Unit 4 Chapter 16, Section 1

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Unit 4Chapter 16, Section 1

• Political Parties
• Mr. Young
• American Government

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Essential Questions

• Even though George Washington did not want
  political parties, why did they eventually become
  prevalent?
• What is the importance of third parties in
  America today?

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Political Parties Definition

• A group of people who organize to promote common
  beliefs and goals by electing officials who share
  their views.
• An ongoing coalition of interests joined together
  to try to get their candidates for public office
  elected under a common label
• An organization designed to elect government
  office holders under a given label
• An organization that runs candidates for public
  office under the partys name.

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Parties and Party Systems

• Political Party- group of people with broad
  common interests who organize to win elections,
  control government, and thereby influence
  government policies

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One-Party System

• The Party is the government
• Political differences arise only within the party
  itself
• Usually found in authoritarian governments, come
  to power by force

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Cont.

• In an election, only one party is on the ballot
• Theocracy- government dominated by religion, such
  as Iran

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Multiparty Systems

• Most common political system among democracies
  and nations allowing more than one party
• Ideologies- basic beliefs about government

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Cont

• One party rarely gets enough support to control
  the government
• Will form a coalition government- when several
  parties combine forces to make the majority
• Usually the nation is very politically unstable

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Two-Party System

• When only two major parties usually can control
  the government
• Sometimes called big tent theory, many
  different approaches and polices fall under same
  umbrella
• Examples United States, Jamaica, and Malta

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Quote by John Ellis (pg. 15)

• I mean that the (American) revolutionary
  generation found a way to contain the explosive
  energies of the debate in the form of an ongoing
  argument or dialogue that was eventually
  institutionalized and rendered safe by the
  creation of political parties.

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History of American Political Parties

• George Washington- warned against the harmful
  effects of political parties
• Even so, political parties began before but was
  rampant after his presidency

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James Madison/Thomas Jefferson

• Madison likened parties to special interest
  groups
• Jefferson disliked parties so much, he was quoted
  as saying, if I could not go to heaven but with
  a party, I would not go there at all.

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Pre-Party EraFederalist vs. Anti-Federalist

• Federalist View

• Anti-Federalist View

• Favored the Constitution
• Merchants and Cities
• Strong national government
• Bill of Rights not needed, 8 states already had
  one

• Opposed the Constitution
• Farmers and Laborers
• Constitution drafted in secrecy
• Extralegal (not sanctioned by law)
• States Rights
• Wanted a Bill of Rights

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The Split and Start of Parties (1796-1800)

• Federalist

• Jeffersonian
• Democratic-Republican

• Alexander Hamilton
• Manufacture and Commercial Interest
• Northeastern/New England States
• Strong National Government
• Broad/ Loose Interpretation of the Constitution
• Only Elite in politics

• Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
• Farmers and small debtors
• Southern States
• Weak Central Government, stronger states rights
• Strict interpretation of the Constitution
• Only Elite in politics

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Federalist
Democratic-Republicans
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Election of 1800

• Jefferson defeats John Adams and Jeffersonians
  take over from 1800-1824
• First peaceful transition from one party to
  another in American (maybe world) history
• Beginning of end for Federalist Party, which
  eventually dissolved in 1820

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Growth of American Politics

• Anti-Federalist turn into Democratic party of
  today under Andrew Jackson in 1828

• Republican Party started as an anti-slavery party
  and first president was Abraham Lincoln

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Role of Minor Parties

• Third Party- any party other than one of the two
  major parties
• All have one thing in common believe that
  neither party is meeting certain needs
• Want to propose remedy to this situation

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1) Single-Issue Party

• Focuses exclusively on one major social,
  economic, or moral, issue
• Generally is short lived because issue fades away
  or major party adopts the issue

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2) Ideological Party

• Focuses on overall change in society rather than
  on an issue
• Examples Socialist Labor Party and Communist
  Party

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3) Splinter Party

• Splits away from one of the major parties because
  of some disagreement
• Typically fade away with the defeat of their
  candidate

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Impact of Third Parties

• Have influenced the outcome of national elections
• Have often promoted ideas that were at first
  unpopular or hotly debated
• Example minimum wage, five-day workweek,
  unemployment insurance, and health insurance

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Obstacles of Third Parties

• Third party candidates are usually required to
  obtain a large number of voter signatures in a
  short time
• Single-member districts- no matter how number of
  candidates, only one person will win
• Proportional representation- offices are filled
  in proportion to the votes that each partys
  candidates receive

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Cont

• One major problem is financing a campaign
• Americans are reluctant to support or contribute
  to a campaign that they dont think has a chance
  of winning
• Third Parties must plant political roots at the
  national level, and few can

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Texas Rangers

• Created by Stephen F. Austin in 1823
• Used to protect the governor, track down
  fugitives
• Jurisdiction is Austin (capital) of Texas

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Texas Rangers

• Oldest state law enforcement agency in the US
• Were involved in the Bonnie and Clyde case and
  John Wesley Hardin, who once killing a man for
  snoring

Causes of Death Number of deaths
Accidental 1
Assault 23
Automobile accident 1
Duty related illness 7
Gunfire 65
Gunfire (Accidental) 2
Stabbed 1
Struck by train 2
Struck by vehicle 1
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