Political Parties Wilson 9A

Objective Questions Who Governs? To What Ends? How has America’s two-party system changed, and how does it differ from the party systems of other representative democracies? How much do parties affect how Americans vote? Did the Founding Fathers think that political parties were a good idea? How, if at all, should America’s two-party system be reformed?

Comparisons United States Europe Older in development Were very influential Decentralized Varies Regions Time Leadership Very disciplined Gatekeepers of an agenda Select candidates Manage campaigns Form coalitions Parliamentary Select chief executive

US System Label to organize, recruit, and elect a set of leaders to control the political policies of the legislative and executive branches More independent voting and split-ticket voting Do not join or pay dues Separate from other aspects of life Local authority in decision-making, doling out jobs Parties regulated by state and local laws Candidates chosen through primary system President and cabinet separate from Congress

Rise and decline Founding to 1820s Jacksonian to Civil War Sectionalism to 1930s Reform (1900 – present) Party realignments Sharp, lasting shift in the coalitions supporting parties Issues that separate parties change 1. Party defeated so badly it disappears 2. Voters shift loyalties from one party to another

Historical Realignments 1800 – Jeffersonian Republicans over Federalists 1828 – Jacksonian Democrats came to power 1860 – Whig Party collapsed over slavery – Replaced by Republicans 1896 – Republicans defeated Populists (Bryan) 1932 – Democrats and the New Deal of FDR (LBJ-1964/Nixon-1972) 1980 – Reagan? Congress 2008 – Obama? Race, Congress

Founding to Jackson 1787 – 1820s Disliked parties, viewed as factions Federalist/Anti-federalist (Constitution) Distinguish between policy disputes and challenges to legitimate government Jefferson vs. Hamilton Republican domination Heterogeneous local coalitions

Jackson to the Civil War Political participation became a mass phenomenon Enlarged numbers of eligible voters More voters reached 1832 electors selected by popular vote Party built from bottom up Replaced caucus’ with convention Conventions allowed local control

Civil War and Sectionalism Slavery Republican success Civil War and Union Pride Bryan’s alienation of northern Democrats Most states dominated by one party Factions within each party Republican = “old guard” professional politicians + progressive “mugwumps” Democrats = progressive west + Jim Crow south

Era of Reform Began 1900, firmly established with New Deal Progressive legislation to lessen party power Primaries instead of nominating convention Nonpartisan elections at city and state levels Break party-business alliances Strict voter registration Civil service reform Initiatives and referendums Officeholders not as accountable to party influence

Party Decline Evidence that parties are declining Not a realignment More split tickets Use of office-bloc ballot Reject party-column ballot More divided government Less identification with party Challenged by some scholars who say parties are resurgent since the 1960s. Provide evidence to support this position in recent elections.