Transcript Development of American Political Parties

Development of American
Political Parties
The Two-Party System
Civics 11:1
Civics by George Cassutto © 2004 published by Teaching Point as part of the Expert Systems for Teachers SeriesTM
•Please throw your gum in the
garbage before class begins.
Bell Activity
Take out your “Civics” paper and turn it in.
The organizers for the three branches of
government are due tomorrow.
Your word is “democratic”.
(Hint: Democrat, the political party, will not work!)
Find the word on your blue study guide and complete the
following information for the word.
Find the definition using a glossary.
Use your own knowledge and experience to complete the rest
of the definition.
Where should your backpack be?
•Please throw your gum in the
garbage before class begins.
Bell Activity
Your word is “democratic”.
(Hint: Democrat, the political party, will not work!)
Find the word on your blue study guide and complete
the following information for the word.
Find the definition using a glossary.
Use your own knowledge and experience to complete the
rest of the definition.
Where should your backpack be?
Does your work look something like this?
Word:
democratic
Definition:
Draw a picture of it:
Sentence:
Synonym/
Example:
My Understanding: 4 3 2 1
Antonym/NonExample:
Does your work look something like this?
Word:
democratic
Definition: of or for the people;
Especially rule by the majority
Sentence: Our country’s government
is a democratic republic, meaning we
elect people to represent us in
government.
Synonym/
Antonym/NonExample: Ancient Example:
Greece, U.S.A.
autocratic
My Understanding: 4 3 2 1
Draw a picture of it:
Today we will learn…
• History Objective –
We will describe the
origins of political
parties, and why they
are a part of American
government.
• Language Objective –
We will listen to the
presentation, and discuss
the topic with your groups.
• Behavior Objective – Courtesy and Respect: Students will
participate respectfully, and not make rude comments about
politics, politicians, or the current candidates.
What Is a Political Party?
• A political party is a group of citizens who agree
on major issues (problems, challenges) facing the
nation. These groups work to create public
policies that reflect their views and influence
government to implement their policies.
• Parties choose, or nominate, people they want to
elect to public office. These candidates campaign
to get elected.
How do people choose what
Political Party to join?
• People who join political parties typically do so
because the party represents many of their
personal beliefs about how the government of the
United States should be run.
• Let’s pretend to make two political parties based
on our pop culture preferences.
– Vote with your feet! Move to the part of the classroom
that best represents what you like more.
Make a choice…
• Who do you prefer?
• Move to the side of the room that you like better.
• If you like both, choose the one you like better.
• If you dislike both, choose the one you dislike least.
Make a choice…
• Now what do you prefer?
• Move to the side of the room that you now like better.
Yes, you still need to consider the previous choice.
• If you like both, choose the one you like better.
• If you dislike both, choose the one you dislike least.
Make a choice…
• Now what do you prefer?
• Move to the side of the room that you now like better.
Yes, you still need to consider the previous choice.
• If you like both, choose the one you like better.
• If you dislike both, choose the one you dislike least.
Make a choice…
• Now what do you prefer?
• Move to the side of the room that you now like better.
Yes, you still need to consider the previous choice.
• If you like both, choose the one you like better.
• If you dislike both, choose the one you dislike least.
Make a choice…
• Now what do you prefer?
• Move to the side of the room that you now like better.
Yes, you still need to consider the previous choice.
• If you like both, choose the one you like better.
• If you dislike both, choose the one you dislike least.
Make a choice…
• Is anyone 100% happy with all of the choices of their party?
• Do some people feel like neither party represents them, and their
likes?
• How does this relate to real political parties?
Parties in the US
• Any American citizen may
join a political party regardless
of age, but most members are
eighteen or older.
• The United States has a twoparty system, not because we
have to, but because it has
been traditional in almost
every political election in US
history.
• The Republicans emerged as
a major party in 1860 with the
election of Abraham Lincoln.
The Democratic Party formed
under Andrew Jackson thirty
years earlier.
Hamilton vs. Jefferson
• Political parties first emerged when followers of
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson
disagreed over major issues on the Constitution and
government.
• Jefferson’s group took the name DemocraticRepublicans. Due to experience with Britain, they
feared a powerful central government. They wanted
the states to hold greater power.
• Hamilton championed a strong national
government with a powerful chief executive. His
followers called themselves Federalists, after those
who supported the Constitution.
Jacksonian Democracy
Reigns
• In 1828, the farmers and small business owners
who made up Jefferson’s party, calling
themselves the Democratic Party, nominated
Andrew Jackson. He stood for the common
citizen, but looked out for southern and western
interests.
• Those who did not support Jackson formed their
own party called Whigs, after a Scottish political
leader.
• Their real name was the National Republican
Party.
• The Whigs and Democrats made up the two key
parties in American politics for two decades.
The Two Major Parties Emerge
• In 1854 Whigs, former Free Soil Party
members, and ex-Democrats formed the
Republican Party to oppose the spread of
slavery in US territories.
• The Whigs faded from American politics
leaving the Democrats and Republicans in a
two-party system that has dominated
American politics ever since.
Third Parties
• Any party other than the two major
parties can be called a “Third
party.”
• No third party has ever gained
control of the White House.
Sometimes, third parties win seats in
Congress or gain office in lower
levels of government.
• When these smaller groups challenge
the two major parties, they can
change the outcome of elections.
• Their most important role is to
influence policy on one or more
issues.
