Political Parties Historical Development of the Parties Historical

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Political Parties Historical Development of the Parties

Political Parties Historical Development of the Parties

Historical Development • Historically, the two-party system has been characterized by long periods of

Historical Development • Historically, the two-party system has been characterized by long periods of dominance by one party followed by a long period of dominance by the other

Historical Development • The eras begin & end with shifts in the voting population

Historical Development • The eras begin & end with shifts in the voting population called realignments: • (1) Issues change • (2) New divisions form between groups

Early Years • First two political parties to emerge during Washington’s term of office

Early Years • First two political parties to emerge during Washington’s term of office were the Federalists & Anti-Federalists

Early Years • Major issue in the beginning was the ratification of the Constitution

Early Years • Major issue in the beginning was the ratification of the Constitution • Federalists supporting it • Anti-Federalists wanting guarantees individual freedoms & rights not included in the original document

How was the issue resolved?

How was the issue resolved?

Early Years • Issue was resolved with the addition of the Bill of Rights,

Early Years • Issue was resolved with the addition of the Bill of Rights, but the parties did not disappear with the issue

Federalists • Led by Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of Treasury) • Represented urban, businessoriented men

Federalists • Led by Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of Treasury) • Represented urban, businessoriented men who favored elitism & a strong central government

Federalists • Supported Hamilton’s establishment of the Bank of U. S. • Viewed it

Federalists • Supported Hamilton’s establishment of the Bank of U. S. • Viewed it as forwarding their interests & beliefs

Anti-Federalists • Came to be known as the Democratic-Republicans • Led by Thomas Jefferson

Anti-Federalists • Came to be known as the Democratic-Republicans • Led by Thomas Jefferson • Favored strong state governments, rural interests, and a weaker central government

Anti-Federalists • Opposed the bank as an enemy of state control & rural interests

Anti-Federalists • Opposed the bank as an enemy of state control & rural interests

“Era of Good Feeling” • With Hamilton’s death & John Adams’ unpopularity as president,

“Era of Good Feeling” • With Hamilton’s death & John Adams’ unpopularity as president, Jefferson emerged as the most popular leader of the turn of the 19 th century

“Era of Good Feeling” • As president, he gradually became more accepting of stronger

“Era of Good Feeling” • As president, he gradually became more accepting of stronger central government • Two parties’ points of view seemed to merge most notably in the “Era of Good Feeling” presided over by James Monroe (one of Jefferson’s protégés)

“Era of Good Feeling” • Democratic-Republicans emerged as the only party • Dominance lasted

“Era of Good Feeling” • Democratic-Republicans emerged as the only party • Dominance lasted until the mid 1800 s, though under a new name, the Democrats

Jacksonian Democracy • Two-party system re-emerged with the appearance of Andrew Jackson • Represented

Jacksonian Democracy • Two-party system re-emerged with the appearance of Andrew Jackson • Represented to many the expanding country (newer states found much in common with the rural southern states but little with the established northeast)

Jacksonian Democracy • New party emerged—the Whigs • Represented many of the interests of

Jacksonian Democracy • New party emerged—the Whigs • Represented many of the interests of the old Federalist party

Jacksonian Democracy • Jackson’s election in 1828 was accomplished with a coalition between South

Jacksonian Democracy • Jackson’s election in 1828 was accomplished with a coalition between South & West, forming the new Democratic Party

Jacksonian Democracy • Jackson’s Democrats were a rawer sort than Jefferson’s (primarily gentlemen farmers

Jacksonian Democracy • Jackson’s Democrats were a rawer sort than Jefferson’s (primarily gentlemen farmers from the South & Middle Atlantic states)

Jacksonian Democracy • During the Jacksonian era— universal manhood suffrage was achieved (virtually all

Jacksonian Democracy • During the Jacksonian era— universal manhood suffrage was achieved (virtually all men could vote) • Rural, anti-bank, small farmers from the South & West formed the backbone of the Democratic Party

Jacksonian Democracy • Whigs were left with: • Old Federalist interests • Wealthy, rural

Jacksonian Democracy • Whigs were left with: • Old Federalist interests • Wealthy, rural Southerners who had little in common with other Whigs

Jacksonian Democracy • Party was not ideologically coherent • Found some success by nominating

Jacksonian Democracy • Party was not ideologically coherent • Found some success by nominating & electing war heroes (William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor)

North/South Tensions • Economic & social tensions developed between North & South by the

