1. Political Parties

2. Third Parties
Even if there are 7 other parties running against the two major parties, they are still referred to as a third party
Believe neither party is meeting certain needs
1. Single-issue party
Focuses on one major social, economic, or moral issue
Short lived
2. Ideological party
Focuses on overall change rather than on an issue
EX. Socialist party, Libertarian Party. Communist Party
3. Splinter Party
Split away from another group
Ex. Teddy Roosevelt splitting the Republican Party to form the Progressive

3. Impact of third parties
Draw support away from one of the two major parties
Ex. T. Roosevelt’s Progressive Party split Republican support and Democratic Woodrow Wilson was elected
Third parties often promote ideas that are at first unpopular
Picked up by major parties later on

4. Examples of third parties
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
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

5. 2 Party system
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

6. Democratic Party The oldest political party
1792, when Jefferson founded the Democratic - Republican Party
initially opposed a strong central government
Andrew Jackson split party in two during his campaign/election in 1828
he believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution and limited government
Different today
“party of the People” - attract minorities, women, blue collar workers, immigrants
liberal stand, more active government role in people’s lives
especially when people are in need
Ex. FDR

7. Republican Party GOP - Grand Old Party
Founded in 1854 by Alvan E. Bovay
opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act
which would allow these new territories to choose whether or not they wanted to be slave or free
even though they lost the first election, later won with Abraham Lincoln by adding transcontinental railroad and free land to settlers to their platform

8. GOP TOdAY Conservative Little government involvement Lower taxes
Less government spending on social programs
little government intervention in business and the economy