US history 1st unit poltical party

Political Party

An organization of people who share similar ideas about how the country should be governed.

One-Party System

A political system where one political party and the government are essentially the same; there is no competing party.

Example of a One-Party System

China, where the Communist Party controls the government.

Multi-Party System

A political system where three or more political parties compete for control of the government.

Where are Multi-Party Systems Common?

Europe, Israel, Japan, and Australia.

Advantage of a Multi-Party System

Voters have many different choices and political ideas.

Disadvantage of a Multi-Party System

It can be difficult for one party to win a majority, often leading to a coalition.

Coalition

An agreement in which multiple political parties work together to control or form a government.

Example of a Coalition

Italy has frequently used coalitions because many parties compete for power.

Two-Party System

A political system where two major parties compete to run the government.

What type of party system does the U.S. have?

A two-party system.

Two Major U.S. Political Parties

The Democratic Party and Republican Party.

Advantage of a Two-Party System

Continuity and stability because power is mainly shared between two major parties.

Disadvantage of a Two-Party System

Third parties and minority political views receive less attention.

What happened to U.S. political parties in the 1850s?

The Democratic and Whig parties split over the issue of slavery.

Republican Party Origins

The Republican Party formed from Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats.

Democratic Party Origins

In the 1850s, the Democratic Party attracted many voters who supported slavery.

Abraham Lincoln

In 1860, he became the first Republican president.

Republican Party After the Civil War

The Republican Party emerged as the stronger of the two major parties.

Democratic Presidents, 1865–1931

Only two Democrats were elected president during this period: Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson.

Democratic Party

One of the two major U.S. political parties; generally associated with liberal ideas and greater government involvement.

Who does the Democratic Party tend to attract?

Working/blue-collar people, liberals, minorities, union members, and people who favor more government involvement.

Democratic Party Position on Gun Control

Generally supports stronger gun control.

Republican Party

One of the two major U.S. political parties; generally associated with conservative ideas and less government involvement.

Who does the Republican Party tend to attract?

Business/white-collar people, conservatives, Protestants, non-union supporters, and people who favor less government involvement.

Republican Party Position on Government

Generally favors less government involvement.

Republican Party Position on Guns

Generally more supportive of gun rights and less gun control.

Third Party

A political party other than the two major parties that represents minority opinions and challenges Democrats and Republicans.

Why are third parties important?

They introduce alternative ideas and give voters choices beyond the two major parties.

Populist Party

A third party from the 1890s that was supported mainly by farmers and people in agrarian regions.

Progressive Party

A third party that split from the Republican Party in 1912.

Libertarian Party

A third party based on libertarian political beliefs; according to the notes, it is the third most popular U.S. party.

Single-Issue Third Party

A third party focused mainly on one specific political issue.

Example of a Single-Issue Party: Prohibition Party

Formed in 1872 to support banning alcohol in the United States.

Example of a Single-Issue Party: Green Party

Focused on protecting the environment.

Example of a Single-Issue Party: U.S. Marijuana Party

Supports legalization of marijuana.

Political-Belief Third Party

A third party organized around a particular political philosophy or belief.

Examples of Political-Belief Parties

Libertarian and Socialist parties.

Single-Candidate Third Party

A third party formed mainly around a particular political candidate.

Reform Party

Formed around presidential candidate Ross Perot in 1996.

American Independent Party

Formed around presidential candidate George Wallace in 1968.

Declaration of Independence

The document that formally separated the United States from Britain and justified independence using Enlightenment ideas.

John Locke

An Enlightenment thinker whose ideas about natural rights and the social contract influenced the Declaration of Independence.

Natural Rights

The idea that people are born with basic rights that cannot legitimately be taken away.

Social Contract

The idea that government gets its authority from the people and exists to protect their rights.

Articles of Confederation

America's first attempted national government; it failed because the national government was too weak.

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?

The national government was too weak to effectively govern the states.

Northwest Ordinance

A law that established rules for the settlement and government of the Northwest Territory.

Constitution

The document that created the current U.S. system of government.

Montesquieu

An Enlightenment thinker whose ideas influenced the Constitution, especially separation of powers and checks and balances.

Separation of Powers

The division of government power among different branches.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches.

Federalists

People who supported the Constitution during the debate over ratification.

Anti-Federalists

People who opposed or were concerned about the Constitution because they feared the national government would become too powerful.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.