North/South Tensions • Economic & social tensions developed between North & South by the 1840 s & 50 • Whig party was threatened by splits between southern & northern wings

North/South Tensions • As the Whigs were falling apart, a new Republican Party emerged

North/South Tensions • As the Whigs were falling apart, a new Republican Party emerged from the issue of expansion of slavery into new territories

North/South Tensions • Election of 1860 brought the first Republican—Abraham Lincoln— into office— •

North/South Tensions • Election of 1860 brought the first Republican—Abraham Lincoln— into office— • Setoff the secession of southern states & with them many supporters of the Democratic Party

North/South Tensions • Civil War ended the dominance of the Democrats & ushered in

North/South Tensions • Civil War ended the dominance of the Democrats & ushered in a new Republican era • Voters realigned—according to regional differences & conflicting points of view regarding expansion of slavery & states rights

Republican Era: 18611933 • With the exception of Grover Cleveland & Woodrow Wilson, all

Republican Era: 18611933 • With the exception of Grover Cleveland & Woodrow Wilson, all presidents from Abraham Lincoln (1861 -1895) through Herbert Hoover (1929 -1933) were Republicans

Republican Era: 18611933 • During most of the time, Republicans dominated the legislature as

Republican Era: 18611933 • During most of the time, Republicans dominated the legislature as well

Republican Era: 18611933 • By 1875 all of the southern states had been restored

Republican Era: 18611933 • By 1875 all of the southern states had been restored to the Union, but their power, as well as that of the Democratic Party, was much diminished

Republican Era: 18611933 • Republicans came to champion the new era of the Industrial

Republican Era: 18611933 • Republicans came to champion the new era of the Industrial Revolution • Time when prominent businessmen, such as John Rockefeller & Andrew Carnegie, dominated politics as well as business

Republican Era: 18611933 • Republican party came to represent laissez-faire • Policy that advocated

Republican Era: 18611933 • Republican party came to represent laissez-faire • Policy that advocated the free market & few government regulations on business

Republican Era: 18611933 • Republican philosophy of the late 1800 s favored the new

Republican Era: 18611933 • Republican philosophy of the late 1800 s favored the new industrialists, not the small farmer of the earlier era

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • Prosperous, business-oriented era survived several earlier recessions but not

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • Prosperous, business-oriented era survived several earlier recessions but not the Great Depression that gripped the country after the stock market crash of 1929

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • Economic downturn of the economy caused major realignments of

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • Economic downturn of the economy caused major realignments of voters that swung the balance of power to the Democrats

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • Republican president, Herbert Hoover, was rejected in the election

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • Republican president, Herbert Hoover, was rejected in the election of 1932 in favor of the Democrat’s Franklin Roosevelt • FDR’s victory was accomplished because of the “Roosevelt Coalition” of voters

FDR’s Coalition • Consisted of a combination of many different groups of voters that

FDR’s Coalition • Consisted of a combination of many different groups of voters that wished to see Hoover defeated

FDR’s Coalition • Composed of: • Eastern workers • Recent immigrants • Southern &

FDR’s Coalition • Composed of: • Eastern workers • Recent immigrants • Southern & western farmers • Blacks • Ideologically liberal

Roosevelt’s Democrats • Established a government more actively involved in promoting social welfare

Roosevelt’s Democrats • Established a government more actively involved in promoting social welfare

FDR’s Presidency • Ironically, the formerly states rights oriented Democrats now advocated a strong

FDR’s Presidency • Ironically, the formerly states rights oriented Democrats now advocated a strong central government, but one dedicated to promoting the interests of ordinary people

FDR’s Presidency • Democrats dominated both legislative & executive branches

FDR’s Presidency • Democrats dominated both legislative & executive branches

FDR’s Presidency • Even the Supreme Court reined in its conservative leanings • Although

FDR’s Presidency • Even the Supreme Court reined in its conservative leanings • Although it did check FDR’s power with the famous “court packing” threat

FDR’s “Court-Packing” Threat • In an effort to get more support for his New

FDR’s “Court-Packing” Threat • In an effort to get more support for his New Deal programs form the Supreme Court, FDR encouraged Congress to increase the number of justices form 9 to 15 • FDR eventually withdrew his plan

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • FDR was elected to unprecedented four terms & was

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • FDR was elected to unprecedented four terms & was followed by another Democrat, Harry Truman • Even though a Republican, Dwight Eisenhower, was elected president in 1952, Congress remained Democrat

