Two Party System Chapter 5 Section 2

Key Terms Incumbent Faction Spoils system Electorate Sectionalism

The Nation’s First Parties Battle for ratification Federalists and Anti-Federalists Led to first political parties

Federalists 1 st party Formed around Alexander Hamilton Was the party of the “rich and well born” Most supported the Constitution

Wanted stronger government Politics to correct nations economic ills Appealed to financial, manufacturing, and commercial interests Wanted liberal interpretation of the Constitution

Anti-Federalists Led by Thomas Jefferson Nation’s fist Secretary of State Favored limited government Congress should dominate Government policies should benefit shopkeepers, laborers, farmers ands planters

Started as Anti-Federalists became Jeffersonian Republicans or the Democratic Republicans 1828 became the Democratic party First clashed in 1796 John Adams (Federalist) defeated Thomas Jefferson (Anti-Federalists)

Incumbent-the current office holder When Jefferson won over Adams the Federalists never returned to power

Four major eras Since 1800 divided into 4 eras First from 1800 to 1860 Democrats won 13 of 15 elections Only lost office

Second Era The Republicans won 14 of 18 elections Only losing ,

3 rd Era Democrats are back Roosevelt started it Won 7 of 9 elections Losing in

Fourth and current period 1968 to present Republicans have won 7 of 11 presidential elections Until November 2 Democrats controlled the Executive branch and both Houses Republicans will now control House of Representatives

The Era of Democrats Thomas Jefferson 1800 beginning of Democratic Domination Federalists soundly defeated in 1800 –Disappeared altogether by 1816 “Era of good feelings” Mid 1820 Democratic-Republican had split into many factions

1820 new political party National/Republicans (Andrew Jackson) Also became the Whigs

Major issues –Public lands –The Second Bank of the United States –High tariffs –Slavery

Democrats coalition of –Small farms –Debtors –Frontier pioneers –Slave holders –Drew support from the southwest

Under Jackson three fundamental changes –1. Voting rights for all white males –2. A huge number of elected offices around the country –3. The spread of the spoils system –Spoils system-the practice of awarding public offices and other favors to those who supported the party

Whig Party Led by Henry Clay Eastern bankers, merchants, industrialists, owners of large plantations The Whigs opposed the ideas of the Jacksonian Democracy

1850’s growing crisis of slavery split both major parties Whig party fell apart Democrats split into many groups in North and South Country drifted towards Civil War

Whigs and some Democrats form the Republican Party Founded 1859 Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats President Lincoln 1st from this party Republican part is the only 3rd party to jump to major party status

Era of Republicans Civil War signaled the second era of one party sweep For 75 years the Republicans will dominate the political scene Supported by business and financial and by farmers, laborers, newly freed African Americans

Democrats crippled by war Only survived because of their hold on the south. Southern resentment of Republicans role in their defeat. Fears of the Federal government

Democrats would monopolize southern politics for 100 years Grove Cleveland only break GOP would remain dominate party for the rest of the century

1896 critical to the two part system William McKinley wanted to use the gold standard William Jennings Bryan supported free silver McKinley was the victor with a broad electorate GOP would dominate for another three decades

Jennings helped to push politics back to the economic arena Republicans suffered their worse setback in 1912 Woodrow Wilson elected Received less then 50%of the vote Republicans vote split by Teddy Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party

The Return of the Democrats Great Depression 1929 massive impact on all of America 1932 Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected Southerners, small farmers, organized labor, big city politicans.

Roosevelt’s revolutionary economic and welfare program strengthened the coalition Increased support from African Americans Democrats would keep the power for 40 years Roosevelt 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944 Harry Truman succeeded after Roosevelt’s death and won in 1948

Republicans would win the White House 1952 and 1956 Dwight Eisenhower World War 2 hero Democrats would win the next two elections

Era of Divided Government Richard Nixon became President 1968 Ran against Hubert Humphrey (VP) Third party candidate George Wallace Nixon resigned in 1974 Gerald Ford picked to replace him Jimmy Carter elected in 1976

Republican Advantage Worsening economics Fallout from Iranian hostage affair GOP would keep the White House for the next three elections George H. W. Bush VP for Reagan First sitting VP to win since Martin Van Buren 1836

Bush beat Michael Dukakis Changed foreign and domestic policy Bush defeated in 1992 because of economic problems Bill Clinton Governor of Arkansas elected President

Intro to 21st Century Clinton second term 1996 Beat Bob Dole 3rd party Ross Perot 2000 GOP would regain the White House George W Bush elected Failed to win popular vote Captured slim majority of electoral vote

George W. Bush became the first President since 1888 to not win popular vote but win Presidency Since Nixon many politicians have had a coat tail Coat Tail- they get others elected to the house and senate as well as other offices because of their popularity

2004 Bush kept the majority in the House 2008 Democrats had the advantage in the House and the Senate Most voters turned to the Democrats given the economic conditions