Political Parties

AP U.S. GOVERNMENTCHAPTER 8

Political Parties

A Two Party System

America has had essentially a two party system since its existence, though the two dominant parties have changed over time.

Even between Democrats and Republicans, their ideological positions have shifted over time, reversing polarity. What it means to be a Republican today is not identical

to what it meant to be a Republican during the Civil War.

Democrats of the 1830s would not recognize the Democratic Party of today.

Why and how did they change?

The Development of the Two-Party System

Opposing parties developed initially over the ratification of the United States Constitution:

Federalists vs. Anti-federalistsBut these are not considered political parties because

they were not vying for control of the government, rather whether we should have one at all.

The winners of that contest – the Federalists – did become the first political party, but not everyone who fought for ratification agreed with their policies. They formed the Democratic-Republican Party.

Five Party Eras in American History

1. 1796-1824 1st Party System•Federalists

(Hamilton, Washington) VS.

•Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson, Madison)

•Size and scope of national government

•Capital/urban vs. agrarian/rural

2. 1828-1856 Sectionalism•Democrats

(Jackson, Van Buren) VS.

•Whigs (Clay, Webster)

•Limited government vs. pro-industry, internal improvements, tariffs

3. 1860-1928 Two Republican Eras•Republicans VS.•Democrats

•Part I:•Anti-slavery vs. pro-

slavery

•Part II:•Pro-industry, gold

standard vs. farmers and free silver

4. 1932-1964 New Deal Coalition

•Democrats VS Republicans

•Roosevelt’s New Deal coalition driven by Great Depression

•Massive growth of national and state governments through regulation, war, and social welfare expansion

5. 1932-1964 Southern

Realignment and divided government

•Republicans VS Democrats

•“Solid South” shifts to Republicans

•Presidency switched back and forth

•Closer elections

FederalistsDemocratic-Republicans

Jeffersonian Republicans

Led by Alexander Hamilton

Presidents: George Washington, John Adams

Priorities: Strong national government Support of commerce through

the national bank Tended to be pro-British Vision of industrial and

commercial America

Led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

Presidents: Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams

Priorities: Vision of agrarian society Tended to be pro-French Opposed national bank and debt Small national government

1. 1796 to 1824: The First Party System

FederalistsDemocratic-Republicans

Jeffersonian Republicans

Who? New England

stronghold, plus other places early on, but quickly lost out to Democratic-Republicans from 1800 on.

John Marshall on the Supreme Court.

Who? Stronger below the

Mason-Dixon line Grew dominant over

time, especially in election of 1800 b/c of unpopularity of Adams

Even Adams’ son became a D-R (I-R 1st run)

1. 1796 to 1824: The First Party System

Critical Election:1800: Jefferson defeats Adams in a rematch of 1796.

Mostly a response to Adams’ overreaching with the Alien & Sedition Acts, and pro-British stance.

Federalists never won again, and stopped running for president after 1816.

Federalists maintained local power, particularly in the NE, but as the founding generation died out, so did the Federalists.

Each party worked to destroy the other, hoping to establish a nation-wide, unified vision for America. Thus, the stakes were much higher and the campaigning far more personal. The future of the nation depended on it.

Whigs Democrats

Led by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster

Presidents: William Henry

Harrison John Tyler

Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore

Led by Jackson, but organized by Van Buren

Presidents: Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren James K. Polk Franklin Pierce James Buchanan

2. 1828-1856: Sectionalism

Whigs Democrats

Priorities: Tariffs to support

northern industry Internal improvements

in the West and North Block the spread of

slavery westward

Priorities: Mixed, based on wings

w/in the party Pro-slavery or at least

apologists Broaden suffrage Populism


Critical Election1828

Andrew Jackson wins, having lost to John Quincy Adams in 1824 (“Corrupt bargain” anyone?)

Both parties will have varied coalitions, which will morph over time as they bend and break over the issue of slavery and its expansion into western territories.

Sectional economic policy differences will eventually fall behind slavery in importance.

Clicker Question

What makes an election “critical”?a.) It is very contentious.b.) It happens at a time the country is being

threatened.c.) It results in a realigning of the voters in

different coalitions and often shifts control of government from one party to another.

d.) The candidates attack each other personally.e.) None of the above.

Whigs Democrats

Who? The “anyone but Jackson”

party Northern middle class and

industrialists Some westerners South: wealthiest classes,

early on Some anti-immigrant, anti-

Catholic Only won presidency with

war heroes

Who? North: lower classes,

immigrants, Catholics South: lower classes at

first, then shifted to wealthier planters as slavery issue dominated

Some westerners


Republicans (Part I) Democrats (Part I)

Leaders: Presidents:

Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson (sort of)

Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes James Garfield

Chester A. Arthur Benjamin Harrison

Priorities: End slavery, preserve union Black suffrage Industrialization, Tariffs, Gold

Leaders:Presidents:

Grover Cleveland (x 2)Priorities:

Northern Dems. opposed the Civil War, obstruct reconstruction

Southern Dems.: white supremacy

Free-silver Pro-farmer, anti-railroad

3: 1860 – 1928: Two Republican Eras

Critical Election:1860: Abraham Lincoln elected as a Republican.

Southerners secede under belief that Lincoln intends to abolish slavery.

Civil War ensues, leading to abolition of slavery, black male suffrage, and 100 years of a “Solid South”

Republicans consolidated control after the Civil War by extending suffrage to black males in southern states (not yet northern), along with white southerners who had opposed secession and carpetbaggers.