Ralph Nader, Green
Party Candidate,
2000
Third Parties at the Turn of the Century
• In the late 1800s, the
People’s Party, or
“Populists” became
popular.
• They had the support of farmers and workers
who called for better working conditions.
• They never succeeded in getting a national
candidate into office, many of their ideas on
workers’ rights became laws in the 20th Century.
The Republicans Split
• Former Republican President
Theodore Roosevelt left the
Republican Party and was
nominated by the Progressive
Party.
• It was nicknamed the “Bull Moose
Party” because TR said he was “fit
as a Bull Moose”.
• TR split the 1912 Republican vote,
allowing Democrat Woodrow
Wilson to defeat President William
H. Taft.
Cult of Personality
• Some third parties form from
the efforts of famous people.
• If they cannot gain support
from one of the major parties,
they form their own.
• H. Ross Perot’s Reform Party
was a force in the 1992 and
1996 elections. This party also
placed pro wrestler Jesse
Ventura in the governor’s
mansion in Minnesota for a
time.
• These parties usually fade after
their candidate is defeated.
Ideological Third Parties
• An ideology is a collection of ideas put forth by a
person or group.
• Minor third parties are often formed to support a
specific issue. These rise and fall over time.
• Ideological parties want to change society in
major ways.
• The Socialist and Communist Parties want to
nationalize major industries. The Green Party
calls for companies to respect the environment.
The Odds Are Against Them
• It is difficult for third parties candidates to raise
enough money to compete with the major parties.
• Only one candidate can win in a given district.
Usually the winner is either Democratic or
Republican.
• Third-party candidates must show they have
support by getting voter signatures to even be
placed on the ballot for national office.
American Politics Today
• Democrats usually feel that the federal
government has a responsibility to help the
poor through government intervention.
• Democrats are generally seen as liberal.
• Republicans hold the view that leaving the
government should have a small impact on
people’s lives, giving people the
responsibility to help themselves.
• Republicans are generally viewed as being
conservative.
Parties Move Towards The Center
• A platform is a statement that puts
forth the party's positions on issues.
• Each individual issue (economy,
immigration, etc.) is called a plank.
• Both parties want votes. As a result,
parties tend to become more
moderate in their platforms,
moving away from extreme
positions.
• The American people generally
agree about many issues. This unity
usually forces the two parties
toward the center of the political
spectrum.
Party Systems in other Countries
• Most democracies have multi-party systems.
• One party rarely wins the number of seats in the
Parliament needed to control the government. This
instability forces several parties to cooperate in
running the government. When parties work
together to pass laws, a coalition has been formed.
• If a small party pulls its support, the government
can collapse and new elections must be held. This
process occurs in nations with a parliamentary
system of government.
• The US has a presidential system and a Congress
rather than a prime minister and a parliament.
Following The Party Line
• A one-party system cannot exist in a
democracy. There is no choice of
candidates in the elections.
• Opposition parties are usually
banned.
• Communist China, Cuba, and North
Korea operate under one-party
systems. One-party systems can also
be based on other ideologies such as
religion.
• Iran's Islamic Republican Party has
established a Muslim state.
• This type of religion-based
government is called a theocracy.
•Communist Party
Congress, China
Political Parties & Elections
• Tomorrow we will be holding mock elections.
Work with your friends in class to come up with a
Political Party.
• To make a Political Party you need to have:
– Lots of ideas about how to realistically improve class.
(You can promise that your party will get rid of
homework, but it isn’t going to happen. Think of things
you can actually make happen.)
– A Party Platform, or a list of things your party believes
in, and how they can become new laws.
– Reasons why voters should support your party instead of
another party.
Issues
• Come up with a list of 5-10 things your party
would like to do to improve our class.
– Have someone in the group be the scribe/writer.
– Write your ideas on a new blank piece of paper (1
paper per political party)
– Have everyone in your party sign their names on the
paper. (You can change parties later, if you decide your
group isn’t representing you. You can also vote against
your party if you like another candidate better.)
– Brainstorm ideas for your political platform. What does
your party want to change about our class.
The Caucus (3 min.)
• Choose the person in your party that you think
has the best chance of being elected governor.
• Then choose the person who know the rules of
the school the best to be your candidate for
attorney general.
• Then list 4-6 people who want to be Senators
and 8-10 who want to be members of the House
of Representatives.
• Fill out a ballot and send someone to report who
these people are to Ms. Thatcher.
Campaign Poster (10 min.)
• Create a name for your party (one
word, simple, easy to say and
remember).
• Choose a mascot (animal symbol)
that represents your strengths.
• Make a poster explaining why
others should vote for your
candidate.
– Candidates for governor should use
this time to write a short speech
explaining why their party should be
elected to office.
Speeches (3-5 min.)
• Each candidate for governor
will give a one minute speech
to convince the rest of the
students to vote for them and
their political party.
• Then the class will vote for
officers.
• The winners will be
announced tomorrow.
– Note: All students will have a job to do in the Mock
Congress whether they are elected or not.
Ticket Out the Door
• Why do we have
political parties?
• What are some of the
benefits of being a part
of a political party?
• What are some of the
benefits and problems of
a two party system, like
we have in the USA?
Voting for a President
• Tomorrow, eligible voters from across the U.S. will be going to
the polls to cast a vote for president.
• We will look at how our country chooses its next leader in a
strange, often misunderstood way that goes back to the framers
of national government. It is called the Electoral College.