THE AMERICAN PARTY SYSTEMS
Topic #38
The American “Party Systems”
• Historical party systems separated by realigning elections or periods:
Framers' Non-Partisan System (1789-1792) First Party System (1796-1816)
Democratic-Republicans vs. Federalists (agrarian/labor) (commercial/financial) (mostly South & “West”) (Northeast & especially N.E.) Congressional Caucus nominating system
Era of Good Feelings and One-Party Factionalism (1820-1824)
collapse of Federalist Party collapse of Congressional Caucus
American Party Systems (cont.)
Second Party System (1828-1852)
Democrats vs. Whigs (Nat. Reps.+ Anti-Masonic) (agrarian and lower-class) (commercial and upper-class) largely non-sectional rise of mass parties and campaigns origins of party organization based on patronage greatly increased franchise and turnout creation national nominating convention extensive third party activity
Civil War Disruption (1856-64)
Democrats (pro-South) vs. Republicans (N. Whigs + Free Soil) (North)
American Party Systems (cont.)
Third Party System (1868-1892)
Democrats vs. Republicans (agrarian + labor + immigrants) (commercial/industrial) (South plus some North) (most of North) very close and high-turnout elections from 1874 onward frequent divided government after 1876, consolidation of “Solid South” rise of political machines based on patronage highpoint of party-dominant nominating politics introduction of Australian ballot agrarian protest third party movements
American Party Systems (cont.)
Fourth Party System (1896-1928)
Democrats (+ Populists) vs. Republicans agrarian plus immigrants) (commercial/industrial) (South plus some West and some cities) (Northeast & Midwest) maximal sectionalism black disenfranchisement in the Jim Crow South rise of Progressive political reforms voter registration, primaries, initiative and referendum, etc. decline of voting turnout rise of “mixed system” of nomination (with Pres. primaries) political machines begin to decline
American Party Systems (cont.)
Fifth (New Deal) Party System (1932-1968)
Democrats vs. Republicans (labor/ethnic/urban plus South) (business & prof. [outside of South]) class based politics (outside of South) New Deal vs. anti-New Deal increased turnout civil rights movement and cracks in the old “Solid [Democratic] South” conflict between “new reformers” and “old bosses” origins of mass media campaigns, etc.
American Party Systems (cont.)
Sixth Party System (1972-2000?)
Democrats vs. Republicans (“liberals”) (“conservatives”) (pro-New Deal remnant) (anti-New Deal remnant) (great majority of non-whites) (majority of whites) largely non-sectional but low turnout rise of social/cultural issues rise of candidate-oriented Pres. nominating politics migration of white Southerners from Dem ==> Rep rise of candidate-centered politics and media campaigns era of divided government (Rep. Presidents vs. Dem. House)
American Party Systems (cont.)
Seventh Party System (2000? - ???)
Democrats vs. Republicans (“blue states”) (“red states”) coastal America middle America secular America religious America (great majority of non-whites) (majority of whites) increased turnout dominance of social/cultural issues solidification of “solid Republican South” (Cong. + Pres.) strengthened party identification in electorate greatly strengthen party unity in Congress extremely close Presidential and Congressional elections resumption of unified government?
Next level POLI Courses in American Government and Politics
• • • • • • • POLI 230 POLI 320 POLI 323 POLI 324 POLI 325 POLI 327 POLI 334 Introduction to Constitutional Law American Political Thought The Presidency The Congress Political Parties and Elections Interest Groups and Lobbyists Judicial Process