political parties historical development of the parties

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Historical Historical Development of Development of

the Partiesthe Parties

Historical Historical DevelopmentDevelopment

•Historically, the two-party Historically, the two-party system has been system has been characterized by long periods characterized by long periods of of dominance by one party dominance by one party followed by a long period followed by a long period of dominance by the otherof dominance by the other

Historical Historical DevelopmentDevelopment

•The eras begin & end with The eras begin & end with shifts in the voting shifts in the voting population called population called realignments:realignments:

•(1) Issues change(1) Issues change•(2) New divisions form (2) New divisions form between groupsbetween groups

Early YearsEarly Years•First two political parties to First two political parties to

emerge during Washington’s emerge during Washington’s term of office were the term of office were the Federalists Federalists & Anti-& Anti-FederalistsFederalists

Early YearsEarly Years•Major issue in the beginning was Major issue in the beginning was

the the ratification of the ratification of the ConstitutionConstitution

•Federalists supporting itFederalists supporting it•Anti-Federalists wanting Anti-Federalists wanting

guarantees individual freedoms & guarantees individual freedoms & rights not included in the original rights not included in the original documentdocument

How was the How was the issue resolved?issue resolved?

Early YearsEarly Years

•Issue was resolved with the Issue was resolved with the addition of the Bill of Rights, addition of the Bill of Rights, but the but the parties did not parties did not disappear with the issuedisappear with the issue

FederalistsFederalists

•Led by Led by Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton (Secretary of Treasury)(Secretary of Treasury)

•Represented Represented urban, urban, business-orientedbusiness-oriented men who men who favored elitism & a favored elitism & a strong strong central governmentcentral government

FederalistsFederalists

•Supported Hamilton’s Supported Hamilton’s establishment of the Bank of establishment of the Bank of U.S.U.S.

•Viewed it as forwarding their Viewed it as forwarding their interests & beliefsinterests & beliefs

Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists

•Came to be known as the Came to be known as the Democratic-RepublicansDemocratic-Republicans

•Led by Thomas JeffersonLed by Thomas Jefferson•Favored Favored strong state strong state

governmentsgovernments, , rural rural interestsinterests, and a , and a weaker weaker centralcentral governmentgovernment

Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists

•Opposed the bank as an Opposed the bank as an enemy of state control & enemy of state control & rural interestsrural interests

““Era of Good Feeling”Era of Good Feeling”

•With Hamilton’s death & With Hamilton’s death & John Adams’ unpopularity as John Adams’ unpopularity as president, president, Jefferson Jefferson emerged as the most emerged as the most popular leader of the turn popular leader of the turn of the 19of the 19thth century century


•As president, he gradually As president, he gradually became became more accepting of more accepting of stronger central governmentstronger central government

•Two parties’ points of view Two parties’ points of view seemed to merge most notably in seemed to merge most notably in the “Era of Good Feeling” the “Era of Good Feeling” presided over by James Monroe presided over by James Monroe (one of Jefferson’s(one of Jefferson’s protégés) protégés)


•Democratic-Republicans Democratic-Republicans emerged as the only partyemerged as the only party

•Dominance lasted until the Dominance lasted until the mid-1800s, though under a mid-1800s, though under a new name, the new name, the DemocratsDemocrats

Jacksonian Jacksonian DemocracyDemocracy

•Two-party system re-emerged Two-party system re-emerged with the appearance of with the appearance of Andrew Andrew JacksonJackson

•Represented to many the Represented to many the expanding country (newer states expanding country (newer states found much in common with the found much in common with the rural southern states but little rural southern states but little with the established northeast)with the established northeast)


•New party emerged—the New party emerged—the WhigsWhigs

•Represented many of the Represented many of the interests of the old interests of the old Federalist partyFederalist party


•Jackson’s election in 1828 Jackson’s election in 1828 was accomplished with a was accomplished with a coalition between South & coalition between South & West, forming the new West, forming the new Democratic PartyDemocratic Party


