1. Two Party System in American History
Political Parties
Two Party System in American History

2. Federalist Party
The battle over the ratification of the Constitution led to the rise of the first major parties.
The Federalist Party was formed by supporters of the Constitution.
Wanted a strong national government
Strong financial, commercial and manufacturing interest.

3. Democratic-Republican Party
Opposing the Federalists was the Democratic –Republican Party
It wanted a more limited national government, with policies aimed at helping farmers, planters, labor and small business.
Favored a strict interpretation of the USC

4. Democratic Party
The election of 1796 was the first time two parties fought for the presidency.
Federalist won with the election of John Adams – but faded after losing the 1800 election
Democratic-Republicans later split and gave rise to the Democratic Party of today.

5. Era of the Democrats
The Democratic Party won 13 of 15 presidential elections from 1800 to 1860.
In the 1830s, President Jackson began a period of so-called Jacksonian Democracy, marked by three major political changes:
Voting rights extended to all white males (not just property owners)
Increase in the number of elected offices
Spread of the Spoils system

6. Spoils System
Practice of awarding the public offices, contracts, and other governmental favors to those who supported the party in power
Corrupt practice eventually replaced with civil service system

7. Democrats v. Whigs
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 merchants and industrial interests in the East.

8. Democrats v. Whigs
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 Anti-slavery Democrats joined the new Republican Party in 1854.

9. Era of the Republicans
The Republican Party won 14 of 18 elections from 1860 to 1932.
The Civil War crippled the Democrats.
All their power was concentrated in the South, which they controlled for 100 years after Reconstruction ended.
The Republican dominated nationally
Supported by famers, laborers, business, and freed African Americans
Benefited from years of economic prosperity.

10. Economic Turmoil
An Economic Panic of 1896 made the election of 1896 critical.
Labor Unions joined small farmers and business owners to back the Democrats.
Republicans won by appealing to a wider range of voters, but the Democrats gained support outside of the South.

11. End of the Republican Era
What third Party Candidate had an influence on the election of 1912?
Teddy Roosevelt, a republican, ran as a third party candidate and split the Republican vote
Helped Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win election

12. Return of the Democrats
The Democrats won 7 out of 9 presidential elections from
The Great Depression sparked the comeback of the Democrats
With the economy in ruins, democrats gained support of:
Southerners, small farmers, big-city politicians, labor unions, and minority groups.

13. Era of Divided Government
The Republicans won 7 out of 10 presidential elections from
The Democrats controlled Congress for most of this time.
Republicans controlled Congress from while Bill Clinton was in office.
The division of power meant that neither party could easily control the agenda of the government – compromise not easy!

14. Republicans in the 1980s
The Republicans made major changes to U.S. foreign trade and domestic policy during this time.
Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush won elections by landslides.

15. Political Parties Today
In recent years, Control of Congress, particularly the Senate, has shifted back and forth between the major parties.
Typically, newly elected Presidents have a “coattail” effect that brings other candidates from his party to Congress
Recently, this has not been the case – leading to gridlock in Washington D.C.

16. Questions to Ponder What does divided government mean?
What characterizes the present political era that began in 1968? (explain)
Do you think divided government comes closer to the ideal the Framers intended? WHY?