IV

The Early Rounds

FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS

What is the proper role of the government?

Alexander HamiltonThomas Jefferson

Strengthened national government

Strong executive leadership

Very limited role of the government created by the

Constitution

Congress should dominate the government

The Early Rounds

FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS

Who?

Alexander HamiltonThomas Jefferson

“the rich and well-born”

Financial, manufacturing, and commercial interests

Liberal/loose interpretation of the Constitution

“the common man”

Shopkeepers, laborers, and farmers

Strict constructionists of the Constitution

JEFFERSONIAN

REPUBLICANS

Or

DEMOCRATIC-

REPUBLICANS

The Era of Democrats, 1800--1860

In 1828, they become the DEMOCRATS.

Symbols: Jefferson, Andrew Jackson

Who? Small farmers, debtors, pioneers, and slave holders

Regions of support: South and West

Changes: Voting rights expand to all white males in this time

Issues: banks, tariffs, and slavery

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JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICANS

Or

DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS

The Era of Republicans, 1860—1932

Symbol: Abraham Lincoln

Who? Former Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats…

Business and finance, farmers, laborers, newly freed African-Americans

14 of 18

REPUBLICANS

The Return of the Democrats, 1932--1968

Symbol: FDR

Who? Southerners, small farmers, unions, big-city political machines, Jews, African-Americans, other minorities

Changes: DEPRESSION; Government plays an increasing role in the social and economic aspects of America

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DEMOCRATS

More party stuff

What is a political party?

A political party is a group of persons joined together on the basis of common principles, who seek to control government in order to

affect certain public policies and programs (this applies to all political parties); for the

two major parties (Republicans and Democrats), this definition changes a little:

common principles are less important and controlling government through the winning

of elections serves as the central goal.

What do parties do?

• Nominate candidates– Parties select candidates– Parties work to help their candidates win elections

What do parties do?

• Inform and activate supporters– Parties inform voters on issues and raise interest

about the issues– This is done through pamphlets, signs, commercials,

buttons, stickers, etc.

What do parties do?

• Serve as insurance

– Parties make sure their candidates are of quality and check against misbehavior in office

What do parties do?

• Govern– Partisanship, or loyalty to party, guides the way

politicians conduct business

What do parties do?

• Serve as a watchdog

– The party out of power watches the behavior of the party in power, that is the party who controls the executive branch

• Ideological parties: those based on a particular set of beliefs—a comprehensive view of the social, political, and economic

• Single-issue parties: parties that concentrate on only one policy matter

• Economic protest parties: arise during periods of recession/depression

• Splinter parties: a fracture occurs within a major party forming a minor party

Types of minor parties

What other options are out there?

Type Advantages Disadvantages Example

Two party

Multiparty

One-party

STABILITY LACK OF CHOICE

USA

WOULD REPRESENT THE VOTERS

BETTER

INSTABILITY; very unstable

alliances “hold” together

MOST DEMOCRACIES

OF EUROPE

CONTROL NO CHOICE DICTATORSHIPS: CUBA

Who can vote?Amendment Year What it did…

15th 1870

19th 1920

23rd 1961

24th 1964

26th 1971

No voting discrimination on the basis of race or

colorWomen have the right to

voteDC residents can vote

No poll tax can be collected to qualify for voting

Voting age lowered to 18

Who does vote?These factors correlate positively with voting participation:

• Higher levels of income

• Higher levels of education

• Higher levels of occupational status

• Long-time residents of a community

• Strong sense of party identification

• Over 35

• Urban/suburban dwellers

Why don’t people vote?

• I cannot due to state regulations (see above)• I am traveling (2-3 million)• My religious beliefs do not permit me to vote

(100,000)• I don’t trust politicians• My vote will make no difference.• It is an inconvenience.• The weather’s bad• The game is over.• I don’t care.