1. Ch. 5 Sec. 3 Introduction
How has the two-party system affected the history of American government?
Either the Democratic or Republican Party has dominated national politics over time and thus has been able to put its policies in place.
Ex. Democrats during the Great Depression
Medicare
Nat. Gov’t. Involvement in Public Schools
Social Security

2. The Nation’s First Parties
The battle over ratification of the Constitution led to the rise of the first major parties.
The Federalist Party was formed by supporters of the Constitution.
Led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams They wanted a stronger national government

3. Democratic-Republican Party
Opposing the Federalists was the Democratic- Republican Party.
They wanted a more limited national government
Led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, they favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
NOTE TO TEACHERS: Above image shows James Madison (L) and Alexander Hamilton (R) .

4. The Democratic Party
The election of 1796 was the first time two parties fought for the presidency.
The Federalists won, but faded from power after losing the 1800 election.
The Democratic-Republicans later split apart and gave rise to the Democratic Party.

5. The Era of the Democrats
The Democratic Party won 13 of 15 presidential elections from 1800 to 1860.
In the 1830s, President Andrew Jackson began a period of so-called Jacksonian democracy, marked by three major political changes:
Voting rights were expanded to include all white males, not just those with property.
A huge increase in the number of elected offices around the country.
The spread of the spoils system.

6. Democrats v. Whigs
The Democrats drew much of their support from small farmers, pioneers, and slaveholders in the South and West.
Their greatest rivals were the Whigs, who were supported by wealthier merchant and industrial interests in the East.
NOTE TO TEACHERS : Above image depicts Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson became President in 1803, ushering in an era of Democratic domination that lasted until the Civil War.

7. Democrats v. Whigs, cont.
The debate over slavery split the Whigs and the Democrats apart in the 1850s.
The Democrats were split between northern and southern factions.
Many Whigs and antislavery Democrats joined the new Republican Party in 1854.

8. Era of the Republicans
The Republican Party won 14 of 18 presidential elections from 1860 to 1932.
The Civil War crippled the Democrats.
Powers were concentrated in the South
controlled for roughly 100 years after Reconstruction ended.
The Republican dominated nationally.
They had the support of farmers, laborers, business and financial interests, and freed African Americans.
The Republicans benefited from years of economic prosperity.

9. End of the Republican Era
What third-party candidate had an influence on the election of 1912? Explain.
Progressives under T.R. stole votes from Republicans to help elect Democrat Woodrow Wilson
Checkpoint Answer: Former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt failed to win the Republican nomination after he came out of retirement to challenge Republican President Taft’s bid for re-election. Roosevelt’s new Progressive Party gained a significant deal of support from Republicans, costing Taft votes and helping Democrat Woodrow Wilson win the election.

10. Return of the Democrats
The Democrats won 7/9 presidential elections from to 1968.
The Great Depression sparked the comeback of the Democrats.

11. Era of Divided Government
The Republicans won 7/10 presidential elections from to 2004.
The Democrats controlled Congress for most of this period.
Republicans controlled Congress from 1995 to 2000 while Democrat Bill Clinton was President.
George Bush served from
Barack Obama served from
Donald Trump serves currently.
This division of power meant that neither party could easily control the agenda of the government without making compromises.
NOTE TO TEACHERS: The Democrats controlled both houses of Congress for all but four years from 1933 to 1995, with the exception of losing the Senate from 1980 to 1986.

12. Political Parties Today
In recent years, control of Congress, particularly the Senate, has shifted back and forth between the major parties.