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AP Government Section 8.

1 Notes (Reading / In-Class) -Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns Political parties- ongoing coalition (group of people with like minded ideas, need to bring these people together to be successful) of interests joined by an effort for candidates to be elected to office under a common label, linkage institution (links people to government) Natural tendency for people to group up Constitution does not talk about political parties Most democratic nations have more than two parties US campaigns are party-centered (same parties each election) but also candidate centered (choose strategies, issues, form campaigns) Minor parties have been unable to compete (competition based on 2 parties, must appeal to diverse set of interests) US parties are decentralized and fragmented, little control on nominations and elections Candidate centered campaigns (money, media, skills of consultants) One party always tends to dominate for long periods of time (party era) -Republicans vs. Democrats Realignments / critical period / critical election period / realigning period Change = realignment (rare lasting change) Realignments can be caused by emergence of one or more divisive issue, election that strongly favors one party, major policy change by action of stronger party, or change in parties that works to dominant partys advantage. May require more than one election before the change is apparent, issues typically deal with economic issues, but can be a social issue (1860slavery) 3 realignments since 1850s: -Civil War Realignment (1860): Rep. replaced Dem. as majority, Whigs collapsed, realigned parties by North and South -1896 Election- There was a severe depression for farmers, and Pres. Cleveland and the Dem. were blamed, so the Rep. became the party majority, Democrats elected Bryan (alienating E. laborers, splitting Dem.) -Great Depression (1932) - Hoover and the Republicans were blamed, so the Dem. became party majority (Roosevelt- business regulation and social welfare policies), New Deal / Roosevelt coalition Realignments affect party identity of voters (esp. young voters) History of political parties Founders believed parties should be avoided Federalists (Hamilton, urban, businessmen) vs. Anti-Federalists (Jefferson, strong state government, rural) Jacksonian Democracy Whigs came to represent ideals of old Federalist party

Jacksons election (1828)- coalition between South and West formed Dem. party (rural, anti-bank, small farmers), universal manhood suffrage, initiated tradition of holding national convention to nominate candidate Whigs threatened by North/South split, Rep. party emerges from expansion of slavery into new territories, Civil War ends dominance by Democrats Republican Era 1861 to 1933 Industrial Rev., Laissez-faire, favored industrialists, not farmer 2nd Democratic Era 1933 to 1969 Great Depression caused shift to Democrats, Roosevelt coalition of voters (wanted to see Hoover defeated, included Eastern workers, farmers, blacks, and liberals) Roosevelt established government that was more active in promoting social welfare, Court packing case In the 1970s, the South shifted towards the Rep. after realizing their beliefs aligned better with this party, S. Dem. were conservative on social issues, Rep. supported African American rights, so South had been voting Dem., Evangelical Christians took over Rep. party and took it to the extremely conservative side, naturally Dem. respond by moving farther left, making it more difficult to compromise Era of Divided Government 1969 to 2003 Control of legislative and executive divided, gridlock, contradictory policy, declining power of parties in general Rep. held Pres. 1969-1993 Became efficient, well structured, used opinion polls, used technology, raised more money (all of these led to Nixons victory) Democrats became more concerned with the common man, appointed McGovern-Fraser Commission to review partys structure and delegate selection procedures, increased representation and participation Early 20th century- Party machines, dictated local / state elections, incentives based upon party support 20th century- Progressives help establish primaries, civil service, direct senator election, and womens suffrage Late 20th century developments- electronic media campaigns, consultants, voter recruitment mail, candidate has more influence than party, officials are more responsive to personal following than party leadership, national party organizations are better funded, use new techniques, advising, organized parties are the basis for the political system, give candidates labels to help voters make decisions Divided Government today- some people believe new Rep. era is beginning People less willing to vote straight ticket (split ticket- not all votes for the same party) Recently much quicker change of power between Republicans and Democrats

Minor Parties Two Categories: Dominated by individual personality: Roosevelts Bull Moose Party/Progressive Party, usually disappear when charismatic person does Organized around long-lasting goal or ideology (abolitionists/prohibitionists/socialists), many disappear after goal is accomplished Most influential third party was the populist party, Democrats adopted many of their goals (8 hour work day, farm subsidies) Ross Perot (responsible for Bushs loss) and Nader (responsible for Gores loss), Roosevelt under Progressives (Wilson won)

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