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Political Parties
Political Parties: A Channel of Influence
Political Parties
Organizations that seek to achieve power by
winning public office
American Parties: A Historical Perspective
Federalists
Hamilton believed that the future of
the nation lay in the cities and a strong
manufacturing sector.
He felt that a strong central
government was key to future
growth.
Jeffersonian Republicans
Jefferson believed that America’s
hope lay in small, agriculturally-
based communities.
He distrusted a strong national
government.
Whigs
Formed by the opponents of Andrew JacksonRepresented a variety of regional interests
Southern plantersWestern farmersNorthern industrialists
United by their resistance to executive domination
Daniel Webster & Henry Clay—two strong leadersElected two presidents:
William Henry HarrisonZachary Taylor
Disappeared in the 1850s due to split over slavery issue
History of Political Parties In US
Democrats vs. Republicans
Democratic PartyTraces its origins to Thomas Jefferson’s Republican Party—
which evolved into the Democratic-Republican Party
Adopted the name “Democrats” in 1828 under Andrew Jackson
Originally was the party championing the interests of farmers and advocating limiting the power of the national government and protecting states rights
In the 2oth century, became the more liberal party advocating an activist government to tackle the nation’s problems
Was the dominant political party from 1828-1860 & again from 1932-1968
Republican PartyTraces its origins to the antislavery and
nationalist forces that united in the 1850s
Ran its first presidential candidate—John C. Fremont, in 1856
First elected president – Abraham Lincoln in 1860
Was the dominant political party from 1860-1932
Beginning in the 20th century, it became the party advocating less government and a laissez faire policy
FDR & Democratic DominanceThe New Deal Democratic
Party
Roosevelt’s optimism and “can do” attitude in the face of the Great Depression helped cement the New Deal Democratic
coalition that won him the presidency
Democratic New Deal Coalition1932-1968
Working class & union members
White ethnic groups
Catholics & Jews
African Americans
Poor people
Southern Whites
Reagan & Republican Dominance
A new Republican
majority
The Reagan Coalition:
•Economic & social conservatives•Religious
fundamentalists•Anti-Communists
Clinton & the “New Democrats”
In response to Republican successes in presidential
elections, Clinton attempted to
move the Democratic Party
in a more moderate direction
Political Party Rallies
Four Former Presidents: Two Democrats & Two Republicans
Presidential Elections: 1952-2004
Presidential Elections: 1980-2004
2004 Presidential Election (red states: Bush, blue states: Kerry)
2008 Presidential Election (blue states: Obama, red states: McCain)
Americans & Political Ideology
Political Parties & Ideology
Party and Ideology Among Voters
Republicans & Democrats: Issue Comparison
Democrats More activist government
Protect social programs
Pro-choice
Govt. regulations necessary to protect workers, consumers, environment, & end business abuses
Active govt. role in civil rights
Support affirmative action
Maintain separation of church & state
Republicans Less government Strong national defense Pro-life Limit government economic
regulations Anti-union Less govt. in civil rights End affirmative action Traditional family values
Political Party Identification By Traits
POLITICAL PARTY IMAGESREPUBLICAN
IMAGES Positive Images
Party of Traditional Family Values**
Party of Free EnterpriseParty of IndividualismLaissez Faire PartyModerate PartyParty of Fiscal RestraintParty of Strong
Defense/Peace
DEMOCRATIC IMAGES
Positive Images Party of the Common
Man**Party of Equal Rights for
AllProgressive PartyParty of the
UnderprivilegedParty with a Social
ConscienceParty of Social ProgramsParty of Compassion
POLITICAL PARTY IMAGESREPUBLICAN
IMAGES
Negative Images Party of the
Wealthy/Elites**Dominated by Big
BusinessParty of the Radical RightAnti-Worker Tied to the Status QuoInsensitive to the
Poor/ElderlyParty of the Depression
DEMOCRATIC IMAGES
Negative Images Radical-Liberal Party**Party of Big GovernmentTax & Spend PartyDominated by UnionsDominated by MinoritiesParty of WarParty That Promises
Anything/Everything to Get Elected
Which Party Does a Better Job?
