The Minor Parties

1. The Minor Parties 12th Grade U.S. Government Created by: Jessica Peabody Begin

2. Learning Objectives and Standards • By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to identify the types of minor parties and give examples with 90% accuracy. • Tennessee State Standard 6.3- The student will understand he evolution of political parties and their roles as a mechanism for creating and sustaining political participation Click Here to Go to the Tutorial

3. Directions Use the following buttons to navigate the tutorial: Will take you to the next slide Will take you to the previous slide Will take you to the main menu Will take you back to these directions Will take you to the quiz

4. Main Menu Economic Protest Party Single Issue Party Splinter Party Ideological Party Why Minor Parties Matter

5. Ideological Party • An ideological party is one that is based on a specific set of beliefs • Many ideological parties are based on the work of Karl Marx, but not all are.

6. Ideological Party • Although ideological parties do not usually win many votes, they tend to stay around for a long time. • Examples of ideological parties are the Communist Party, the Socialist Party and the Libertarian Party.

7. Economic Protest Party • An economic protest party is one that does not have an ideological base, but rather expresses discontent with the current economic conditions. • They have historically criticized the major parties and protested for better times, often blaming real or imaginary enemies.

8. Economic Protest Party • The economic protest parties usually disappear once the hard times are over. • Most economic protest parties have come from the American South and West. • Examples are the Greenback Party (1876-1884) and the Populist Party (1890’s)

9. Single Issue Party • A single issue party tends to focus on one part of public policy. • They usually take their names from they issue they represent.

10. Single Issue Party • Single issue parties are often short lived because the issue is no longer relevant or one of the major parties picks up the issue as part of its platform. • Examples of single issue parties are the Free Soil Party (against the spread of slavery in the 1840’s and 1850’s) and the modern Right to Life Party (against abortion).

11. Splinter Party • Splinter parties were once a part of one of the major parties. • Splinter parties tend to form around a single person, usually one that did not win the nomination of the party.

12. Splinter Party • Most of the prominent minor parties have been splinter parties. • Splinter parties often disappear because the person they support rejoins the major party. • Examples of splinter parties are the Progressive “Bull Moose” Party (Theodore Roosevelt), the States’ Rights “Dixiecrat” Party (Henry Wallace) and the American Independent Party (George Wallace).

13. Why Minor Parties Matter • Minor Parties have had an impact on American politics even though their support is usually low and have never won an election. • They have brought issues to light during campaigns, pulled votes from the major parties in a spoiler role, and have set precedents for the major parties. For examples, minor parties were the first to hold primaries.

14. Summary • Minor parties are important even if they usually do not win elections. • The four types of minor parties are ideological, economic protest, single issue and splinter parties. • Ideological parties tend to stay around the longest. • Minor parties bring up issues that the major parties may not be focused on and can play a role in deciding who is elected by pulling votes away from the major parties during elections.

15. Quiz We’ve learned so much today about minor parties. Let’s see how you do in a little quiz on what you have read… Begin Quiz

16. Question 1 A party is a party based on a system of beliefs. • Ideological • Economic protest • Splinter • Single issue

17. Great Job! Next Question

18. Try Again Go Back

19. Question 2 The Green back Party is an example of a (an) party. • Single issue • Economic protest • Ideological • Splinter

20. Wonderful! Next Question

21. Uh-Oh! Go Back

22. Question 3 These parties are based around one strong personality. • Single issue • Ideological • Splinter • Economic protest

23. Super! Next Question

24. Almost Go Back

25. Question 4 These parties are short lived because their issues are absorbed by major parties. • Ideological • Splinter • Economic protest • Single issue

26. You Got It! NextQuestion

27. Oops! Go Back

28. Question 5 A party tends to stay around for a long time. • Ideological • Economic protest • Single issue • Splinter

29. Yes! NextQuestion

30. You’re so close! Go Back

31. Question 6 Most of these parties come from the American South and West. • Splinter • Economic protest • Single issue • Ideological

32. Awesome Job! Next Question

33. Not Quite, Try Again. Go Back

34. Question 7 The Free Soil Party is a party. • Ideological • Single issue • Economic protest • Splinter

35. Correct! Next Question

36. Sorry! Go Back

37. Question 8 The “dixiecrats” were members of a party. • Splinter • Single issue • Economic protest • Ideological

38. Oh Yeah! Exit Quiz

39. Oh No! Go Back

40. Great Job!

41. Resources Content from: Magruder's American Government. -Chapter 4: Minor Parties Graphics courtesy of: www.PoweredTemplates.com Microsoft Office Clip art gallery Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia: The American Presidency- ap.grolier.com Arcadio Esquivel, La Prensa, Panama, www.caglecartoons.com University of Illinois Department of History: Comparative Working-Class History www.history.uiuc.edu/grad/prospective/fields/labor/ Boston University Department of Economics: Stories About Gold and Silver- Luke Beata: Free Silver http://www.bu.edu/econ/faculty/kyn/newweb/Ec341_money/Assignments/stories_gold_silver_lg.htm

42. Final Thoughts Minor parties have played a huge role historically in American politics and still have a role today. Can you think of any minor parties that are impacting the upcoming elections?

43. Congratulations! You Did Great Today!