The party battle through history 1788 1824 Party

The party battle through history

1788 -1824

Party breakdown in the House

1788 -1824 • Congress-centered, elite dominated party organizations • Democratic Republican dominance • Federalists – Issue: nationalization – Groups: elites • Dem-Reps – Issue: state sovereignty – Groups: less elite

1828 -1854

Party breakdown in the House

1828 -1854 • Creation of mass political parties, partisan press • Close party competition/Democratic predominance • No major divisive issues • Dems: western farmers, Catholics, immigrants • Whigs: manufacturers, traders, Protestants

1856 -1896

Party breakdown in the House

Presidential elections, popular vote

1856 -1896 • High voter participation, partisan press • Republican dominance/close party competition • Democrats: – Southerners, northern urban machines • Republicans: – Westerners, veterans, business, labor, farmers

1896 -1928

Party breakdown in the House

Presidential elections, popular vote

1896 -1928 • Republican dominance • Democrats incorporate Populists, Republicans absorb Progressives • Republicans – Take over urban voters, midwest and northeast • Democrats – Southerners, Catholics

1932 -1968

Party breakdown in the House

Presidential elections, popular vote

1932 -1968 • Democratic dominance • Democrats: social safety net, Republicans: smaller government • Democrats: – Urban voters, labor, southerners, northern African Americans, Catholics, immigrants, Jews • Republicans: – White Protestants, small town residents, farmers

1972 -2008?

Presidential elections, popular vote

Party Breakdown in the House

1972 -2008 • Republican dominance/two party competition • Republicans: small government, social conservatism; Democrats: social safety net, social liberalism • Republicans: southerners, westerners, rural voters, whites, men • Democrats: urban voters, women, minorities

Prospects? • Do the issue cleavages in American society favor one party or the other? • Do demographic trends favor one party or the other? • Are there any prospects for an issue or event to cause a third party to seriously contest or even replace one of the current parties?