Political Parties

Political party: a group of people who seek to control the government through winning elections and holding public office

Donkey → Democrats

Elephants → Republicans

* The only 2 sitting vice presidents to become president are Martin Van Buren and George Bush.

Party Functions

1. nominating candidates

2. informing and activating supports (commercials, car stickers)

3. bonding agent function (good performance with party platform)

4. governing (parties govern the U.S.)

5. acting as a watchdog (could lie about stories) (expose lies)

Partisanship: strong support of a party and policy stands

Nation’s First Parties

Federalist (Conservative) → Federalists → X → Whigs → X→ Republicans
Anti-federalists (Liberal) → Democratic- Republicans → Democrats

Era of the Republicans (1860 - 1932)

• After the Civil War, Democrats were weakened and Republicans gained strength

• Only one Democrat president during this time (Grover Cleveland)

• Election of 1912

Electorate: people eligible to vote

Return of the Democrats (1932 - 1968)

• started during the Great Depression

• FDR and Harry Truman

• Democrats held power until Eisenhower’s election (was easily elected)

Start of a New Era

Divided Government: political condition in which different political parties control the presidency and at least 1 House of Congress