Getting Better All the time Perfect Plan? The Founding Fathers knew all too well. Bill of Rights...
Transcript of Getting Better All the time Perfect Plan? The Founding Fathers knew all too well. Bill of Rights...
Getting Better All the time
• Perfect Plan?
• The Founding Fathers knew all too well.
• Bill of Rights
• Continued Progress
Good News
• The United States is the 1st democracy to elect government that protected individual rights.
Bad News
• In the beginning, only white men who owned land could vote.
Good News
• African American and other nonwhite men began voting in 1870.
Bad News
• An African American’s right to vote was often denied in the South and parts of the North.
U.S. Political Parties
1. Federalist2. Anti-Federalist3. Democratic-Republican4. Whigs5. Republican 6. Democratic
U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings
What is a political party?– Organization of people who share similar ideas about the
way the country should be governed
In 1789 Washington forms his cabinet.
• Cabinet• advise on issues
he was not an expert on
• Thomas Jefferson • Secretary of State
• foreign affairs
Alexander Hamilton
• Secretary of Treasury– issues regarding
the finances of the new nation
Political Differences
U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings
• Democratic-RepublicansSupported states rightsSupported economy
based on agriculturePower in hands of all
peopleLed by Thomas Jefferson
U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings
• FederalistsSupported strong
national govt.Supported economy
based on industryPower in hands of
wealthy and educatedLed by Alexander
Hamilton
Political Party Systems
3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to run the government.
– Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans
– Advantages: Continuity
– Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive little attention – focus is on two main parties
U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings
• George Washington against political parties “parties serve their own interests” “parties not beneficial to American people”
• Parties formed after his exit:1. Democratic-Republicans2. Federalists
U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings
• Federalists BreakupFederalists gradually
disappear – no political momentum
John Adams only party member to be elected President
Supporters formed new party: Whig Party (1834-1856)
U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings
• Mid 1820’s: Democratic-Republicans breaking up
• Democratic Party formed to continue representing small farmers and working people
U.S. Political Parties:Beginnings
• 1850’s: Democratic Party and Whig Party split over slavery– Pro-slavery voters form Democratic Party
– Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats formed Republican Party
U.S Political Parties: Beginnings
• Republican Party1860: Abe Lincoln
becomes 1st Republican President
Emerges as stronger of 2 parties after Civil War
1865-1931:Only 2 Democratic Presidents elected Grover Cleveland Woodrow Wilson
U.S. Political Parties:Characteristics
• Democratic Party– Tends to Attract
LiberalsUnion MembersPeople in favor of
govt. involvement in social policies
U.S. Political Parties:Characteristics
• Republican Party– Tends to attract
Businesspeople (white collar)
ConservativesPeople want less
govt. involvement in social policies
Democrats:The Issues
• Abortion: – Pro Choice– Favors contraceptive education to prevent
necessity of abortion
Democrats:The Issues
• Environment:– Support stronger environmental laws and
protection of nature
Democrats:The Issues
• Same-sex Relationship Rights:– Should be protected from workplace discrimination and
hate crimes
– Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families
– Largely oppose President Bush’s proposal to ban same-sex marriage through a Constitutional Amendment
Democrats:The Issues
• Gun Control: – Strong advocates for gun control
Democrats:The Issues
• Health Care: – Push for more Heath Care funding
– In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care.
Democrats:The Issues
• Foreign Policy: – Generally supportive of international agencies
Democrats:The Issues
• Education: – More funding for struggling schools is necessary
Democrats:The Issues
• Social Security:– Support Social Security & Medicare
Democrats:The Issues
• Welfare:– Support increased child care for welfare recipients so they
are more able to work steady jobs
– Support funding for job training so recipients will be more competitive in the job market
Democrats:The Issues
• Women’s Rights: – For over 20 years, have been pushing to ratify the Treaty of
the Rights of Women that arose from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (would be a statement on America’s part saying that we support equal rights for all women)
Democrats:The Issues
• Worker’s Rights:– Favor labor unions and workers rights
• Includes right to organize free from harassment and the right to challenge employers for disability and discrimination cases.
