1. The US two-party system
Republicans
GOP (Grand Old Party)
The US two-party system
Democrats

2. The Two Party system
By 1890 there were two clearly defined political parties in the USA
Both were strongly influenced by the Civil War
(North = Republicans / South = Democrats)
Neither party was united in its beliefs. Both were loose coalitions linking together varied groups and local issues
Both parties contained traditional and reforming elements

3. The Two Party system
The 1896 election - McKinley (R) vs. William Jennings Bryan (D)
the election that changed presidential campaigns forever.
90% turnout;
Record high campaign costs;
ended 3rd party system,
realigned parties
led to a 16-year domination by the Republican Party.
In 1912 GOP dominance broken by Wilson (Democrat) won because of fractions within the Republican Party rather than the strength of the Democrats.
Since Truman, the parties have tended to switch every two terms

4. United States Presidential results between 1896 and Key: Extremely dark blue: Voted Democratic 8 out of 8 times Blue: Voted Democratic 6 out of 8 times Light blue: Voted Democratic 5 out of 8 times Green: Voted for each party 4 out of 8 times Pink: Voted Republican 5 out of 8 times Red: Voted Republican 6 out of 8 times Dark red: Voted Republican 7 out of 8 times Very dark red: Voted Republican 8 out 8 times

5. Evolution of the South Democrats traditionally in the South
From Age of Jackson (mid-19th c.) through the 1960s.
known as the Solid South.
Dixiecrats – a break-off faction of the Democratic Party from the south 1948
Conservative pro-segregation southerners
Once Eisenhower becomes president in the election of 1952, the Republicans start to break into the Solid South.
1964 election marks a major shift of the Southern voters to the Republican Party
Since Reagan (1980), the South votes traditionally Republican.

6. US Presidents 1896-1980 year victor party issue
1984 Ronald Reagan Republican Moral Majority/Cold War
1980 Ronald Reagan Republican Moral Majority/Cold War
1976  Jimmy Carter Democrat  Nixon scandals 
1972  Richard M. Nixon Republican  Silent Majority/Vietnam War
1968  Richard M. Nixon Republican  Silent Majority/Vietnam War 
1964  Lyndon B. Johnson Democrat  Civil rights 
1960  John F. Kennedy Democrat  Recession, missile gap 
1956  Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican Prosperity 
1952  Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican Korean War 
1948  Harry S. Truman Democrat Do Nothing Congress 
1944  Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat World War II 
1940  Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat World War II, FDR 3rd term 
1936  Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat New Deal, Social Security
 1932  Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat Great Depression
 1928  Herbert C. Hoover Republican  Boom, anti-Catholicism 
1924  Calvin Coolidge Republican  Prosperity 
1920  Warren G. Harding Republican Normalcy 
1916  Woodrow Wilson Democrat World War I
 1912  Woodrow Wilson Democrat  Republican split 
1908  William H. Taft Republican  Class warfare
 1904  Theodore Roosevelt Republican  Square Deal 
1900  William McKinley Republican Spanish-American War
 1896  William McKinley Republican  Silver/Gold Tariffs

7. Democrats vs. Republicans
Democrat History
Republican History
Traditionally seen as the southern party
Since split in Republican Party in 1912 election, Democrats to the left of Republicans on social and fiscal issues
Over time many supporters from workers in Northern cities
Shift in regional alliances in 1964: Civil Rights Movement
Stronghold today in Northeast, Great Lakes region and West coast urban population
Party founded just before Civil War in 1854
1st Republican President: Abraham Lincoln
Seen as a “northerner” party in beginning
After 1964 (Civil Rights movement): stronghold in the south, the Great Plains and Southwest rural areas

8. Democrats vs. Republicans
Democrat Beliefs & Support
Republican Beliefs & Support
Liberal
Strong Federal Government
Increasing taxes to the wealthy
Social programs
Community and social justice
Environmental laws
Anti-discrimination laws
Education
Favor less increase in military spending
Favor gun control laws
Supported by minority groups: Catholics, Hispanics, blacks
Opportunity and equality
Conservative (fiscally and socially)
States rights over Federal rights
Tax cuts, reducing social programs
Laisser-faire for government
Reliance on private sector as stimulus for economic growth
Dominant foreign policy
Favor increasing military spending
Oppose gun control laws
Far right: pro-religion, anti-bureaucracy, pro-military, pro-business and pro-personal responsibility (Tea party)
Self-reliance and freedom

9. US Presidential Elections
Who won?
How popular are the parties?
Are there any
Major changes?
Is there a
Geographical pattern?
Look at each electoral map.
What do these maps tell you about the two party system in the USA?

10. 1948
1944
1956
1964

11. 1968
1984

12. Recent Trends Political Polarization
two main political parties are drifting further from each other ideologically
More extreme factions of each party
Bernie Sanders (12 million supporters nat’l congress)
Tea Party
Americans are far more likely to be consistently conservative or consistently liberal than they were 10 or 20 years ago
Source: Pew Research Center, 2014 Report

13. Video: Why American politics have changed? 3’51

14. Video: Ted Talk Liberal Conservative Views in U.S. Politics
Open-mindedness vs. closed-mindedness