After the Civil War, Republicans waved the “bloody shirt” and assured northern veteran support through pensions.

All of the Republican presidents until McKinley had been Union officers.

First Republican Era, continued

Who? Formed from coalition of

the “not-Democrat” parties: Conscience Whigs (after

collapse) Know-Nothings Free Soil Party

Only in the North at first African Americans Union veterans White southerners, during

Reconstruction Industrialists, middle class

Who? Former Confederates

and anyone who hated Lincoln for “starting the war” by being elected (= almost all)

White supremacists Catholics, Immigrants Lower classes in North Western and southern

farmers Silverites

Presidents: William McKinley Teddy Roosevelt William Howard Taft Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover

Presidents:

Woodrow Wilson

Second Republican Era(McKinley to Hoover)

Republicans Democrats

Priorities: Dominated by pro-

business faction But also a progressive

wing (e.g., T. Roosevelt)

High Tariffs Little regulation Laissez faire Low taxes

Priorities: Still hate Lincoln (South) Free Silver (W.J. Bryan) Anti-RR Good government

reforms More government

regulation of life, including safety, health, business, labor, environment



Who? African Americans Upper and middle

class Northerners* Progressives (in both)

Who? Solid South Immigrants Catholics Poor Progressives (in both)


Clicker Question

Why did Republicans win 14 of 18 elections between 1860 to 1928?

a.) Memories of the Civil War lingered until the end of the 1800s.

b.) Northern population growth exceeded southern growth.

c.) Industrialization grew the middle class.d.) Republican machines controlled most major

northern cities until the Great Depression.e.) All of the above


Presidents:

Dwight Eisenhower

Presidents: Franklin D. Roosevelt

(x4) Harry S Truman

John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson

4. 1932 – 1964: New Deal Coalition


Priorities: Smaller government Free market (laissez

faire) National security Rooting out

communism Civil Rights*

Priorities: Responded to the Great

Depression with New Deal Massive government regulation

of the economy Broad social welfare programs

such as Social Security, welfare Broadened by Johnson in the

Great Society Medicare, Medicaid, public

housing, food stamps, HUD Civil Rights* Unionization


Clicker Question

Based on the foregoing priorities of the Democratic Party during the New Deal coalition, which groups would you expect to realign with that party?

a.) Middle class voters.b.) Southern voters.c.) Catholics.d.) African Americans.e.) Progressives.


Who? Middle and upper class Midwest West Some African Americans “Conservatives” Those who thought

Roosevelt over-reached Small-government people Anti-communists

Who? White southerners (still

solid, still hate Lincoln) Catholics and Jews Increasing numbers of

African Americans Most people who were hit

hard by the Depression or lived through WWII

“Liberals” Urban dwellers Labor Unions


Critical Election:1932: FDR brings in a large majority of Democrats into Congress, taking both houses.

Allows FDR to push through massive changes – only Supreme Court in the way.

Democrats will dominate Congress for decades.

Voters attracted to positive attitude and willingness to do much more to overcome the Depression.

Third and fourth generation black voters realign based on economic hardship of the Depression.

What might cause black voters to switch again?


Presidents: Richard Nixon

Gerald Ford Ronald Reagan George H.W. Bush George W. Bush

Presidents:

Jimmy Carter

Bill Clinton

Barack Obama

5. 1968 to present: Divided Government


Priorities: National Security Ending communism around

the world Pro-business (including ag.) Less government* Pro-life, pro-family Split between social

conservatives, national security hawks, deficit hawks, and compassionate conservatives

States’ rights

Priorities: Expand and refine social

welfare programs from previous era

Greater government regulation (EPA)

Affirmative Action Labor Unions government

unions Women’s rights Pro-choice Redistribution of wealth



Who? Southerners turn to the

Republicans as Dems. Shift focus to labor unions, urban voters, and affirmative action

Midwest, Mountain, West* (“fly-over” states)

Conservatives: Evangelical Christians Deficit hawks National security hawks Libertarians

White-collar workers

Who? Labor Unions (shrinking) Blue collar, sort of The poor The coasts and upper Midwest NE African Americans Latinos (except Cubans) Social Catholics and Jews Urban dwellers New Deal legacy voters The yutes Women


Clicker Question

Why did southern voters leave the Democratic Party?

a.) The shift to a focus on black voters, including civil rights laws, desegregation, and welfare.

b.) The shift away from traditional, Christian values.

c.) Their opposition to the Vietnam War.d.) Excessive government spending and

taxation.e.) Nixon’s resignation.

Critical Election:1968:

Johnson opts to not run because he is terribly unpopular due to the Vietnam War.

Bobby Kennedy gets in late, but is winning CA when shot.

Anti-war activists protest Hubert Humphrey’s nomination outside of Chicago convention hall; Chicago police bust heads.

Leads to party nomination reforms.

1968 breaks the Democratic Party.

Nixon wins in an electoral landslide, but 43.4% of the popular vote, because Democratic vote is split between: Hubert Humphrey (MN senator) George Wallace – anti-civil-rights

candidate running as “American Independent”.

Vietnam-War protests undermine unity, but big break is over color.

Clicker Question

Why has the modern era become divided? Choose the most compelling reason:

a.) The public cannot make up its mind.b.) The parties are not fundamentally different.c.) Overreaching by one party drives voters to the other.d.) Voters have shifted registration to “Independent”.e.) Voters want to force the politicians to compromise by

building in different power bases.f.) Population shifts have made each congressional district

and state more liberal or conservative respectively.g.) Something other.

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Political Parties