1 / 17

18.2 Our Two-Party Syste m

18.2 Our Two-Party Syste m. A Brief History. Not a part of the Constitution G. Washington warned against pol. Parties He worried they would divide us Do they? From the beginning we had the people who wanted a strong central gov . (the Federalists) and those against it (Anti-Federalists).

jonny
Download Presentation

18.2 Our Two-Party Syste m

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 18.2 Our Two-Party System

  2. A Brief History • Not a part of the Constitution • G. Washington warned against pol. Parties • He worried they would divide us • Do they? • From the beginning we had the people who wanted a strong central gov. (the Federalists) and those against it (Anti-Federalists)

  3. A Brief History • Our early parties

  4. A Brief History • Democrats and Republicans • Our current set up began when the Republicans replaced the Whigs • Republicans were the majority party from the Civil War until the Great Depression in the 1930’s • Democrats took control in 1932 trying to get the country out of the Great Depression and through WWII • Power has gone back and fourth since

  5. Why the Donkey and the Elephant? • There are a couple of explanations • Its origins are in the 1828 presidential campaign -- during which Andrew Jackson was labeled a [donkey] for his populist views. • Jackson proudly seized the label and began using donkeys on his campaign posters. • During his presidency, cartoonists sometimes used the donkey to illustrate President Jackson's stubbornness on certain issues. • It was revived again by Thomas Nast in his 1870's cartoons. • Another explanation is simply the influence of cartoonist Thomas Nast. • In his cartoons a duplicitous donkey attacks a timid and clumsy behemoth elephant. • The donkey and elephant became handy symbols for other cartoonists. • Popular recognition and acceptance of those images overrode the parties’ own wishes. • The Democrat and Republican parties came to accept the reality that the symbols had stuck, like it or not.

  6. The Role of Third Parties • Although politics is dominated by the 2 big parties occasionally a 3rd party does emerge • Often it is someone who splits from one of the main parties • Nationally it is difficult • Laws make it difficult • Who made those laws? • people do not want to donate money to someone who won’t win • Some do win local and state elections

  7. The Role of Third Parties • Influence of Third Parties • Draw votes away from another candidate (2000) • Bring ideas and issues to our political conscience (1992/1996) • The most popular of these ideas are usually absorbed by one of the main parties This is why we still only have 2 main parties

  8. Characteristics of Today’s Parties *These are generalizations *turn to page 501

  9. Characteristics of Today’s Parties • Political Parties are similar • Although there are differences the parties have more in common than different • When a new party is in control we don’t have huge changes • Our core values and beliefs are the same

  10. Characteristics of Today’s Parties • Party Organization • Both parties have local, state, and national organizations • These are independent of each other

  11. Characteristics of Today’s Parties • Party Organization (con’t) • At the state level • Party committees with chairpersons • Write a platform • Nominate candidates • Raise money • Host a state convention

  12. Characteristics of Today’s Parties • Party Organization (con’t) • At the national level • Party committees with chairpersons • Write a platform • Nominate candidates for President and V.P. • Raise money • Host a national convention • This is an important part of the campaign season

  13. Supporting a Party *Pay annual dues • To be a member you: True False *Vow to vote for party candidates *Recite the party pledge *Attend the conventions *Think of yourself as a member *May declare yourself an official member

  14. Changes in Party Strength • Patronage • Favors for support of the party • 2000 federal appointments • Most federal jobs today are through the civil service system • Which ancient river civ began the civil service system?

  15. Changes in Party Strength • Parties in Campaigns • Candidates used to depend on the party for help during the campaign • Raising money • And informing voters • Today it is easier for candidates to these on their own • This can lead to candidates disagreeing with party leaders and even voting against party programs

  16. Changes in Party Strength • Voter Loyalty • Only 40% of voters vote a straight ticket • Voters tend to vote for a specific candidate or on a specific issue • In the historically Democratic south (dating back to the early 1800s) people still consider themselves Dems, but vote Rep in national elections • Why? • Recent surveys put Dem at 36% and Rep at 33% • That means 31% are independent

  17. Changes in Party Strength • Voter Loyalty (con’t) • Recent surveys put Dem at 36% and Rep at 33% • That means 31% are independent • Elections are won by convincing independents and getting people to split their ticket

More Related