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Minor Parties. aka Third Parties. Types of Minor Parties. Ideological Have a comprehensive set of views Often radical or reactionary Most enduring type yet never won a state in a presidential election Examples (in USA) include: Socialist Communist Libertarian. Types of Minor Parties.
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Minor Parties aka Third Parties
Types of Minor Parties • Ideological • Have a comprehensive set of views • Often radical or reactionary • Most enduring type • yet never won a state in a presidential election • Examples (in USA) include: • Socialist • Communist • Libertarian
Types of Minor Parties • Single-Issue Parties • Address one concern • Usually against something • Avoid other issues • Examples • Prohibition – didn’t work, but still trying • American “Know-nothing” – anti-immigration • Free Soil – anti-slavery
Types of Minor Parties • Economic Protest • Regional issues • Farmer-labor parties • Usually during economic depressions • Examples • Greenback • Populist • Tea Party
Types of Minor Parties • Factional, Splinter, Bolter Parties • Split from Major Party • Discontented leader • Examples • Bull Moose(1912) – Teddy Roosevelt • Dixiecrat(1948) – Strom Thurmond • American Independent(1968) – George Wallace
Recent Minor Parties • Green Party 2000 & 2004 • Ralph Nader • Reform Party 1992 & 1996 • Ross Perot • Independent 1980 • John Anderson • American Independent 1968 • George Wallace
Other Significant Minor Parties • Election of 1948 • States Rights “Dixiecrats” – Strom Thurmond • Progressive – Henry Wallace • “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline • Election of 1912 • “Bull Moose” Progressive party • Teddy Roosevelt 4.1m 88 EV • Taft 3.4 m 8 EV (1908 7.6m 321 EV) • Wilson 6.2 m 435 EV
Impact of Minor Parties • Policy advocates • Most successful • Women’s vote, Income Tax, Election of Senators • Success may mean end if single issue • Safety Valve • Option for the discontent. • Green, Reform & Tea • Vote getter • Least success – Vote stealer?
Most Successful Minor Party • Republican Party • Formed in 1854 – single issue • Second in 1856 presidential election • Won Presidency in 1860 • Became dominate party in last half of 1800’s • Still around today
Why Minor Parties “Fail” • Don’t win • Exception – Minnesota 1998 • Governor Jesse Ventura – Reform Party • Plurality (three way split) Ventura 37%, Coleman Rep. 34.3%, Humphrey Dem 28.1% • Major party reabsorbs the splinter group • Tea Party Republicans – never left! • Or group switches party • Personality cult – not party • Bull Moose Party – Teddy Roosevelt • Reform Party – Ross Perot • Issue is solved or no longer problem