– Support worker movements to increase the minimum wage and worker benefits
Republicans:The Issues
• Abortion: Pro-life– Prefers funding go towards marriage education and
abstinence only campaigns
Republicans:The Issues
• Environment: – Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy
production
– Pushed for oil drilling and the building of more nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal.
Republicans:The Issues
• Gay Rights: – Oppose idea of same-sex marriage; seek to define marriage
as union between man and woman
Republicans:The Issues
• Gun Control: – Favors allowing the sale of firearms
– Opposes gun-control laws
Republicans:The Issues
• Health Care: – Believes health care should work within the free market
system where competition will lower the costs of healthcare (no federal govt. involvement)
Republicans:The Issues
• Foreign Policy: – Argue that the use of American military force is essential for
keeping the world safe for Democracy
Republicans:The Issues
• Education: – Support both the “No Child Left Behind” program and the
school vouchers
– Favor school to give students more educational options
Republicans:The Issues
• Social Security: Favor privatization of social security– Citizens will be able to opt to place portions of money that
would have gone into Social Security into other types of accounts. Accounts will give the opportunity to play the stock market in an attempt to increase returns. (takes away Federal responsibility)
Republicans:The Issues
• Welfare: – Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those
receiving government assistance
Republicans:The Issues
• Workers’ Rights: – Favors workers and management working together to do
what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences.
What Do Political Party Members Do??
• Major function of each party is to get its candidate elected to office
– Steps include
1. Party members nominate, or name the candidates they want to run for office
2004 Republican NationalConvention
What Do Political Party Members Do??
2. Party starts an election campaign– An effort to gather support for its candidates and inform
voters of the party’s stand on issues
– Requires many party workers and volunteers to perform dozens of job that include:
• Raising funds
• Polling voters/making phone calls
• Drive voters to the polls
• Register voters
John Kerry Campaigning
What Do Political Party Members Do?
Presidential Election Campaigns
What Do Political Party Members Do?
3. Once a party’s candidate is elected, the party helps the candidate organize and manage the govt.
– Example: When a President is elected, 100’s of job vacancies in govt. must be filled. Jobs usually filled by party members who have contributed time, energy and money to the campaign.
– Patronage: giving jobs or special favors to party workers
Third Parties
• What are Third Parties?– Parties representing minority opinions that challenge the
Democrats and Republicans
– Some successful Third Parties:• Populist Party – 1890’s
• Progressive Party – split off from Rep. Part in 1912
• Libertarian Party – third most popular party in U.S. today
Third Parties
• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 1. Parties Tied to a Single Issue:
Examples: Prohibition Party: formed in 1872 to support banning of
alcohol in the U.S. Green Party: formed to protect the environment
Third Parties
• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 2. Parties Tied to a Political Belief
Examples: Libertarian Party The Third Party Socialist Parties
Third Parties
• 3 Kinds of Third Parties– 3. Parties Tied to a Single Candidate
Examples: Reform Party – formed around Presidential candidate Ross
Perot in 1996 American Independent Party – formed around Presidential
candidate George Wallace in 1968
Third Parties• America First Party• American Heritage Party• American Independent Party• American Nazi Party• Communist Party USA• Constitution Party• Family Values Party• Grassroots Party• Green Party• Independence Party• Labor Party• Libertarian Party• Light Party• Natural Law Party• The Third Party• Worker’s World Party
• Peace and Freedom Party• Prohibition Party• Reform party• The Revolution• Socialist Party, USA• Southern Independence Party• U.S. Pacifist Party• Veterans Party of America• We the People Party• Knights Party• Libertarian National Socialist Green
Party• Pansexual Peace Party• Pot Party• Constitutional Action Party• American Falangist Party• U.S. Marijuana Party