Lecture 14 - The American Political Party System

Foundations and Origins of the American Political Party System

• Constitutional Context

  • In the original United States Constitution, the two-party system was not a prescribed or established feature.

  • The American founders did not originally intend for political parties to exist; they operated under the assumption that Americans would generally think and act in unison for the common good.

  • The current party system is a result of historical developments rather than original design.

• Emergence of Division (The Washington Administration)

  • Division first manifested within the cabinet of President George Washington, specifically between two prominent figures and their conflicting ideologies:

    • Thomas Jefferson: Serving as the Secretary of State.

    • Alexander Hamilton: Serving as the Secretary of the Treasury.

  • The core of their disagreement centered on several foundational issues:

    • Distribution of Power: Disputes regarding national supremacy versus state rights (whether the national government should hold more power than the state governments).

    • Foreign Policy: Differing views on the young nation’s role and alliances on the global stage.

• Formation of the First American Party System

  • By the conclusion of Washington’s two terms and the single term of President John Adams (the second president), political parties had clearly crystallized.

  • The Federalists: Led by Alexander Hamilton.

  • The Democratic-Republicans: Led by Thomas Jefferson.

  • This system remained in place for approximately $20$ years, spanning the presidencies of Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.

The Decline of the First System and the Transition

• The Disintegration of the Federalists

  • Following the War of $1812$, the Federalist Party lost national support due to its lack of backing for the war effort.

  • The party eventually disintegrated, leaving only one national political party.

• The Era of Good Feelings

  • Occurring in the $1820s$, this period is historically designated as the "Era of Good Feelings," a name derived not from universal harmony, but from the existence of a single-party political landscape.

The Second American Party System

• Establishment (Late 1820s)

  • A new system formed by the late $1820s$, defined by the rivalry between two new groups:

    • The Democratic Party: Centered on the persona and leadership of Andrew Jackson.

    • The Whig Party: Defined primarily by their opposition to Andrew Jackson.

• The Etymology and Leadership of the Whigs

  • The name "Whig" ($w-h-i-g-s$) was borrowed from the English political system, where the party in opposition to the King was known as the Whig Party.

  • By adopting this name, Jackson’s opponents characterized him as a tyrant or a king.

  • Key leaders of the Whig Party included:

    • Daniel Webster

    • Henry Clay

  • This system lasted approximately $20$ years.

The Issue of Slavery and the Rise of the Third Party System

• The Implosion of the Whig Party

  • In the $1850s$, the issue of slavery became the primary source of division in American politics.

  • While the Democratic Party remained unified (largely as the party of the South, supporting slavery and its expansion into territories), the Whig Party split internally:

    • Cotton Whigs: Southerners and others who supported the expansion of slavery.

    • Conscience Whigs: Northerners and others who opposed the expansion of slavery.

  • This internal tension led to the collapse and "implosion" of the Whig Party by the mid-$1850s$.

• The Birth of the Modern Republican Party

  • In approximately $1856$, the Republican Party emerged as the new counter-force to the Democrats.

  • Policy on Slavery: The Republicans were NOT originally abolitionists (they did not seek to eradicate slavery where it already existed in the South). Instead, they were unified in their opposition to the spread of slavery into new territories.

  • Leadership: The party was eventually led by Abraham Lincoln.

Ideological Shifts Over Time

• The ideologies of the Democratic and Republican parties have not followed a linear path; they have shifted and swapped positions at various points in history:

  • Originality (1850s): The Democratic Party was the more conservative party, while the Republican Party was considered the "radical" group seeking social change.

  • Late 19th Century (1870s, 1880s, 1890s): Both parties were characterized as very conservative.

  • Early 20th Century (1900s): Both parties were characterized as rather liberal.

  • 1920s and 1930s: The party identities began to solidify into their modern forms: the Republican Party remained/became conservative, while the Democratic Party became more liberal.

The Role of Third Parties

• While the U.S. remains a two-party system, third parties have played significant roles. They are categorized into four types:

• 1. Ideological Third Parties

  • Parties organized around a specific set of overarching beliefs or dogmas.

  • Examples: The Communist Party, the Socialist Party, and the Libertarian Party.

  • Historical Milestone: Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received over $1,000,000$ votes for president in the year $1920$.

• 2. One-Issue Parties

  • Parties that focus exclusively on a single policy or social goal.

  • Examples:

    • Women's Party: Pushed for the women's rights movement in the early $1900s$.

    • Free Soil Party / Liberty Party: Pre-Civil War parties focused on freeing slaves.

    • Prohibition Party: Centered on the ban of alcohol.

    • Anti-Masonic Party: The first third party in American history ($1830s$), formed in opposition to the Masons (a social group).

  • Outcome: These parties tend to be localized and disappear once their issue is either resolved or viewed as unachievable.

• 3. Economic Protest Parties

  • Parties that arise out of specific economic grievances.

  • The Populist Party: Dominant in the $1880s$ and $1890s$, particularly among Midwest farmers suffering due to the policies of Eastern bankers and railroads.

  • Success and Co-option: In the $1896$ election, the Democratic Party effectively absorbed the Populist Party by co-opting their candidate, William Jennings Bryan.

• 4. Factional Parties

  • These are break-away groups that split from one of the two major parties, often seen as "spoilers" that undermine the parent party's success.

  • Historical Examples:

    • Progressive Party: Early $1900s$.

    • Dixiecrat Party: Split from the Democrats during the $1952$ election.

    • Modern examples: American Independent Party, Reform Party, and the Green Party.

  • The 2000 Election Case Study: Ralph Nader’s Green Party candidacy is credited with taking votes away from Al Gore in Florida. Had Nader not run, Gore would have likely won Florida and the presidency, leading to frustration from the Democratic Party toward the factional group.

International Comparison

• The United States is distinctive in its adherence to a two-party system.

• Most European nations utilize multi-party systems.

• Although not a constitutional requirement, the two-party system in the U.S. developed rapidly and has become a permanent fixture of the American political landscape.