Political Parties I.Intro II.Two Party System II.Political Cartoons III.Today’s Parties (In General) Democrats vs. Republicans IV.Conc. Key Terms Federalist Party Alexander Hamilton Democratic-Republican Party Jefferson & Madison Thomas Nast

Toward A Two-Party System Following Washington’s retirement two major Political Parties emerged President:

Early Two-Party System (Federalist Party) Alexander Hamilton Federalists Who : Founded by Hamilton Issues : Strong Central Government, Pro-business Where : Northeast Foreign Policy : Pro-British

Early Two-Party System (Democratic-Republican Party) Democratic-Republicans Who : Founded by Jefferson & Madison Issues : States Rights & Small Farmers Where : South & West Foreign Policy : Pro-French James Madison Thomas Jefferson

Two-Party System Today’s Democratic Party emerged in the 1830s & today’s Republican Party emerged in the 1850s Andrew Jackson = Democrat Abraham Lincoln = Republican

Thomas Nast (Harper’s Weekly Magazine) Nast used symbols to represent the Republican and Democratic parties. Thomas Nast

Thomas Nast’s Political Cartoons Nast was Republican Elephants = symbol of strength & intelligence “The Off Year”

Thomas Nast’s Political Cartoons Democrats = Negative – Donkeys were often referred to as Jackasses “A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion”

Thomas Nast’s Political Cartoons Nast also created the “modern” image of Santa Clause in 1862 Santa is shown in the picture to the right helping Union troops during the Civil War “Santa Clause in Camp” 1863

What is your political party? Strong Democrat12.7% Weak Democrat17.5% Strong Republican13.5% Weak Republican19.8% Other (Including Independent)36.5% Source: 9/10 Student Survey at WSCC

Political Parties Democratic Party Website Republican Party Website (Images taken 10/19/10)

IssueLiberal Democrat Conservative Republican Who? Obama, Clinton, Pelosi, Levin, Stabenow Reagan, W. Bush, Palin, Romney, Huckabee Role of Government ACTIVIST: Government should help people; National Health Care, Welfare (WIC), food stamps, Head Start; expand financial aid; min wage ↑ SMALL GOVERNMENT: Get the government off the people’s back (taxes); Health care too costly & too big; people should rely on themselves; min wage -↓ Abortion In most (or all) cases it should be a legal option In most (or all) cases it should be illegal

IssueLiberal Democrat Conservative Republican Gay Rights Support equal treatment for homosexuals & hate crime laws; end “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell;” states decide gay marriage Support traditional family values; support constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage Military Want strong defense: increase spending (yes on SDI). More likely to have supported Iraq War Gun Control

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) SDI = “Star Wars” Create a missile defense shield to protect the US from nuclear attack Reagan describes the program in 1980s

IssueLiberal Democrat Conservative Republican Gay Rights Support equal treatment for homosexuals & hate crime laws; end “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell;” states decide gay marriage Support traditional family values; support constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage Military Want strong defense: lower spending (no SDI). Less likely to support Iraq War Want strong defense: increase spending (yes on SDI). More likely to have supported Iraq War Gun Control Support regulations on gun ownership Resist regulations on gun ownership

IssueLiberal DemocratConservative Republican Solution for the problem of crime Set tougher punishments (mandatory minimums); longer sentences are a deterrent; more likely to support death penalty Civil Rights & Women’s Rights

Mandatory Minimums (Established in late 1980s & 1990s) Mandatory minimum sentences for drug related crimes Jail time is determined by: – Type of drug – Weight of drug – Presence of firearm

IssueLiberal DemocratConservative Republican Solution for the problem of crime Stress prevention (NO: on mandatory minimums); eliminate the factors (like poverty/drug addiction) that influence people to become criminals Set tougher punishments (mandatory minimums); long sentences are a deterrent; more likely to support death penalty Civil Rights & Women’s Rights Support Equality- The government isn’t doing enough to protect civil rights; the civil rights movement hasn’t gone far enough; more governmental action is needed Support Equality- Affirmative Action has gone too far-it causes more problems than it solves; sexual harassment cases have gone too far; get the government out

Political Parties I.Intro II.Two Party System II.Political Cartoons III.Today’s Parties (In General) Democrats vs. Republicans IV.Conc. Key Terms Federalist Party Alexander Hamilton Democratic-Republican Party Jefferson & Madison Thomas Nast