presentation by dr. kevin lasher. history of us political parties 1)1790s-1828democ-republicans vs....

Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher

History of US Political Parties

1) 1790s-1828 Democ-Republicans vs. Federalists

2) 1828-1860 Democrats vs. Whigs

3) 1860-1896 Democrats = Republicans

4) 1896-1932 Republicans > Democrats

5) 1932-1980 Democrats > Republicans

6) 1980 – now Democrats = Republicans (???)

Political Parties

Democratic-Republicans vs. Federalists

Political Parties

Two parties begin to develop within President Washington’s administration

Both “elitist” parties, since vote was limited

Political Parties

Democratic-Republicans are for strong state government, agriculture, rural areas, against national bank, pro-France

Federalists are for strong national government, manufacturing, cities, national bank, pro-England

Political Parties

Washington is informal Federalist, Adams is only true Federalist president

Federalists began to weaken after elections of Jefferson and Madison

Last Federalist presidential nominee in 1816

Political Parties

1816-1824 is the “era of good feelings” where the Democratic-Republicans are dominant and we seem to be moving to one-party or no-party system

Controversial election of 1824 ends this era

Political Parties

Democrats vs. Whigs, 1828-1860

Political Parties

Andrew Jackson’s election in 1828 sees birth of modern Democratic Party

Oldest political party in world

Anti-Jacksons coalesce into Whig Party by 1832

Anti-elitist, democratic (appeal to male voters)

Political Parties

Democrats for strong states, rural voters, against national bank

Whigs for strong national government, cities and manufacturing, support national bank

Political Parties

Two Whig presidents elected (both die)

Two parties are relatively balanced in Congress

Two parties begin to splinter over issue of slavery in 1850s

Political Parties

Democrats = Republicans, 1860-1896

Political Parties

Much party turmoil during 1850s and 1860s

Eventually settle into Democrats and Republicans

Political Parties

Republicans are Protestants, industrialization, merchants/bankers, non-South, temporary reconstruction

Democrats are Protestant and Catholic, solid South, agricultural

Political Parties

All Republican presidents except Cleveland in 1884 and 1892

Two parties relatively balanced in Congress in this period

Political Parties

Republicans > Democrats, 1896-1932

Political Parties

Republicans are dominant party with all Republican presidents (except Wilson 1912-1920)

Republicans control Congress for most of this period

Political Parties

Republicans are non-South, businessmen, Midwestern farmers, Protestants

Democrats are Southerners, Protestants and Catholics

1929 crash and Great Depression ends this period

Political Parties

Democrats > Republicans, 1932-1980 (?)

Political Parties

Growth of “big government” as response to economic pain of Great Depression

New Deal programs to regulate US economy

Era of solid Democratic majority

Political Parties

Democrats have super-coalition of Southerners, union workers, urban areas, farmers, Catholics and Jews, African-Americans

Republicans are businessmen, isolationists, and anti-immigration

Political Parties

Democratic Presidents with exception of Eisenhower and Nixon

Democrats control Congress through most of this period

Political Parties

Democratic coalition is breaking down in 1960s and 1970s

Clear Democratic majority ends in 1980 with election of Ronald Reagan and period of “retrenchment”

Political Parties

Democrats = Republicans, 1980-today

Political Parties

Republicans Reagan, Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43, Bush 43

Democrats Clinton, Clinton, Obama, Obama

Fairly close presidential elections

Who will win in 2016?

Political Parties

Congress has been relatively balanced during this period, especially US Senate

Recently, hyper-partisanship and political gridlock

Political Parties

Unlikely that either party will become clear majority in near future

No third party on horizon

Party de-alignment with still two main choices

Realigning Elections

Realignment – when one or two new political parties are born or there is a fundamental change in the relationship of the existing two parties

1828

1860

1896

1932


Political scientists noted that every 32-36 years there is some kind of realignment in US political parties

1828

1860

1896

1932


When will the next realignment occur?


1968: No realignment despite much turmoil in the country and election of Republican Richard Nixon


1980: No total realignment despite election of Republican Ronald Reagan and election of Republican Senate

Not true realignment, but was the end of theDemocratic Party’s solid majority status


Will 2016 finally bring a new realignment?

Highly unlikely

presentation by dr. kevin lasher. history of us political parties 1)1790s-1828democ-republicans vs....

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