Think about it…Think about it…

• What images do the terms What images do the terms “political parties” bring to mind?“political parties” bring to mind?

• Think about a recent election – in Think about a recent election – in our school or on the city, state, or our school or on the city, state, or federal level – how did the federal level – how did the different campaigns affect your different campaigns affect your relationships with others?relationships with others?

Political PartyPolitical Party

• Political organization that seeks to Political organization that seeks to influence, direct, or entirely perform influence, direct, or entirely perform government policygovernment policy

• Parties nominate candidates and try to Parties nominate candidates and try to seat them in political officeseat them in political office

• Parties support an Parties support an ideology or vision or vision

AKA “party platform”AKA “party platform”

Political PartiesPolitical Parties formed based on formed based on their their interpretationinterpretation of the of the ConstitutionConstitutionWhat is “necessary and proper?”What is “necessary and proper?”

The FederalistsThe Federalists

LooseLoose (wide, (wide, expanded) expanded)

interpretation = interpretation =

more govt. powermore govt. power

The RepublicansThe Republicans(Control Presidency and Congress 1801-1825)(Control Presidency and Congress 1801-1825)

StrictStrict (narrow, (narrow, prohibitive) prohibitive)

interpretation =interpretation =

less govt. powerless govt. power

Team Jefferson or Team Adams?1 – The wealthier or “better off” citizens

should have more say in government and policies.

SA-4 A-3 D-2 SD-12 – Government should mostly take a

“hands off” approach – people can get along fine without too much gov’t intervention

SA-1 A-2 D-3 SD-4

3 – Government strength comes from supporting business and banking interests over farming and agriculture

SA-4 A-3 D-2 SD-1

4 – The “little guy” is who best embodies true republicanism, power to the people!

SA-1 A-2 D-3 SD-4

5 – French or British? Who would you pick as an ally?

British – 4French – 1

Political Scale

Federalist Republican

20 15 10 5

-Pro-French

-Alexander Hamilton

-Power to the people

-Pro-British

-Support tariff

-Agriculture and farming

-Free trade (no tariff)

-Support manufacturing, shipping and trade

-State banks

-Strong national government

-Wealthy/ elite should lead the

country

-Strong state governments

-National Bank

- Thomas Jefferson

Add each of the following to your Federalist / Republican T chart

The 1st Political Parties

The FederalistsAlexander HamiltonJohn AdamsWealthy should leadStrong national govtSupport manufacturing,

shipping and tradePro-BritishNational Bank Tariff

The Republicans

Thomas JeffersonPower to the peopleStrong state govtSupport agriculture

and farmingPro-FrenchState banksFree trade

Political Parties today

• 2 party system – controlled by Democrats and Republicans

• “3rd parties” • Green party http://www.jillstein.org/• Libertarian http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/front• Constitution http://www.ontheissues.org/Virgil_Goode.htm• Independent

http://www.independentamericanparty.org/about-the-iap/history-of-the-independent-american-party/

• Socialist http://www.stewartalexandercares.com/• Justice http://www.justicepartyusa.org/about

Political Scale• “Left” – liberal minded, more open

to change, support more gov’t intervention (Democrats)

• “Right” – conservative, supports status quo or even retreat back, less gov’t intervention (Republicans)

What/how do you think?

And the results are in…

Mudslinging – then and now

• the use of insults and accusations, with

the aim of damaging the reputation of an opponent

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/