•Jackson’s Democrats were a Jackson’s Democrats were a rawer sort than Jefferson’s rawer sort than Jefferson’s (primarily gentlemen farmers (primarily gentlemen farmers from the South & Middle from the South & Middle Atlantic states)Atlantic states)


•During the Jacksonian era—During the Jacksonian era—universaluniversal manhood suffragemanhood suffrage was achieved (virtually all men was achieved (virtually all men could vote)could vote)

•Rural, anti-bank, small farmers Rural, anti-bank, small farmers from the South & West formed from the South & West formed the backbone of the Democratic the backbone of the Democratic PartyParty


•Whigs were left with:Whigs were left with:•Old Federalist interestsOld Federalist interests•Wealthy, rural Southerners Wealthy, rural Southerners

who had little in common who had little in common with other Whigswith other Whigs


•Party was not ideologically Party was not ideologically coherentcoherent

•Found some success by Found some success by nominating & electing nominating & electing war war heroesheroes (William Henry (William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor)Harrison, Zachary Taylor)

North/South TensionsNorth/South Tensions

•Economic & social tensions Economic & social tensions developed between North & developed between North & South by the 1840s & 50South by the 1840s & 50

•Whig party was threatened Whig party was threatened by splits between southern & by splits between southern & northern wingsnorthern wings


•As the Whigs were falling As the Whigs were falling apart, a apart, a newnew Republican Republican Party emergedParty emerged from the from the issue of expansion of slavery issue of expansion of slavery into new territoriesinto new territories


•Election of 1860 brought the Election of 1860 brought the first Republican—Abraham first Republican—Abraham Lincoln—into office—Lincoln—into office—

•Setoff the secession of Setoff the secession of southern states & with them southern states & with them many supporters of the many supporters of the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party


•Civil War ended the dominance Civil War ended the dominance of the Democrats & ushered in a of the Democrats & ushered in a new Republican eranew Republican era

•Voters realigned—according to Voters realigned—according to regional differencesregional differences & & conflicting points of view conflicting points of view regarding expansion of regarding expansion of slavery slavery & states rights& states rights

Republican Era: Republican Era: 1861-19331861-1933

•With the exception of Grover With the exception of Grover Cleveland & Woodrow Cleveland & Woodrow Wilson, all presidents from Wilson, all presidents from Abraham Lincoln (1861-Abraham Lincoln (1861-1895) through Herbert 1895) through Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) were Hoover (1929-1933) were RepublicansRepublicans


•During most of the time, During most of the time, Republicans dominated Republicans dominated thethe legislature legislature as wellas well


•By 1875 all of the southern By 1875 all of the southern states had been restored to states had been restored to the Union, but their power, the Union, but their power, as well as that of the as well as that of the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party, was , was much much diminisheddiminished


•Republicans came to champion Republicans came to champion the new era of the Industrial the new era of the Industrial RevolutionRevolution

•Time when Time when prominent prominent businessmenbusinessmen, such as John , such as John Rockefeller & Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller & Andrew Carnegie, dominated politics as well as dominated politics as well as businessbusiness


•Republican party came to Republican party came to represent represent laissez-fairelaissez-faire

•Policy that advocated the Policy that advocated the free marketfree market & & few few government regulations government regulations on businesson business


•Republican philosophy of the Republican philosophy of the late 1800s late 1800s favoredfavored the the new new industrialistsindustrialists, not the small , not the small farmer of the earlier erafarmer of the earlier era

Second Democratic Era: Second Democratic Era: 1933-19691933-1969

•Prosperous, business-Prosperous, business-oriented era survived several oriented era survived several earlier recessions but not the earlier recessions but not the Great DepressionGreat Depression that that gripped the country after the gripped the country after the stock market crash of 1929stock market crash of 1929


•Economic downturn of the Economic downturn of the economy caused major economy caused major realignments of voters that realignments of voters that swung the balance of power swung the balance of power to the Democratsto the Democrats


•Republican president, Herbert Republican president, Herbert Hoover, was rejected in the Hoover, was rejected in the election of 1932 in favor of the election of 1932 in favor of the Democrat’s Franklin RooseveltDemocrat’s Franklin Roosevelt

