Vocab
incumbent is the current officeholder
faction or conflicting groups
electorate the people eligible to vote
sectionalism emphasizes a devotion to the interests of a particular region
incumbent is the current officeholder
faction or conflicting groups
electorate the people eligible to vote
sectionalism emphasizes a devotion to the interests of a particular region
American Parties: Four Major Eras
The Era of the Democrats, 1800 - 1860•Started with Jefferson in 1800
•The were unopposed until the 1820s when the party split into factions
•The Whig party led by Henry Clay were the major opponents until the Civil War
•During the Democratic Era:
–Voting for white males was established
–Huge increase in the number of elected offices
–Spread of the spoils system
The Era of the Republicans, 1860 - 1932
•Started with Abraham Lincoln in 1860
•After the Civil War, the Democrats only hold was the “Solid South”
•McKinley’s victory in 1896 drew a broader range of electorate and helped Republicans to dominate even more
•In 1912 Republicans nominated Taft and not Theodore Roosevelt so he went to the Progressive Party and the vote was split so Democrat Woodrow Wilson won
•The GOP regained its ground winning the next 3 elections
The Return of the Democrats, 1932 - 1968
•During the Great Depression people voted Democrat FDR
•FDR’s New Deal strengthened the Democratic Party and got them the support of the African American community
•FDR won 3 terms until his death
•Eisenhower won for the Republicans from 1952-56
•JFK regained the Presidency for the Democrats in 1960
The Start of a New Era, 1968 - present
•The Republicans regained power in 1968 with Nixon until the Watergate Scandal in 1974
•In 1976 Jimmy Carter won for the Democrats after the Watergate Scandal and pardon of Nixon hurt Gerald Ford
•Republicans won again in 1980 & 84 with Reagan and held it with George Bush in 1988
•Democrats won in 1992 & 96 with Clinton
•Republicans got it back in 2000 & 04 with George W. Bush
-Democrats won in 2008 & 2012 with Barack Obama
The Era of the Democrats, 1800 - 1860•Started with Jefferson in 1800
•The were unopposed until the 1820s when the party split into factions
•The Whig party led by Henry Clay were the major opponents until the Civil War
•During the Democratic Era:
–Voting for white males was established
–Huge increase in the number of elected offices
–Spread of the spoils system
The Era of the Republicans, 1860 - 1932
•Started with Abraham Lincoln in 1860
•After the Civil War, the Democrats only hold was the “Solid South”
•McKinley’s victory in 1896 drew a broader range of electorate and helped Republicans to dominate even more
•In 1912 Republicans nominated Taft and not Theodore Roosevelt so he went to the Progressive Party and the vote was split so Democrat Woodrow Wilson won
•The GOP regained its ground winning the next 3 elections
The Return of the Democrats, 1932 - 1968
•During the Great Depression people voted Democrat FDR
•FDR’s New Deal strengthened the Democratic Party and got them the support of the African American community
•FDR won 3 terms until his death
•Eisenhower won for the Republicans from 1952-56
•JFK regained the Presidency for the Democrats in 1960
The Start of a New Era, 1968 - present
•The Republicans regained power in 1968 with Nixon until the Watergate Scandal in 1974
•In 1976 Jimmy Carter won for the Democrats after the Watergate Scandal and pardon of Nixon hurt Gerald Ford
•Republicans won again in 1980 & 84 with Reagan and held it with George Bush in 1988
•Democrats won in 1992 & 96 with Clinton
•Republicans got it back in 2000 & 04 with George W. Bush
-Democrats won in 2008 & 2012 with Barack Obama
Review Questions:
The two-party system developed in the United States mainly because
a. the Constitution established a democratic government.
b. conflicts about the Constitution created opposing viewpoints.
c. leaders and voters agreed on the existence of two parties.
d. it was voted on and approved by both houses of Congress.
The era of one-party domination that began in 1968 was different from past eras of one-party domination because
a. the Republican party gained no new members in Congress.
b. the Democratic party gained no new members in Congress.
c. one party controlled Congress while the other controlled the presidency.
d. minor parties interfered with the power of the Republican party.
Answers: B / C
The two-party system developed in the United States mainly because
a. the Constitution established a democratic government.
b. conflicts about the Constitution created opposing viewpoints.
c. leaders and voters agreed on the existence of two parties.
d. it was voted on and approved by both houses of Congress.
The era of one-party domination that began in 1968 was different from past eras of one-party domination because
a. the Republican party gained no new members in Congress.
b. the Democratic party gained no new members in Congress.
c. one party controlled Congress while the other controlled the presidency.
d. minor parties interfered with the power of the Republican party.
Answers: B / C
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