Political Parties

Consider the following: How do political parties act as a mediating institution between citizens and government?

Political parties are groups of people with similar interests who work together to create and implement policies.

History of Political Parties The U.S. Constitution does not mention political parties, and many of the leaders who wrote the Constitution did not like the idea of political parties. They feared that parties, or “factions” would lead to divisions that would weaken the new nation.

George Washington on Political Parties Washington’s Farewell Address. Saturday, September 17, 1796 "However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

History of Political Parties Nevertheless, once the country had won the war and no longer had a single enemy to band against, parties arose because people had different ideas about how the government should run. The first two political parties to arise were the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans (Anti-Federalists), beginning the precedence of a two-party system.

History of Political Parties The Democratic-Republicans/Anti-Federalists (1790s-1828) was formed to oppose the Federalists, and preferred strong state government over strong national government. Headed by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.

History of Political Parties The Federalists (1790s-1820) favored a strong central government. Headed by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.

History of Political Parties The Federalists begin to fall out of favor in 1800. John Adams was the only Federalist president.

History of Political Parties By 1816, the Federalist party was so weak, the Democratic-Republican candidate for the presidency, James Monroe, easily won 16 of 19 states.

History of Political Parties This was known as the “Era of Good Feelings” because of the low amount of political partisanship.

History of Political Parties In the 1820 election, two Democratic-Republicans ran against one another with no Federalist candidate in the running. The Federalist Party was dead.

The Democratic-Republicans split into two separate parties: History of Political Parties The Democratic-Republicans split into two separate parties: National Republican (1825-1834) Democratic (1825-present)

Democrats 1825-present Favored: limited government, an end to protective tariffs, state funded internal improvements, and extension of voting privileges to the common man. Supported Andrew Jackson.

Opposed Andrew Jackson National Republicans 1825-1834 Favored: Federally funded internal improvements, protective tariffs, re-chartering of the Bank of the United States, and that a strong national gov’t was necessary. Opposed Andrew Jackson

Whigs 1834-1860 Favored: Powerful national government, protective tariffs, and a central bank. Was still fractured into factions. Some were anti-slavery, while others wanted to downplay slavery to maintain business contacts with the South

Republicans 1854-present Favored: Prohibition of slavery, free homesteads on the Great Plains, completion of a transcontinental railroad, protective tariff, support for immigrants, and daily mail service

History of Political Parties As the country grew, the Democrats and Republicans became the major two parties, but others, third-parties, would pop up to challenge them periodically.

Know-Nothings The short-lived Know Nothing party which was anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant, xenophobic, and originally a secret society. When asked specifics by outsiders, they would respond “I know nothing”.

The Election of 1860 Four separate parties emerged and split the vote. Republican Party: Abraham Lincoln Southern Democratic Party: John C. Breckenridge Northern Democratic Party: Stephen A. Douglas Constitutional Union Party: John Bell As a result, Lincoln was elected with only 39% of the popular vote. (He wasn’t even on the ballot in 10 of the Southern states).

Single Issue Parties There are some parties that only campaign on one main issue and are rarely successful in gaining elected office. Prohibition Party—anti-alcohol United States Marijuana Party—pro-marijuana Free Soil Party—opposing expansion of slavery

Modern Third Parties Largest (voter registration over 100,000) Libertarian Party – libertarianism, laissez-faire, pro-civil liberties, anti-war Green Party – Green politics, socialism, anti-capitalism, progressivism, pro-civil liberties, anti-war

Modern Third Parties

Vocabulary Ch 8 political party political machine two-party system direct primary third party closed primary platform open primary national committee plurality caucus majority precinct

The Two Party System https://vimeo.com/181829952

Two is Company; Three’s a Crowd How have third parties changed the outcomes of U.S. presidential elections? In your groups, read “Here’s How Third-Party Candidates Have Changed the Election” and fill out your organizer. https://www.history.com/news/third-party-candidates-election-influence-facts

Discuss: Should the US do away with its two-party system? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd-9op64t2M&t=72s