policy

decisions are made• Party: group of people

• U.S. dominated by two-party system, despite reforms and other parties

• NOT an interest group, which exists to influence policy, not win office (this line is sometimes blurry)

• #1 goal of political party: gain and exercise power through the electoral process

• not just having a candidate, but winning office

Who’s in a party?

• Governmental party: office holders who organize and pursue policy objectives (agenda) under a party label– Those who are actually in

the government

• Organizational party: workers and activists who make up the formal organization of the party

• Party in the electorate: voters who consider themselves associated with the party (those who usually vote along party lines)

• Most parties tend to be moderate in view, since the aim of parties is to attract voters (most Americans have moderate views)

The fight begins…

Why did parties form?• Washington and others (Fed #10…) argued against the

formation of “factions” early in the republic

• The election of 1796 changed this view, when John Adams narrowly won President and Jefferson as VP– Constitution did not have a separate Prez/VP vote– Congressional factions formed around the competing ideas of

these two men • Federalists—Adams/Hamilton • Dem-Republican (Anti-Feds)—Jefferson

• Election of 1800 finally prompts creation and ratification of 12th Amendment– No widespread popularity of early parties (regional alliances)– Parties a means to settle dispute over strength of new federal

system

The “Era of Good Feelings”1817-1825

• By 1816, the Federalists had lost most power; their last elected candidate was Adams (dissolved 1820)

• During Monroe’s presidency, party politics nearly non-existent nationally– Parties continue at state level– States switch to popular election of Electoral

College members, not state legislative votes

Expansion1820-1840

• Westward expansion increases electorate– Property req. for male suffrage abolished– Votes: 300,000 to 2 million!

• 1832: First national nomination convention held by Democratic Party (replaces D-R)– “Jacksonian Democracy” polarizes voters 1828, 1832; creates national

popularity for a party– Opposition forms Whig Party (“those who oppose tyranny”—favored

congressional power over presidential)

• 1832-1860: First broadly-supported two-party system in the Western World– Issue of slavery in the U.S. divides Whigs, new Republican Party

formed 1854 by anti-slavery activists– Abraham Lincoln elected 1860 (“solid South” begins Dem Party voting

tradition in place until 1920)

“The Golden Age”1874-1912

• Since 1860, two party system dominates

• Party stability, dominance of org. l,s,n, impact on voters as central traits of era

• Emigration fuels big-city political machines at l, s levels: party organization that uses incentives (jobs, favors…) to win voters– Degree of control over voters– NYC, Chicago…

• Machines served political needs and supplemented social services for exploding population

• Intense loyalty, devotion with very high voter turnout (75% or better between 1876-1900)

• Eventually, corruption within organization and government taking on functions of parties (printing ballots, conducting elections…) leads to their end

The Political Machine: Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, NYC

Modern politics• 1930s New Deal shifts social

services as “rights” rather than privileges

Power taken from parties• Progressives’ Direct primary

system—selection of party candidates through ballots cast by voters– Removes power from party

leaders; loosens tie between nominees and party organization

• Civil services laws—acts that removed members of political parties and replace them with professionals who must pass c.s. exams

Weakening of party system• Issue-oriented politics—

focus on specific issues, rather than on party/candidate/other loyalties

• IOP leads to ticket-splitting—to vote for candidates of different parties in the same election, based on issues that cut across party lines

• Candidate-centered politics—focus on candidates, their particular issues and character, rather than on party affiliation

Check it!

• What was the 12th Amendment? Why was it passed? (Hint: use your Constitution)

• Describe the history of political parties in America.

• Why did political machines form? Do you think they could exist again? Why?

• Why do we currently have the “ticket-splitting” phenomenon?

• Is candidate-centered politics good or bad? Support your answer.