1. The Evolution of American Political Parties
6 Defining Eras
Organized Around Realigning Elections

2. (1800 Realignment)
Era characterized by single party domination
Initially only one “party”: Federalists
Democratic-Republican Party created by Jefferson to oppose Hamiltonian ideas
Demise of the Federalists in 1800 election
Dominance of the Democratic-Republicans through “Era of Good Feelings

3. 1824-1860 (1828 Realignment) Rise of the two party system Whigs
National Organizations
“Grass Roots” Organizations
Whigs
Party of business
Belief in government operating for the benefit of business
Democrats
Party of the “average man
Belief in government operating to oppose privilege and elitism

4. 1860-1896 1860 Realignment Demise of the Whigs Split of the Democrats
Birth of the Republicans
Issues of slavery and the Union identifies the parties
Republicans: dominant party identified with abolition and union
Democrats: permanent minority centered in the old Confederacy

5. (1896 Realignment)
Continuation of Republican dominance but with different defining issues
Republican coalition centered in urban America
Tight money
Progress
Secularism
Democratic coalition centered in rural America
“Easy money” (loose monetary policy)
Traditional values
Religion

6. 1896-1932 (continued) Areas of single party dominance
Nascent Progressive-Old Guard split in the Republican party

7. 1932-1968 (1932 Realignment) Dominance of the Democrats
FDR Coalition of urban dwellers, labor, blacks, Catholics, immigrants, the poor, and the South
Belief that the governmentr should intervene in the economy to help the needy and to regulate business
Republican Party
Business and the Old Guard
Belief that the government should leave business to the market

8. 1968-Present(?) Era of Divided Government Winning formulas
FDR coalition cracks
Rise of Independents and “Ticket-Splitters”
Winning formulas
Democrats: reestablish FDR coalition
Republicans: unite business, south, social conservatives, and suburbs