The US two-party system Republicans GOP (Grand Old Party) The US two-party system Democrats

The Two Party system By 1890 there were two clearly defined political parties in the USA Both were strongly influenced by the Civil War (North = Republicans / South = Democrats) Neither party was united in its beliefs. Both were loose coalitions linking together varied groups and local issues Both parties contained traditional and reforming elements

The Two Party system The 1896 election - McKinley (R) vs. William Jennings Bryan (D) the election that changed presidential campaigns forever. 90% turnout; Record high campaign costs; ended 3rd party system, realigned parties led to a 16-year domination by the Republican Party. In 1912 GOP dominance broken by Wilson (Democrat) won because of fractions within the Republican Party rather than the strength of the Democrats. Since Truman, the parties have tended to switch every two terms

United States Presidential results between 1896 and 1932 Key: Extremely dark blue: Voted Democratic 8 out of 8 times Blue: Voted Democratic 6 out of 8 times Light blue: Voted Democratic 5 out of 8 times Green: Voted for each party 4 out of 8 times Pink: Voted Republican 5 out of 8 times Red: Voted Republican 6 out of 8 times Dark red: Voted Republican 7 out of 8 times Very dark red: Voted Republican 8 out 8 times

Evolution of the South Democrats traditionally in the South From Age of Jackson (mid-19th c.) through the 1960s. known as the Solid South. Dixiecrats – a break-off faction of the Democratic Party from the south 1948 Conservative pro-segregation southerners Once Eisenhower becomes president in the election of 1952, the Republicans start to break into the Solid South. 1964 election marks a major shift of the Southern voters to the Republican Party Since Reagan (1980), the South votes traditionally Republican.

US Presidents 1896-1980 year victor party issue 1984 Ronald Reagan Republican Moral Majority/Cold War 1980 Ronald Reagan Republican Moral Majority/Cold War 1976  Jimmy Carter Democrat  Nixon scandals  1972  Richard M. Nixon Republican  Silent Majority/Vietnam War 1968  Richard M. Nixon Republican  Silent Majority/Vietnam War  1964  Lyndon B. Johnson Democrat  Civil rights  1960  John F. Kennedy Democrat  Recession, missile gap  1956  Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican Prosperity  1952  Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican Korean War  1948  Harry S. Truman Democrat Do Nothing Congress  1944  Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat World War II  1940  Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat World War II, FDR 3rd term  1936  Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat New Deal, Social Security  1932  Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat Great Depression  1928  Herbert C. Hoover Republican  Boom, anti-Catholicism  1924  Calvin Coolidge Republican  Prosperity  1920  Warren G. Harding Republican Normalcy  1916  Woodrow Wilson Democrat World War I  1912  Woodrow Wilson Democrat  Republican split  1908  William H. Taft Republican  Class warfare  1904  Theodore Roosevelt Republican  Square Deal  1900  William McKinley Republican Spanish-American War  1896  William McKinley Republican  Silver/Gold Tariffs

Democrats vs. Republicans Democrat History Republican History Traditionally seen as the southern party Since split in Republican Party in 1912 election, Democrats to the left of Republicans on social and fiscal issues Over time many supporters from workers in Northern cities Shift in regional alliances in 1964: Civil Rights Movement Stronghold today in Northeast, Great Lakes region and West coast urban population Party founded just before Civil War in 1854 1st Republican President: Abraham Lincoln Seen as a “northerner” party in beginning After 1964 (Civil Rights movement): stronghold in the south, the Great Plains and Southwest rural areas

Democrats vs. Republicans Democrat Beliefs & Support Republican Beliefs & Support Liberal Strong Federal Government Increasing taxes to the wealthy Social programs Community and social justice Environmental laws Anti-discrimination laws Education Favor less increase in military spending Favor gun control laws Supported by minority groups: Catholics, Hispanics, blacks Opportunity and equality Conservative (fiscally and socially) States rights over Federal rights Tax cuts, reducing social programs Laisser-faire for government Reliance on private sector as stimulus for economic growth Dominant foreign policy Favor increasing military spending Oppose gun control laws Far right: pro-religion, anti-bureaucracy, pro-military, pro-business and pro-personal responsibility (Tea party) Self-reliance and freedom

US Presidential Elections Who won? How popular are the parties? Are there any Major changes? Is there a Geographical pattern? Look at each electoral map. What do these maps tell you about the two party system in the USA?

1948 1944 1956 1964

1968 1984

Recent Trends Political Polarization two main political parties are drifting further from each other ideologically More extreme factions of each party Bernie Sanders (12 million supporters nat’l congress) Tea Party Americans are far more likely to be consistently conservative or consistently liberal than they were 10 or 20 years ago Source: Pew Research Center, 2014 Report

Video: Why American politics have changed? 3’51

Video: Ted Talk Liberal Conservative Views in U.S. Politics Open-mindedness vs. closed-mindedness