•FDR’s victory was FDR’s victory was accomplished because of the accomplished because of the “Roosevelt Coalition” of voters“Roosevelt Coalition” of voters

FDR’s CoalitionFDR’s Coalition

•Consisted of a combination of Consisted of a combination of many many different groups of different groups of voters that wished to see voters that wished to see Hoover defeatedHoover defeated

FDR’s CoalitionFDR’s Coalition

•Composed of:Composed of:•Eastern workersEastern workers•Recent immigrantsRecent immigrants•Southern & western farmersSouthern & western farmers•BlacksBlacks•IdeologicallyIdeologically liberalliberal

Roosevelt’s DemocratsRoosevelt’s Democrats

•Established a government Established a government more actively involved in more actively involved in promoting social welfarepromoting social welfare

FDR’s PresidencyFDR’s Presidency

•Ironically, the formerly states Ironically, the formerly states rights oriented Democrats rights oriented Democrats now advocated a strong now advocated a strong central government, but one central government, but one dedicated to promoting the dedicated to promoting the interests of ordinary peopleinterests of ordinary people

FDR’s PresidencyFDR’s Presidency•Democrats dominated Democrats dominated both legislative & both legislative & executive branchesexecutive branches

FDR’s PresidencyFDR’s Presidency

•Even the Supreme Court Even the Supreme Court reined in its conservative reined in its conservative leaningsleanings

•Although it did check FDR’s Although it did check FDR’s power with the famous “court power with the famous “court packing” threatpacking” threat

FDR’s “Court-Packing” FDR’s “Court-Packing” ThreatThreat

•In an effort to get more support In an effort to get more support for his New Deal programs form for his New Deal programs form the Supreme Court, FDR the Supreme Court, FDR encouraged Congress to encouraged Congress to increase the number of justices increase the number of justices form 9 to 15form 9 to 15

•FDR eventually withdrew his FDR eventually withdrew his planplan


•FDR was elected to FDR was elected to unprecedented four terms & was unprecedented four terms & was followed by another Democrat, followed by another Democrat, Harry TrumanHarry Truman

•Even though a Republican, Even though a Republican, Dwight Eisenhower, was elected Dwight Eisenhower, was elected president in 1952, president in 1952, Congress Congress remained Democratremained Democrat


•Democrats regained the Democrats regained the White House in 1960 & White House in 1960 & retained it throughout the retained it throughout the presidencies of presidencies of John F. John F. Kennedy & Lyndon Kennedy & Lyndon JohnsonJohnson

Era of Divided Government: Era of Divided Government: 1969-20001969-2000

•Richard Nixon’s election in Richard Nixon’s election in 1968 did not usher in a new 1968 did not usher in a new era of Republican dominated era of Republican dominated governmentgovernment

• Instead a new Instead a new balance of powerbalance of power between the Democrats & between the Democrats & Republicans came into beingRepublicans came into being


•With few exceptions, control With few exceptions, control of the legislature & the of the legislature & the presidency has been presidency has been “divided” between the two “divided” between the two major parties since the late major parties since the late 1940s1940s


•When one party holds the When one party holds the presidency, the other has presidency, the other has dominated Congress, or at dominated Congress, or at least the Senateleast the Senate


•Division brings with it the Division brings with it the problem of problem of “gridlock”“gridlock”

•Tendency to paralyze Tendency to paralyze decision making, with one decision making, with one branch advocating one policy branch advocating one policy & the other another & the other another contradictory policycontradictory policy


•Scholars have various Scholars have various theories about the causes of theories about the causes of the new division of powerthe new division of power

•One cause might be the One cause might be the declining power of political declining power of political parties in generalparties in general

Republican Hold on the Republican Hold on the PresidencyPresidency

•From 1969 through 1993, and From 1969 through 1993, and 2000-2008, the Republicans 2000-2008, the Republicans held the presidency except held the presidency except during:during:

•Carter presidency – 1977-1981Carter presidency – 1977-1981•Clinton presidency – 1993-2001Clinton presidency – 1993-2001


