1. AP Government: Mrs. Lacks
Third Parties in US
AP Government: Mrs. Lacks

2. Third Parties Third or minor parties DO exist in US elections
major 3rd party candidates that changed elections
Election of 1912: Teddy Roosevelt (Bull Moose or Progressive Party)
Election of 1992: Ross Perot (Independent Party)

3. Third Parties Why haven’t any won the presidency?
People think their vote won’t count
Electoral College works against them (must have 270 electoral votes to win); winner takes all
Not all third parties are listed in all states
Not all third party candidates are asked to participate in national debates
Its hard to raise as much money as the RNC or DNC

4. Third Parties Even though one hasn’t won yet, it is still possible
Some have specific goals and are often short-lived, while others last for decades
Political scientists group them into 4 categories
Economic protest parties
Single issue parties
Ideological parties
Factional or splinter parties

5. Economic Protest Parties
Seek to accomplish that which changes an economic situation
Typically farmers and laborers
Examples:
Populist Party (1887 – 1908): mostly poor white cotton farmers in South and poor wheat farmers in the Midwest; supported bimetallism, etc.
Greenback Party (1874 – 1884): opposed the shift from paper money back to a coin-based monetary system because it believed that privately owned banks and corporations would then reacquire the power to define the value of products and labor

6. Single-Issue Parties
Champion a specific goal, focusing on nothing else
Examples:
Free Soil Party (mid-1800s): created to restrict the movement of American slaves into the western territories (goal became Republican, party dissolved)
Know-Nothing Party (mid-1800s): wanted to end immigration (Eastern European Catholics being the primary targets)
Prohibition Party (early 20th century)
Woman’s Suffrage Party (early 20th century)

7. Ideological Parties Typically longest lasting third parties
Never have come close to winning an election, but have existed over 100 yrs
Examples:
Libertarian Party (3rd largest party today)
American Communist Party
American Socialist Party

8. Factional or Splinter Parties
Form when a major party implodes
When the Democratic or Republican party has broken into two sections it becomes weaker and is likely to loose the election (but you also know that many people have that ideology)
Examples:
Rep Party split (TR vs. Taft in 1912), Dem Wilson won
Dems split in 1948 (Dixiecrats formed), Rep Eisenhower won

9. Third Parties
Third parties are good because they remind the two major parties they need broad-based coalitions to win (aka be more moderate)