Getting Better All the time Perfect Plan? The Founding Fathers knew all too well. Bill of Rights Continued Progress

Good News The United States is the 1 st democracy to elect government that protected individual rights.

Bad News In the beginning, only white men who owned land could vote.

Good News African American and other nonwhite men began voting in 1870.

Bad News An African American’s right to vote was often denied in the South and parts of the North.

U.S. Political Parties 1.Federalist 2.Anti-Federalist 3.Democratic-Republican 4.Whigs 5.Republican 6.Democratic

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

In 1789 Washington forms his cabinet. Cabinet advise on issues he was not an expert on Thomas Jefferson Secretary of State foreign affairs

Alexander Hamilton Secretary of Treasury –issues regarding the finances of the new nation

Political Differences

U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings Democratic- Republicans  Supported states rights  Supported economy based on agriculture  Power in hands of all people  Led by Thomas Jefferson

U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings Federalists  Supported strong national govt.  Supported economy based on industry  Power in hands of wealthy and educated  Led by Alexander Hamilton

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: Beginnings George Washington against political parties  “parties serve their own interests”  “parties not beneficial to American people” Parties formed after his exit: 1.Democratic-Republicans 2. Federalists

U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings Federalists Breakup  Federalists gradually disappear – no political momentum  John Adams only party member to be elected President  Supporters formed new party: Whig Party ( )

U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings Mid 1820’s: Democratic- Republicans breaking up Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people

U.S. Political Parties: Beginnings 1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery –Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party –Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party

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

U.S. Political Parties: Characteristics Democratic Party –Tends to Attract  Liberals  Union Members  People in favor of govt. involvement in social policies

U.S. Political Parties: Characteristics Republican Party –Tends to attract  Businesspeople (white collar)  Conservatives  People want less govt. involvement in social policies

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

Democrats: The Issues Same-sex Relationship Rights: –Should be protected from workplace discrimination and hate crimes –Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families –Largely oppose President Bush’s proposal to ban same-sex marriage through a Constitutional Amendment

Democrats: The Issues Gun Control: –Strong advocates for gun control

Democrats: The Issues Health Care: –Push for more Heath Care funding –In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care.

Democrats: The Issues Foreign Policy: –Generally supportive of international agencies

Democrats: The Issues Education: –More funding for struggling schools is necessary

Democrats: The Issues Social Security: –Support Social Security & Medicare

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

Republicans: The Issues Abortion: Pro-life –Prefers funding go towards marriage education and abstinence only campaigns

Republicans: The Issues Environment: –Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy production –Pushed for oil drilling and the building of more nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal.

Republicans: The Issues Gay Rights: –Oppose idea of same-sex marriage; seek to define marriage as union between man and woman

Republicans: The Issues Gun Control: –Favors allowing the sale of firearms –Opposes gun-control laws

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: –Argue that the use of American military force is essential for keeping the world safe for Democracy

Republicans: The Issues Education: –Support both the “No Child Left Behind” program and the school vouchers –Favor school to give students more educational options

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

Republicans: The Issues Workers’ Rights: –Favors workers and management working together to do what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences.

What Do Political Party Members Do?? Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office –Steps include 1.Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office 2004 Republican National Convention

What Do Political Party Members Do?? 2. Party starts an election campaign –An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform voters of the party’s stand on issues –Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that include : Raising funds Polling voters/making phone calls Drive voters to the polls Register voters John Kerry Campaigning

What Do Political Party Members Do? Presidential Election Campaigns

What Do Political Party Members Do? 3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt. –Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign. –Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers

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.  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