•Starting in the 1960s, Starting in the 1960s, Republicans began to pay Republicans began to pay more attention to the more attention to the power power of electronic mediaof electronic media & to & to the the importance of paid importance of paid professional consultantsprofessional consultants


•Evolved into a Evolved into a well-well-financed, efficient financed, efficient organizationorganization

•Depended heavily on Depended heavily on professionals professionals to help locate to help locate & promote the best & promote the best candidate for officecandidate for office


•Some experts believe that these Some experts believe that these changes were largely responsible changes were largely responsible for Richard for Richard Nixon’s victoryNixon’s victory in in 19681968

•NixonNixon was carefully coached & was carefully coached & his campaign was his campaign was carefully carefully managedmanaged to take advantage of to take advantage of electronic mediaelectronic media


•Campaign made extensive Campaign made extensive useuse of of public opinion pollspublic opinion polls to to determinedetermine strategystrategy

•New emphasis also influenced New emphasis also influenced party’s choice of candidates in party’s choice of candidates in 1980 & 19841980 & 1984

•Former TV & film actor Ronald Former TV & film actor Ronald ReaganReagan was was master of the mediamaster of the media


•Party also took advantage of new Party also took advantage of new technologytechnology & generated & generated computerized mailings to computerized mailings to raise large sums of money for raise large sums of money for campaignscampaigns

•By the mid-1980s, Republicans By the mid-1980s, Republicans were raising much more money were raising much more money than the Democrats werethan the Democrats were


•During the same period, During the same period, Democrats were changing Democrats were changing in many opposite ways in many opposite ways than the Republicansthan the Republicans


•Democrats became more Democrats became more concerned with concerned with grass rootsgrass roots, , or common man or common man representationrepresentation


•Democrats were reacting at Democrats were reacting at least partly to the break-up of least partly to the break-up of the old Roosevelt Coalition, but the old Roosevelt Coalition, but also to the disastrous 1968 also to the disastrous 1968 convention in Chicago that convention in Chicago that showed the party as showed the party as highly highly factionalizedfactionalized & & lacking lacking leadershipleadership


•As a result, they gained a As a result, they gained a reputation as being:reputation as being:

• disorganizeddisorganized •disunited disunited


•In 1969, the Democratic In 1969, the Democratic party appointed a special party appointed a special McGovern-Fraser McGovern-Fraser Commission to review the Commission to review the party’s structureparty’s structure & & delegate selection delegate selection proceduresprocedures


•Commission determined that Commission determined that minorities,minorities, women, youthwomen, youth, , and the and the poorpoor were not were not adequately represented at adequately represented at the party conventionthe party convention


•Party adopted guidelines that Party adopted guidelines that increased the increased the representation & representation & participation of these participation of these groupsgroups


•Number of super-Number of super-delegatesdelegates (governors, (governors, members Congress & other members Congress & other party leaders) party leaders) was reduced was reduced substantiallysubstantially


•1972 convention selected as 1972 convention selected as their candidate George their candidate George McGovernMcGovern

•Liberal who lost a landslide Liberal who lost a landslide to Republican Richard Nixonto Republican Richard Nixon


•Although Democrat Jimmy Although Democrat Jimmy Carter won the presidency in Carter won the presidency in 1976, he was defeated by 1976, he was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980Ronald Reagan in 1980

•Republican Party held the Republican Party held the presidency since, with the presidency since, with the exception of the Clinton exception of the Clinton presidency (1992-2000)presidency (1992-2000)


•During the Reagan During the Reagan presidency, the Democrats presidency, the Democrats began to adopt some of the began to adopt some of the Republican strategies:Republican strategies:

•Computerized mailing listsComputerized mailing lists•Opinion pollsOpinion polls•Paid consultantsPaid consultants


•Using newly adopted Using newly adopted Republican party strategies, Republican party strategies, the Democratic party managed the Democratic party managed to get their candidate, Bill to get their candidate, Bill Clinton to the White House in Clinton to the White House in 1993, a position that he held 1993, a position that he held for two termsfor two terms

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