1. The Minor Parties You’ve Never Heard of them

2. Minor Parties in the US Hard to classify Some are single issue Some are regional Some are only in one state Can create 4 distinct types of parties to classify

3. Ideological Parties Based on a particular set of beliefs Social, economic, and political views Most created on shade of Marxist thought Socialist, Socialist Labor, Socialist Worker, and Communist parties Some have different approach Libertarian Party Call for greater individual freedom, remove many of governments functions and programs These are long lived parties Rarely gain many votes

4. Single-Issue Party One public-policy matter Examples Free Soil Party Opposed spread of slavery American Party Opposed Irish-Catholic immigration Right to Life Party Opposes abortion Many parties fade into history Issues resolved by time or policy Major parties absorb their view point

5. Economic Protest Parties Rooted in periods of economic discontent No real ideological base Disgust with major parties and problems Blame real or imagined enemies Monetary system, wall street bankers, railroads, foreign imports, immigration Examples Greenbacks Wanted to control railroads, coin silver Populist Party Lower tariffs, silver, railroad control These parties disappear as country recovers economically

6. Splinter Parties Party split from one of the major party’s Examples Republicans Bull Moose (Progressive) 1912 Progressive 1924 Democrats States Rights American Independent Parties center around important leader Theodore Roosevelt, once rejoins Republicans—party dies

7. Green Party Example of difficulty in classification Doesn’t fit any categories mentioned above Green Party goals Environmental protection, universal healthcare, gay and lesbian rights, restraints on corporate power, campaign finance reform, opposition to global free trade, etc. Constantly changing and evolving

8. Why are they important? Anti-Masons Minor party, held first national convention to nominate candidate Now both major parties do Taking votes Strong Third party candidate can change the election “Spoiler role” 1912 Presidential Election Democrat: Woodrow Wilson6,296,547435 Progressive: Teddy Roosevelt4,118,57188 Republican: William Taft 3,486,7208 Socialist: Eugene Debs 900,6720 Prohibition: Eugene Chafin 206,2750

9. Election map