U.S. Political Parties

U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings What is a political party? Organization of people who share similar ideas about the way the country should be governed

Political Party Systems 3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government. Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans Advantages: Continuity Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties

U.S. Political Parties: Characteristics Democratic Party Tends to Attract Working people (blue collar) Liberals Catholics Minorities Union Members People in favor of govt. involvement in social policies

Democrat Donkey During Democrat Andrew Jackson’s 1828 presidential campaign, his opponents called him a jackass (a donkey), and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.

Democrats: The Issues Abortion: Pro Choice Favors contraceptive education to prevent necessity of abortion

Democrats: The Issues Environment: Support stronger environmental laws and protection of nature Push for cleaner air and water Support funding for preservation (Everglades in FL; Redwoods in CA, etc…)

Democrats: The Issues Gay Rights: Should be protected from workplace discrimination and hate crimes Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families

Democrats: The Issues Gun Control: Strong advocates for gun control Supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban

Democrats: The Issues Health Care: Push for more Heath Care funding (Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program) In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care. (100% government funded)

Democrats: The Issues Foreign Policy: Generally much more supportive of international agencies than are Republicans – support NATO and the UN More skeptical of the Bush Administration’s rush to war than were the Republicans Very skeptical of the handling of the reconstruction of Iraq

Democrats: The Issues Education: More funding for struggling schools is necessary Tax money should not be used on religious schools No prayer in school.

Democrats: The Issues Social Security: Fundamental right of Americans Best way to protect is to maintain federal government control Largely oppose privatizing

Democrats: The Issues Welfare: Support increased child care for welfare recipients so they are more able to work steady jobs Support funding for job training so recipients will be more competitive in the job market

Democrats: The Issues Women’s Rights: For over 20 years, have been pushing to ratify the Treaty of the Rights of Women that arose from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (would be a statement on America’s part saying that we support equal rights for all women)

Democrats: The Issues Worker’s Rights: Favor labor unions and workers rights Includes right to organize free from harassment and the right to challenge employers for disability and discrimination cases. Support worker movements to increase the minimum wage and worker benefits

U.S Political Parties: Beginnings Republican Party 1860: Abe Lincoln becomes 1st Republican President Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War 1865-1931:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected Grover Cleveland Woodrow Wilson

U.S. Political Parties: Characteristics Republican Party Tends to attract Businesspeople (white collar) Protestants Conservatives Non-minorities Non-union supporters People against govt. involvement in social policies

Republican Elephant  In a cartoon that appeared in Harper’s Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion’s skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.”

Republicans: The Issues Abortion: Pro-life; Anti-Choice Prefers funding go towards marriage education and abstinence only campaigns Have tried several times to pass statutes that would allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses

Republicans: The Issues Environment: Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy production and have generally opposed looking for more environment-friendly power alternatives Pushed for oil drilling in ANWR, the building of more nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal, and have submitted proposals that would weaken the Clean Air Act

Republicans: The Issues Gay Rights: Against giving gays equal rights in the eyes of the law “We do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law” Oppose idea of gay marriage; seek to define marriage as union between man and woman Supports amendment to the Constitution defining marriage

Republicans: The Issues Gun Control: Favors allowing the sale of firearms to proceed more easily, and with fewer safety precautions Opposes any new gun-control laws Fought the regulation and banning of assault weapons

Republicans: The Issues Health Care: Believes health care should work within the free market system where competition will lower the costs of healthcare (no federal govt. involvement)

Republicans: The Issues Foreign Policy: Have brushed aside international organizations in favor of unilateral policy of preemption Supports military invasion when necessary to protect the security of the U.S. Argue that the use of American military force is essential for keeping the world safe for Democracy

Republicans: The Issues Education: Favor school vouchers or government money going to private schools because they think that by giving students more educational options, including religious schooling, a competitive market will be created Argue public schools will be forced to improve in order to retain students

Republicans: The Issues Social Security: Favor privatization of social security Citizens will be able to opt to place portions of money that would have gone into Social Security into other types of accounts. Accounts will give the opportunity to play the stock market in an attempt to increase returns. (takes away Federal responsibility)

Republicans: The Issues Welfare: Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those receiving government assistance Support cuts in child care and training funding while pushing $200 million for marriage education Pushing for more funding for religious organizations and charities, which then will be responsible to caring for our nation’s poor

Republicans: The Issues Workers’ Rights: Favor the rights of businesses to maximize profits Favors workers and management working together to do what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences (against Labor Unions) Believes Labor Unions restrict production of businesses; sees it as a regulation of business

Income and Party Identification Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning

Third Parties What are Third Parties? Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the Democrats and Republicans Some successful Third Parties: Populist Party – 1890’s Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912 Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today

Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties 1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue: Examples: Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of alcohol in the U.S. U.S. Marijuana Party: formed to support the legalization of marijuana in the U.S. Green Party: formed to protect the environment

Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties 2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief Examples: Libertarian Party The Third Party Socialist Parties

Third Parties 3 Kinds of Third Parties 3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate Examples: Reform Party – formed around Presidential candidate Ross Perot in 1996 American Independent Party – formed around Presidential candidate George Wallace in 1968

Third Parties America First Party American Heritage Party American Independent Party American Nazi Party Communist Party USA Constitution Party Family Values Party Grassroots Party Green Party Independence Party Labor Party Libertarian Party Light Party Natural Law Party The Third Party Worker’s World Party Peace and Freedom Party Prohibition Party Reform party The Revolution Socialist Party, USA Southern Independence Party U.S. Pacifist Party Veterans Party of America We the People Party Knights Party Libertarian National Socialist Green Party Pansexual Peace Party Pot Party Constitutional Action Party American Falangist Party U.S. Marijuana Party

Assignment Create an artifact with the following topics: Education Health Care Terrorism Gun Control *****Include a page describing Republican and Democrat characteristics. Include a picture of animal and color that represents both. Gay Rights Foreign Policy Immigration Environment ** Present the Republican side and Democratic side. ***Keep each side consistent. ***Include a picture