Some historians have divided the history of American political parties into about a half dozen "party systems". Along with this realignment, political and ideological polarization has increased, norms have deteriorated, leading to greater tension and "deadlock" in attempts to pass ideologically controversial bills. Over the same period the Republican Party has gone from being the dominant American "Grand Old Party" of business large and small, skilled craftsmen, clerks, professionals and freed African Americans, based especially in the industrial northeast to a right-wing/conservative party loyal to Donald Trump, disproportionately composed of family businesses, less educated, older, rural, southern, religious, and white working class voters. Has evolved into what is as of 2020, a strongly pro-civil rights party, disproportionately composed of women, LGBT, union members,Īnd urban, educated, younger, non-white voters. The Democratic party, that in the aftermath of the Civil War was an agrarian pro-states-rights, anti-civil rights, pro- easy money, anti-tariff, anti-bank, coalition of Jim Crow " Solid South", Western small farmers, along with budding labor unions and Catholic immigrants In the past 150+ years the two dominant parties have changed their ideologies and base of support considerably but kept their names. The Founders “did not believe in parties as such, scorned those that they were conscious of as historical models, had a keen terror of party spirit and its evil consequences," but Richard Hofstadter wrote, "almost as soon as their national government was in operation, found it necessary to establish parties.” Furthermore, he hoped that political parties would not be formed, fearing conflict and stagnation, as outlined in his Farewell Address. In addition, the first President of the United States, George Washington, was not a member of any political party at the time of his election or throughout his tenure as president. 10, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, respectively, wrote specifically about the dangers of domestic political factions. The Founding Fathers did not originally intend for American politics to be partisan. The United States Constitution is silent on the subject of political parties. Political scientists and historians have divided the development of America's two-party system into six or so eras or "party systems", starting with Federalist Party, which supported the ratification of the Constitution, and the Democratic-Republican Party or the Anti-Administration party (Anti-Federalists), which opposed a powerful central government.
Americans were especially innovative in devising new campaign techniques that linked public opinion with public policy through the party. The need to win popular support in a republic led to the American invention of voter-based political parties in the 1790s. However, most self-described independents consistently support one of the two major parties when it comes time to vote, and members of Congress with no political party affiliation caucus (meet to pursue common legislative objectives) with either the Democrats or Republicans. Some of the larger ones include the Constitution, Green, and Alliance Party, with the Libertarian Party, being the largest third party since the 1980s.Ī small number of members of the US Congress, a larger number of political candidates, and a good many voters (35-45%) have no party affiliation. Several third parties also operate in the U.S., and from time to time elect someone to local office. The two-party system is based on laws, party rules and custom.
Constitution (which predates the party system). Political parties are not mentioned in the U.S. ĭespite keeping the same names, the two parties have both changed their ideologies, positions, and base of support over their long lifespans, in response to social, cultural, economic developments - the Democratic Party being the center-of-left party since the time of the New Deal, and the Republican Party now being the right-of-center party. Since the 1850s, the two have been the Democratic Party and the Republican Party - one of which has won every United States presidential election since 1852 and has controlled the United States Congress since at least 1856. American electoral politics have been dominated by two major political parties since shortly after the founding of the republic of the United States of America.
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