Two Major Parties

Two Major Parties

Introduction

Group of people with common beliefs and goals who work to gain and exercise political power.  They choose their candidates to run for political office.

Political parties are not mentioned in the Constitution.

Two-party system: Democrats and Republicans.

Every president since before the Civil War has been a member of one of those parties

Last 12  presidents:  6 Democrats 6 Republicans (EVEN SPLIT)

• Includes Trump once, as other 2-term presidents are counted once

Today:  Senate 47 Democrat 53 Republican

   House 215 Democrats 218 Republican (2 vacant seats)

  Governors 23 Democrat 27 Republican 

Party Beliefs

** These are generalizations based on traditional beliefs held by the two major parties in contemporary times. Keep in mind:

1. Generalizations are not “one-size-fits-all”. Everyone who represents a party as an elected official or identifies with a party does not believe the same things.

2. Party beliefs adapt over time.  As times change, issues evolve, and new leaders emerge there can be changes within these beliefs.

Source: Britannica

History of the Democratic Party

Source: Vox

Origins

Party began in the 1820’s in support of popular general …Andrew Jackson.?

• Representation of his followers turned into the party symbol (d) Donkey….?

• Party name “Democratic Party” came from their belief after the 1828 election that they represented the …Popular will of the country

• During his presidency …Native Americans.?  were removed from their land and relocated out west.

Increased Land

(1:30) In the 1840’s adopted the idea of Manifest Destiny  which meant White Americans were divinely entitled to dominate the whole North American continent  .?

Expanded territory be acquiring land such as (3) ….? Texas, Oregon,South west US

Post-Civil War

(2;25) Why were Republicans unpopular with white Southerners? They wanted to maintain their supremacy over former slaves

Became the party of the South by …? Promising to limit federal government intervention on behalf of black citizens. Aided by intimidation and supression of black voters.

PROGRESSIVISM

(3:00) Move toward PROGRESSIVISM which meant  Arguing that the government would take more of a role in regulating big business and improving ordinary peoples lives….?

These policies were put into action during the Presidency of Democrat Woodrow wilson…. ? who won the 1912 election.

GREAT DEPRESSION

(3:35) Sealed the party’s identity as the Party of Government activism ….?

(3:50) President Franklin Roosevelt …..? Signed the NEW DEAL - the greatest package of domestic spending projects.

This dramatically expanded the  Size of the government ….?

RACE

(4:00) By the middle of the 20th Century the party included:

• Southerners who Staunchly supported segregation ….. ?

• Liberal reformers who tried to end it 

• Many politicians who are happy to look the other way…..?

1964 passage of the Anti segregation civil rights act……? Showed the party moved toward progressive reformers away from its racist past.

(4:40) After that time the effect on Black voters was They would begin overwhelmingly support democrats from now on, and conversely, republicans would take a huge hit in black voter support……?

Many Southerners left the party for two reasons:

1. A desire to defend “traditional values” against liberal activists 

2. The suspicion of big government

Went from dominating the South th nearly losing all influence in the region

POST 1960’S

(5:15) Democrats WON or LOST most presidential elections between 1968 and 1988.

Made a comeback due in part because Minority voters….?

In 2008 the election of The first black president  ….? Showed how much the Democratic Party changed over the year.

History of the Republican Party

Source: Vox

Origins / Slavery

(:37) Came into existence in 1854_ - 7 years before the Civil War.

• Was an intense debate over Whether new states should permit slavery ….?

• Democrats supported it, 

• Whigs were divided leading to its collapse

• (1:20) Former Whigs in the North formed the new Republican Party looking to fight Against letting slavery expand further…..?

In 1860 the Republican winner of the Presidential election was …..?

This led to 11 Southern states to secede from the Union forming the Confederate States of America.

After Civil War

(2:02) Began fighting to make sure that ….?

Passed to support equal rights

1. The party passes the civil rights act of 1866

2. 14th amendment 

3. 15th amendment 

During the war who became rich northen business men….?

(2:55) By the 1870’s the party basically gives up on reforming the south deciding instead to leave it to it’s own devices…..

1920’s

(3:10) Became the part of Big business  ….?

Worked well when the economy was booming…….? During the 1920s

Not well when the economy crashes……? In 1929 and during the 1930s - Great Depression

Franklin Roosevelt and Democrats win elections and do what to the size/role of the government?

(3:37) Defined themselves as opposition to bigger government ……?

This is an identity they still hold today

1950s and 1960s

Civil Rights reforms including the 1964 Civil Rights act was less of a party issue and more of a regional one.

Northerners support it from both parties …..?

Southerners from both parties opposing it  …..?

(4:08) 1964, DEMOCRATIC President Lyndon Johnson….? Signs the Civil Rights Act into law

Republican nominee Barry Goldwater…..? Opposes it because it Expands government power too much……?

Explain the impact of this on white and black voters Black voters convert almost entirely to their new advocates, the democrats. And white voters in the south who had been staunch democrats start to resent “big government” interference here and other matters. 

…..?

1980s

(4:55) Elected Ronald Reagan  …..?  Who promises to Fight for business interest, lower taxes, and traditional family values ……(3)? 

Immigration

(5:10) - Democrats support reforming immigration laws so that over 10 million unauthorized iimmigratins in the US would get legal status ….?

           - Republicans became tough_ on Immigration

In the 2012, Republican nominee ……? lost to Barack Obama in large part to the Hispanic vote.  Polls showed 71%__% voted for Obama

(5:40) Party looked more like a party for …. White voters 

Republicans worry that ….if they keep losing Hispanic voters by that much, they'll lose their chances of winning the presidency

(6:23) Divide over the issue of immigration led to the 2015 rise of Donald Trump  …..? Who campaigned on building a Wall on the border with Mexico …..?