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Civics & Economics Goal 4 Development of Political Parties

Explore the growth and development of political parties in the USA, from the founding era to present-day dynamics. Learn about influential figures, key beliefs, and the impact of third parties. Discover how the two-party system evolved and examine the core differences between Democrats and Republicans.

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Civics & Economics Goal 4 Development of Political Parties

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  1. Civics & Economics Goal 4 Development of Political Parties

  2. Political Parties • A political party is an organization of individuals with broad, common interests who organize to win elections, operate the government, and influence government policy • During most of American history there have been two major political parties; for this reason, the US is said to have a two-party system

  3. Growth of American Political Parties • The US Constitution says nothing about political parties; in his Farewell Address of 1796, President George Washington warned against them

  4. Growth of American Parties • By the late 1790s, two rival political groups emerged, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson Anti-Fed/(Democratic Republicans) led one, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton (Federalists) led the other

  5. Growth of American Parties • Hamilton favored a strong national government (FEDERALISTS); Jefferson argued for more power for state governments (AF/DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS)

  6. Comparison of the Two Parties • Democratic-Reps. • Founded-1792 Dissolved-1824 • Leaders included Thomas Jefferson and James Madison • Beliefs: States’ rights, Agricultural, Pro-French, Strict interpretation of the Constitution, Strong in the South • Federalists • Founded-1794 Dissolved-1820 • Leaders included Alexander Hamilton and John Adams • Beliefs: Strong national government, Industrial, Pro-British, Loose interpretation of the Constitution, Strong in New England and cities

  7. The Democratic Party • At first Jefferson’s group was called the Democratic-Republican Party by 1828 the party split • Those who supported candidate Andrew Jackson took the name Democratic Party (1828); in 1830 a new party, the Whigs rose to compete Jackson founded the modern Democratic Party

  8. The Republican Party • In 1854 a group of Democrats and Whigs who opposed slavery left their party to form the Republican Party • In 1860, Abraham Lincoln won election as the first Republican president, since then Republicans and Democrats have been our two major parties

  9. Third Parties • Third Parties are smaller minor parties that have competed for power in the nation’s two-party system; they have never won the presidency but major parties sometimes adopt their ideas

  10. Third Parties • Single-Issue Parties= promote a social, economic, or moral issue (ex. The Prohibitionist Party which wanted to ban the sale of alcohol)

  11. Third Parties • Ideological Parties= support a particular philosophy or political doctrine (ex. The Socialist Labor Party and Communist Party USA)

  12. Third Parties • Independent Candidates= sometimes third parties form around leaders with strong personalities who cannot get support from one of the two major parties (ex. H. Ross Perot and the Reform Party in 1992) Ross Perot-Reform Party- 1992 and 1996

  13. Election of 1912

  14. Election of 1992

  15. Third Parties • There are many obstacles to third-party candidates winning major elections: they must obtain a large number of voter signatures to get on the ballot in many states and they have trouble raising money to compete against major party candidates

  16. Other Party Systems • Many democracies have multiparty systems; in these systems three or more parties compete for control of the government; several parties must work together

  17. Other Party Systems • Another type of system is the one-party system; in this the party and government are nearly the same thing (Ex. China and the Communist Party) • Elections are an empty exercise because there are no rival candidates; one-party systems are not democratic systems

  18. How the Parties Differ • Democrats believe the federal government should be more involved in regulating the economy and in providing housing, income, education, and jobs for the poor • Republicans believe if they help the nation’s economy grow, poor people will have a better chance of finding jobs on their own; they favor less government regulation of the economy as the best way to promote the growth of production

  19. How the Parties Differ • One way to identify differences between the two parties is to read the political document, or platform, that each party writes at its presidential nominating convention, held every four years • The platform is a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

  20. How the Parties Differ • Each individual part of the platform is called a plank; the platform communicates to voters what the party claims it will do if it wins election

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