Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Chapter 9 Section 1Chapter 9 Section 1

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Political Party- organization of Political Party- organization of individuals with broad, common individuals with broad, common interest who organize to win interest who organize to win elections, operate in government, elections, operate in government, and influence government policyand influence government policy

Two-party system- US party system Two-party system- US party system with 2 main parties: Democrats and with 2 main parties: Democrats and RepublicansRepublicans

Political PartiesPolitical Parties George Washington warned against George Washington warned against

political parties in his farewell address political parties in his farewell address from officefrom office

First two political parties: Federalists First two political parties: Federalists and Democratic Republicansand Democratic Republicans Federalists- Alexander Hamilton and Federalists- Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, wanted a strong federal John Adams, wanted a strong federal government, party eventually faded outgovernment, party eventually faded out

DR’s- Thomas Jefferson and James DR’s- Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, thought the federal government Madison, thought the federal government was getting too much power, party split was getting too much power, party split into Democrats and Whigsinto Democrats and Whigs

DemocratsDemocrats

1828 formed in support 1828 formed in support

of Andrew Jacksonof Andrew Jackson Stressed their ties to the Stressed their ties to the

common peoplecommon people Whigs split to compete Whigs split to compete

with Democratswith Democrats Democrats and Whigs remained the two Democrats and Whigs remained the two

major political parties until the 1850smajor political parties until the 1850s

RepublicansRepublicans Formed in 1854 Formed in 1854

with Abraham with Abraham Lincoln to Lincoln to oppose slaveryoppose slavery

Also known as Also known as “Grand Ole “Grand Ole Party” (GOP)Party” (GOP)

Democrats and Democrats and RepublicansRepublicans

Around the turn of the 20Around the turn of the 20thth century the century the ideals of both parties began to changeideals of both parties began to change

Presently Republicans and Democrats Presently Republicans and Democrats are opposite of how they startedare opposite of how they started

Third PartiesThird Parties

Third Parties- smaller minor partiesThird Parties- smaller minor parties Influenced politics by promoting Influenced politics by promoting

ideas that were at first unpopularideas that were at first unpopular They have never won They have never won

Presidency, but Democrats Presidency, but Democrats

and Republicans adopted and Republicans adopted

their ideastheir ideas

Third Parties cont.Third Parties cont. Single Issue Parties- form to promote a Single Issue Parties- form to promote a

social, economic, or moral issue (usually social, economic, or moral issue (usually don’t last long)don’t last long) Prohibitionists Party formed in 1872 to ban Prohibitionists Party formed in 1872 to ban

alcoholalcohol

Third Parties contThird Parties cont Ideological Parties- form to support a Ideological Parties- form to support a

particular philosophy or ideaparticular philosophy or idea Socialists Labor Party and Communist Party Socialists Labor Party and Communist Party

USA believe that free enterprise should be USA believe that free enterprise should be replaced by one in which the government owns replaced by one in which the government owns businessbusiness

Libertarian Party want to cut the size of the Libertarian Party want to cut the size of the federal government and increase personal federal government and increase personal freedomsfreedoms

Third Parties cont.Third Parties cont.

Independent Candidates- form around Independent Candidates- form around leaders with strong personalities (usually leaders with strong personalities (usually don’t last long)don’t last long) H. Ross Perot ran for President in 1992 and H. Ross Perot ran for President in 1992 and

19961996

Third Parties contThird Parties cont ObstaclesObstacles

Third party Third party candidates candidates must obtain must obtain a large a large number of number of voter voter signatures to signatures to be placed on be placed on the ballotthe ballot

Trouble Trouble raising raising enough enough moneymoney

Other Party SystemsOther Party Systems Multiparty System- one Multiparty System- one

party rarely wins party rarely wins enough support to enough support to completely control completely control governmentgovernment Many countries have this: Many countries have this:

Germany has over 5 Germany has over 5 political parties, Israel political parties, Israel has over 20has over 20

One-Party System- the One-Party System- the party and government party and government are the sameare the same People’s Republic of People’s Republic of

China has 1 party: The China has 1 party: The Communist PartyCommunist Party

Political PartyPolitical Party Platform- series of statements expressing the Platform- series of statements expressing the

parties principles, beliefs, and positions on parties principles, beliefs, and positions on issuesissues Ex. Abortion, Death PenaltyEx. Abortion, Death Penalty

Plank- each individual part of the platformPlank- each individual part of the platform Ex. Dem support Abortion, Rep support Death Ex. Dem support Abortion, Rep support Death

PenaltyPenalty This communicates to This communicates to

voters what the party will voters what the party will

do if electeddo if elected

Democrat vs. Republican Democrat vs. Republican ChartChart

Complete the Democrat vs Complete the Democrat vs Republican Chart and Card ActivityRepublican Chart and Card Activity

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Democrats and Democrats and RepublicansRepublicans Basic difference between the Democrats Basic difference between the Democrats

and Republicans is their belief in how and Republicans is their belief in how much the government should be involved much the government should be involved in the lives of Americansin the lives of Americans Democrats- federal government should be Democrats- federal government should be

more directly involved in citizen’s livesmore directly involved in citizen’s lives Republicans- federal government should be Republicans- federal government should be

less directly involved in citizen’s livesless directly involved in citizen’s lives Both parties try to adopt moderate Both parties try to adopt moderate

positions and avoid extreme radical positions and avoid extreme radical positions in order to attract more voterspositions in order to attract more voters