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • Democrats regained the White House in 1960 & retained

Second Democratic Era: 19331969 • Democrats regained the White House in 1960 & retained it throughout the presidencies of John F. Kennedy & Lyndon Johnson

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • Richard Nixon’s election in 1968 did not

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • Richard Nixon’s election in 1968 did not usher in a new era of Republican dominated government • Instead a new balance of power between the Democrats & Republicans came into being

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • With few exceptions, control of the legislature

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • With few exceptions, control of the legislature & the presidency has been “divided” between the two major parties since the late 1940 s

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • When one party holds the presidency, the

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • When one party holds the presidency, the other has dominated Congress, or at least the Senate

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • Division brings with it the problem of

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • Division brings with it the problem of “gridlock” • Tendency to paralyze decision making, with one branch advocating one policy & the other another contradictory policy

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • Scholars have various theories about the causes

Era of Divided Government: 1969 -2000 • Scholars have various theories about the causes of the new division of power • One cause might be the declining power of political parties in general

Republican Hold on the Presidency • From 1969 through 1993, and 2000 -2008, the

Republican Hold on the Presidency • From 1969 through 1993, and 2000 -2008, the Republicans held the presidency except during: • Carter presidency – 1977 -1981 • Clinton presidency – 1993 -2001

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Starting in the 1960 s, Republicans began to

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Starting in the 1960 s, Republicans began to pay more attention to the power of electronic media & to the importance of paid professional consultants

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Evolved into a well-financed, efficient organization • Depended

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Evolved into a well-financed, efficient organization • Depended heavily on professionals to help locate & promote the best candidate for office

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Some experts believe that these changes were largely

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Some experts believe that these changes were largely responsible for Richard Nixon’s victory in 1968 • Nixon was carefully coached & his campaign was carefully managed to take advantage of electronic media

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Campaign made extensive use of public opinion polls

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Campaign made extensive use of public opinion polls to determine strategy • New emphasis also influenced party’s choice of candidates in 1980 & 1984 • Former TV & film actor Ronald Reagan was master of the

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Party also took advantage of new technology &

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Party also took advantage of new technology & generated computerized mailings to raise large sums of money for campaigns • By the mid-1980 s, Republicans were raising much more money than the Democrats were

Republican Hold on the Presidency • During the same period, Democrats were changing in

Republican Hold on the Presidency • During the same period, Democrats were changing in many opposite ways than the Republicans

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Democrats became more concerned with grass roots, or

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Democrats became more concerned with grass roots, or common man representation

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Democrats were reacting at least partly to the

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Democrats were reacting at least partly to the break-up of the old Roosevelt Coalition, but also to the disastrous 1968 convention in Chicago that showed the party as highly factionalized & lacking leadership

Republican Hold on the Presidency • As a result, they gained a reputation as

Republican Hold on the Presidency • As a result, they gained a reputation as being: • disorganized • disunited

Republican Hold on the Presidency • In 1969, the Democratic party appointed a special

Republican Hold on the Presidency • In 1969, the Democratic party appointed a special Mc. Govern. Fraser Commission to review the party’s structure & delegate selection procedures

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Commission determined that minorities, women, youth, and the

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Commission determined that minorities, women, youth, and the poor were not adequately represented at the party convention

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Party adopted guidelines that increased the representation &

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Party adopted guidelines that increased the representation & participation of these groups

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Number of super-delegates (governors, members Congress & other

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Number of super-delegates (governors, members Congress & other party leaders) was reduced substantially

Republican Hold on the Presidency • 1972 convention selected as their candidate George Mc.

Republican Hold on the Presidency • 1972 convention selected as their candidate George Mc. Govern • Liberal who lost a landslide to Republican Richard Nixon

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Although Democrat Jimmy Carter won the presidency in

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Although Democrat Jimmy Carter won the presidency in 1976, he was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980 • Republican Party held the presidency since, with the exception of the Clinton presidency (1992 -2000)

Republican Hold on the Presidency • During the Reagan presidency, the Democrats began to

Republican Hold on the Presidency • During the Reagan presidency, the Democrats began to adopt some of the Republican strategies: • Computerized mailing lists • Opinion polls • Paid consultants

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Using newly adopted Republican party strategies, the Democratic

Republican Hold on the Presidency • Using newly adopted Republican party strategies, the Democratic party managed to get their candidate, Bill Clinton to the White House in 1993, a position that he held for two terms