Political Parties in America

In the beginning…

• Federalist Paper #10
• James Madison recognized the dangers inherent with factions (parties)
• but understood them to be inevitable and more controllable if housed within the apparatus of existing government

In the beginning…

• Ratifying the Constitution
• Federalists
• strong central govt
• Hamilton, Madison
• Anti-Federalists
• Stronger state govts
• Jefferson, Lee

• Original parties
• Federalists
• Strong central govt
• National bank
• Adams, Hamilton
• Democratic-Republicans
• Stronger state govts
• Jefferson, Madison

Two-party system

• Neither lasted long
• Oldest continuous political party: Democrats
• Started in 1820s
• 1st POTUS: Andrew Jackson
• Second oldest continuous political party: Republicans
• Started in 1850s after split of Whig Party
• Founded as the anti-slavery party
• 1st POTUS: Abraham Lincoln

Political Parties, Historically

• Republicans ruled the White House from Lincoln to Wilson
• North voted Republican for anti-slavery then switched to Democrat with New Deal
• South voted Democrat until New Deal and then became Republican with the expansion of govt
• Most Black Americans voted Republican until New Deal (Election of 1936), and have since remained Democrats (today, almost 90% are still dems)

Realignment Elections

• critical elections that produce a sharp change in existing patterns of party loyalty which last a prolonged period of time
• 5 is US history

Realignment Elections

• 1. Democratic Republican Thomas Jefferson beats Federalist John Adams in 1800
• 2. Democratic Andrew Jackson beats Democratic Republican John Quincy Adams in 1828
• 3. Republican Abraham Lincoln wins in 1860
• 4. Republican McKinley beats Democrat Bryan in 1896
• 5. Election of 1932 – Democrat FDR breaks 72 years of Republican domination (holds for 20 years; until end of WWII)