presentation by dr. kevin lasher. history of us political parties 1)1790s-1828democ-republicans vs....
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History of US Political Parties
1) 1790s-1828 Democ-Republicans vs. Federalists
2) 1828-1860 Democrats vs. Whigs
3) 1860-1896 Democrats = Republicans
4) 1896-1932 Republicans > Democrats
5) 1932-1980 Democrats > Republicans
6) 1980 – now Democrats = Republicans (???)
Political Parties
Two parties begin to develop within President Washington’s administration
Both “elitist” parties, since vote was limited
Political Parties
Democratic-Republicans are for strong state government, agriculture, rural areas, against national bank, pro-France
Federalists are for strong national government, manufacturing, cities, national bank, pro-England
Political Parties
Washington is informal Federalist, Adams is only true Federalist president
Federalists began to weaken after elections of Jefferson and Madison
Last Federalist presidential nominee in 1816
Political Parties
1816-1824 is the “era of good feelings” where the Democratic-Republicans are dominant and we seem to be moving to one-party or no-party system
Controversial election of 1824 ends this era
Political Parties
Andrew Jackson’s election in 1828 sees birth of modern Democratic Party
Oldest political party in world
Anti-Jacksons coalesce into Whig Party by 1832
Anti-elitist, democratic (appeal to male voters)
Political Parties
Democrats for strong states, rural voters, against national bank
Whigs for strong national government, cities and manufacturing, support national bank
Political Parties
Two Whig presidents elected (both die)
Two parties are relatively balanced in Congress
Two parties begin to splinter over issue of slavery in 1850s
Political Parties
Much party turmoil during 1850s and 1860s
Eventually settle into Democrats and Republicans
Political Parties
Republicans are Protestants, industrialization, merchants/bankers, non-South, temporary reconstruction
Democrats are Protestant and Catholic, solid South, agricultural
Political Parties
All Republican presidents except Cleveland in 1884 and 1892
Two parties relatively balanced in Congress in this period
Political Parties
Republicans are dominant party with all Republican presidents (except Wilson 1912-1920)
Republicans control Congress for most of this period
Political Parties
Republicans are non-South, businessmen, Midwestern farmers, Protestants
Democrats are Southerners, Protestants and Catholics
1929 crash and Great Depression ends this period
Political Parties
Growth of “big government” as response to economic pain of Great Depression
New Deal programs to regulate US economy
Era of solid Democratic majority
Political Parties
Democrats have super-coalition of Southerners, union workers, urban areas, farmers, Catholics and Jews, African-Americans
Republicans are businessmen, isolationists, and anti-immigration
Political Parties
Democratic Presidents with exception of Eisenhower and Nixon
Democrats control Congress through most of this period
Political Parties
Democratic coalition is breaking down in 1960s and 1970s
Clear Democratic majority ends in 1980 with election of Ronald Reagan and period of “retrenchment”
Political Parties
Republicans Reagan, Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43, Bush 43
Democrats Clinton, Clinton, Obama, Obama
Fairly close presidential elections
Who will win in 2016?
Political Parties
Congress has been relatively balanced during this period, especially US Senate
Recently, hyper-partisanship and political gridlock
Political Parties
Unlikely that either party will become clear majority in near future
No third party on horizon
Party de-alignment with still two main choices
History of US Political Parties
1) 1790s-1828 Democ-Republicans vs. Federalists
2) 1828-1860 Democrats vs. Whigs
3) 1860-1896 Democrats = Republicans
4) 1896-1932 Republicans > Democrats
5) 1932-1980 Democrats > Republicans
6) 1980 – now Democrats = Republicans (???)
Realigning Elections
Realignment – when one or two new political parties are born or there is a fundamental change in the relationship of the existing two parties
1828
1860
1896
1932
Realigning Elections
Political scientists noted that every 32-36 years there is some kind of realignment in US political parties
1828
1860
1896
1932
Realigning Elections
1968: No realignment despite much turmoil in the country and election of Republican Richard Nixon
Realigning Elections
1980: No total realignment despite election of Republican Ronald Reagan and election of Republican Senate
Not true realignment, but was the end of theDemocratic Party’s solid majority status
History of US Political Parties
1) 1790s-1828 Democ-Republicans vs. Federalists
2) 1828-1860 Democrats vs. Whigs
3) 1860-1896 Democrats = Republicans
4) 1896-1932 Republicans > Democrats
5) 1932-1980 Democrats > Republicans
6) 1980 – now Democrats = Republicans (???)