Carly Propps & Megan Blue AP Government

November 6, 2009 P–3

Page 247- 253 Notes

• America is a two party system and always has been.

• A majority of voters identify with the party in power, meaning the party tends to
win the majority of elections. This is called Party eras.
• A Critical elections, also known as an electoral “earthquake”, where new
coalitions replace old ones, and new issues arise causing the electorate to divide.
• Party Realignment, a rare event in a political life, is a displacement of the
majority party by the minority party during a critical election.
1796 – 1824: The First Party System
• James Madison spoke strongly against “factions” or political parties, where as
Andrew Hamilton wanted to inaugurate the party system.
• The Federalists were Americas first party, but quickly faded after Federalist
Candidate John Adams was defeated in reelection in 1800, which makes it
Americas shortest-lived majority party.
1828 – 1856: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs
• Andrew Jackson founded the modern American political party.
• Originally Jackson was a Democratic-Republican, but soon was seen as a
Democrat.
1860 – 1928: The Two Republican Eras
• The Republicans rose in the late 1850’s, and elected Abraham Lincoln in 1860 to
ignite the Civil War
• The second Republican Era was initiated with the watershed election in 1896.
1932 – 1964: The New Deal Coalition
• Franklin D. Roosevelt promised a New Deal
• The New Deal Coalition forged by the democrats, has basic elements like urban
working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, southerners, African-
Americans, and intellectuals.
1968 – Present: The Era Divided Party Government
• Newly elected presidents have routinely brought in fellow party members into
office with them.
• 1912-Woodrow Wilson: 62 seats
1932- F.D.R: 97 seats
• Both houses of Congress and presidency have been continuously controlled by the
same party for 6.3 years between 1969 and 2002.
• Party Dealignment : The gradual disengagment of people and politicians from the
parties.
• Party Neutrality: A term used to describe the fact that many Americans are
indifferent towards two major political parties
• “Floating voters” are typically known as the sway vote. The determine the ups
and downs of party fortunes in the twenty-first century.
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