getting better all the time perfect plan? the founding fathers knew all too well. bill of rights...

Getting Better All the time

• Perfect Plan?

• The Founding Fathers knew all too well.

• Bill of Rights

• Continued Progress

Good News

• The United States is the 1st democracy to elect government that protected individual rights.

Bad News

• In the beginning, only white men who owned land could vote.

Good News

• African American and other nonwhite men began voting in 1870.

Bad News

• An African American’s right to vote was often denied in the South and parts of the North.

U.S. Political Parties

1. Federalist2. Anti-Federalist3. Democratic-Republican4. Whigs5. Republican 6. Democratic

U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings

What is a political party?– Organization of people who share similar ideas about the

way the country should be governed

In 1789 Washington forms his cabinet.

• Cabinet• advise on issues

he was not an expert on

• Thomas Jefferson • Secretary of State

• foreign affairs

Alexander Hamilton

• Secretary of Treasury– issues regarding

the finances of the new nation

Political Differences


• Democratic-RepublicansSupported states rightsSupported economy

based on agriculturePower in hands of all

peopleLed by Thomas Jefferson


• FederalistsSupported strong

national govt.Supported economy

based on industryPower in hands of

wealthy and educatedLed by Alexander

Hamilton

Political Party Systems

3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government.

– Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans

– Advantages: Continuity

– Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties


• George Washington against political parties “parties serve their own interests” “parties not beneficial to American people”

• Parties formed after his exit:1. Democratic-Republicans2. Federalists


• Federalists BreakupFederalists gradually

disappear – no political momentum

John Adams only party member to be elected President

Supporters formed new party: Whig Party (1834-1856)


• Mid 1820’s: Democratic-Republicans breaking up

• Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people


• 1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery– Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party

– Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party

U.S Political Parties: Beginnings

• Republican Party1860: Abe Lincoln

becomes 1st Republican President

Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War

1865-1931:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected Grover Cleveland Woodrow Wilson

U.S. Political Parties:Characteristics

• Democratic Party– Tends to Attract

LiberalsUnion MembersPeople in favor of

govt. involvement in social policies

U.S. Political Parties:Characteristics

• Republican Party– Tends to attract

Businesspeople (white collar)

ConservativesPeople want less

govt. involvement in social policies

Democrats:The Issues

• Abortion: – Pro Choice– Favors contraceptive education to prevent

necessity of abortion


• Environment:– Support stronger environmental laws and

protection of nature

http://www.savetheredwoods.org/


• Same-sex Relationship Rights:– Should be protected from workplace discrimination and

hate crimes

– Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families

– Largely oppose President Bush’s proposal to ban same-sex marriage through a Constitutional Amendment


• Gun Control: – Strong advocates for gun control


• Health Care: – Push for more Heath Care funding

– In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care.


• Foreign Policy: – Generally supportive of international agencies


• Education: – More funding for struggling schools is necessary


• Social Security:– Support Social Security & Medicare


• Welfare:– Support increased child care for welfare recipients so they

are more able to work steady jobs

– Support funding for job training so recipients will be more competitive in the job market


• Women’s Rights: – For over 20 years, have been pushing to ratify the Treaty of

the Rights of Women that arose from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (would be a statement on America’s part saying that we support equal rights for all women)


• Worker’s Rights:– Favor labor unions and workers rights

• Includes right to organize free from harassment and the right to challenge employers for disability and discrimination cases.

– Support worker movements to increase the minimum wage and worker benefits

Republicans:The Issues

• Abortion: Pro-life– Prefers funding go towards marriage education and

abstinence only campaigns


• Environment: – Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy

production

– Pushed for oil drilling and the building of more nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal.


• Gay Rights: – Oppose idea of same-sex marriage; seek to define marriage

as union between man and woman


• Gun Control: – Favors allowing the sale of firearms

– Opposes gun-control laws


• Health Care: – Believes health care should work within the free market

system where competition will lower the costs of healthcare (no federal govt. involvement)


• Foreign Policy: – Argue that the use of American military force is essential for

keeping the world safe for Democracy


• Education: – Support both the “No Child Left Behind” program and the

school vouchers

– Favor school to give students more educational options


• Social Security: Favor privatization of social security– Citizens will be able to opt to place portions of money that

would have gone into Social Security into other types of accounts. Accounts will give the opportunity to play the stock market in an attempt to increase returns. (takes away Federal responsibility)


• Welfare: – Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those

receiving government assistance


• Workers’ Rights: – Favors workers and management working together to do

what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences.

What Do Political Party Members Do??

• Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office

– Steps include

1. Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office

2004 Republican NationalConvention

What Do Political Party Members Do??

2. Party starts an election campaign– An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform

voters of the party’s stand on issues

– Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that include:

• Raising funds

• Polling voters/making phone calls

• Drive voters to the polls

• Register voters

John Kerry Campaigning

What Do Political Party Members Do?

Presidential Election Campaigns

What Do Political Party Members Do?

3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt.

– Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign.

– Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers

Third Parties

• What are Third Parties?– Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the

Democrats and Republicans

– Some successful Third Parties:• Populist Party – 1890’s

• Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912

• Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today

Third Parties

• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue:

Examples: Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of

alcohol in the U.S. Green Party: formed to protect the environment

Third Parties

• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief

Examples: Libertarian Party The Third Party Socialist Parties

Third Parties

• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate

Examples: Reform Party – formed around Presidential candidate Ross

Perot in 1996 American Independent Party – formed around Presidential

candidate George Wallace in 1968

Third Parties• America First Party• American Heritage Party• American Independent Party• American Nazi Party• Communist Party USA• Constitution Party• Family Values Party• Grassroots Party• Green Party• Independence Party• Labor Party• Libertarian Party• Light Party• Natural Law Party• The Third Party• Worker’s World Party

• Peace and Freedom Party• Prohibition Party• Reform party• The Revolution• Socialist Party, USA• Southern Independence Party• U.S. Pacifist Party• Veterans Party of America• We the People Party• Knights Party• Libertarian National Socialist Green

Party• Pansexual Peace Party• Pot Party• Constitutional Action Party• American Falangist Party• U.S. Marijuana Party

getting better all the time perfect plan? the founding fathers knew all too well. bill of rights...

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