Party System and Political Dynamics P.4

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts, definitions, and historical events related to American political parties and systems.

What era marks the beginning of the first party system in the United States?

The first party system began with the creation of the country in 1789.

Who were the two primary competing factions during the first party system?

The Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.

What party was formed in the 1820s by Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren?

The Democratic Party.

What political conflict did the Democratic-Republicans primarily represent during the first party system?

The conflict between federalists and anti-federalists.

What major change did the second party system bring to American politics?

It saw the rise of mass-based political parties.

Which political party emerged as a response to the slavery debate in 1854?

The Republican Party.

What was the key feature of the New Deal coalition in the 1930s?

It included immigrants, labor unions, and small farmers.

How did George Washington view political parties?

He viewed them as divisive and harmful to the nation.

What does the term 'polarization' refer to in the context of party politics?

The ideological distance and division between political parties.

What significant trend occurred in partisan polarization from the mid-20th century to the 2010s?

Partisan polarization increased after a period of bipartisanship.

What was the significance of the 1912 presidential election regarding the spoiler effect?

Woodrow Wilson won because the Republican vote was split between Roosevelt and Taft.

What was a primary reason for the decline of the Federalist Party?

Their opposition to the expansion of suffrage and lack of appeal to a broader electorate.

What characterizes the solid South in American politics?

One-party domination by the Democratic Party from 1875 to 1965.

What was the political consequence of the Civil War for parties in the United States?

It led to a significant reorganization of party loyalties and the emergence of the Republican Party.

What was the primary political strategy of Democratic machines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

Patronage and the distribution of jobs and resources to loyal supporters.

How did racial dynamics influence African American voting patterns during the 20th century?

African Americans began to support the Democratic Party due to its coalition-building efforts.

In what year did the New Deal coalition begin to fragment and why?

In the 1960s due to civil rights activism creating divides within the party.

What period do many political scientists identify as the sixth party system in America?

From 1968 to roughly the year 2000.

What are linkage institutions?

Organizations that connect citizens to the government, such as political parties, elections, and the media.

What marked the transition from the fifth to the sixth party system?

The emergence of dealignment and realignment within party politics.

What was the primary socio-political dynamic driving the formation of the New Deal coalition?

A response to the economic challenges of the Great Depression.

What did many Americans believe about the power of the New Deal coalition in the 1960s?

That it would dominate American politics indefinitely.

What characterized the political landscape during the Great Migration of African Americans?

A substantial shift of African Americans from the South to northern cities, impacting voting patterns.

What effect did the Jim Crow laws have on Southern political dynamics?

They ensured the Democratic Party's dominance in the South through disenfranchisement and segregation.

What key political outcome resulted from the split in the Whig Party?

The establishment of the Republican Party as a major political force.

What element of party systems represents the interaction of political, social, and economic conflicts?

The evolution and restructuring of party coalitions over time.