Republicans & Democrats: A Comparison
DemocratsLiberalsMinoritiesBlue Collar Workers &
UnionsJews & CatholicsInner City ResidentsLower IncomeLess EducatedEast & West CoastsYounger Voters
RepublicansConservativesAnglosWhite Collar Workers
& BusinessProtestantsSuburbs & Rural
ResidentsUpper IncomeMore EducatedSouth, Plains &
Mountain StatesOlder Voters
Political Party Identification: 1952-2006
Trends in Party Identification
Party Identification, 1950s-2000s
Democratic & Republican Party Strength – By State
Third Parties in the U.S. SystemGreen Party
Third Parties in the U.S. System
Ideological Parties
Protest Parties
Single-Issue Parties
Splinter Parties
Ideological Parties
Ideological Party
Third party that exists to promote an ideology rather
than to win elections
The socialist parties, which have run candidates in virtually every presidential election in this century are ideological parties
Protest Parties
Protest Parties
Third party that arises in response
to issues of popular concern which have not
been addressed by the major parties
William Jennings Bryan of the Populist Party (who ran as a Democrat) did not win the presidency in 1896, but he
came very close
Single-Issue Parties
Single-Issue Party
Third party formed around one
particular cause
Prohibition PartyAdvocated
prohibition of alcohol
Green PartyAdvocates greater
protection for the environment
Splinter Parties
Splinter Party
Third party formed by a dissatisfied
faction of a major party
Temporarily leave the party to make a
point, then eventually return
Strom Thurmond (left) was a States’ Rights Democratic candidate for the presidency in
1948. The party formed in protest to the civil rights plan in the Democratic Party platform
Third PartiesIdeological Third
PartiesSocialist Labor - 1888Socialist Party – 1909-
1960sSocialist Workers – 1938-Communist – 1924-Libertarian – 1972-
Protest Third PartiesGreenback – 1876-1884Populists – 1892-1908Labor Reform – 1872Union Labor - 1888
Splinter Third PartiesBull Moose Progressives-1912LaFollette Progressives – 1924States Rights (Dixiecrats) – 1948Henry Wallace Progressives – 1948American Independent – 1968-
72
Single-Issue Third PartiesLiberty – 1840-44Free Soil – 1848-52American (Know Nothing) -
1856Prohibitionists - 1869-
REFORMS WHICH BEGAN AS THIRD PARTY ISSUES
Abolishing slavery
Giving women the vote
Monopoly regulations
Minimum wage laws
Direct election of US Senator
Progressive income tax
Right to organize into unions
Safety & health regulations
Kindergartens
Farmer aid programs
Barriers to Minor-Party Success
Why Does the Two-Party System Persist?
Cultural Consensus
There is little support in the American political culture for avowedly fascist, communist,
authoritarian, or other antidemocratic parties
Why Does the Two-Party System Persist?
Winner-Take-All Electoral
SystemLegal Access
to the Ballot
REASONS THIRD PARTIES HAVE DONE POORLY
American 2-party mentality
Lack of money
Lack of media coverage
Radical Image
Wasting vote argument
Popular issues stolen
Rules of game slanted against them: ballot access
Refusal to compromise
Twentieth-Century Third-Party Presidential Votes
Third Party Vote: Presidential Races
National Party Conventions
Convention delegatesNominate Presidential candidate
Making party rulesParty platforms
Party’s promises and issue stands
Selecting a Vice Presidential Running Mate
RealignmentA long-term shift in social group support for
various political parties that creates new coalitions in each party
Election of 1824 (Jackson & the Democrats)Election of 1860 (Lincoln & the Republicans)Election of 1932 (Roosevelt & the Democrats)Election of 1980 ? (Reagan & the
Republicans)
Ticket-Splitter
A person who votes for candidates of different parties for different offices in a general election = a ticket-splitter
the opposite of a “straight-ticket” voterA “straight ticket voter” votes ALL for
one party
Party PrimariesCLOSED
Declare party affiliation when register Voters must vote in that party’s primary
OPEN
Allows voter to vote in either party primary without a party declaration
Allows “crossover voting” (voters of other party cross over & vote in other party primary)
BLANKET/MIXED
Lists all candidates of all parties on one ballot Voters allowed to vote for only one candidate per position,
but may switch parties between offices “TEXAS TYPE”
Voters declare party affiliation on day of party primary, not before
Voters must then vote in that party’s primary Is a type of closed primary but operates more like an open
primary