The Two Party System and Minor Parties

1. Lecture Ch. 5 Sec. 3 & 4 (p. 109-117) The Two Party System and the Role of Minor Parties

2. The Two Party System in American History • 1800-1860- The Era of the Democrats • 1860- Lincoln! (Rep.) • 1860-1932-The Era of the Republicans • 1932- FDR! (Dem.) • 1932-1968- The Era of the Democrats • 1968-today? The Era of divided government

3. Minor Parties in the U.S. 1. Ideological parties - follow a certain set of beliefs, longest lasting minor party (socialists) 2. Single-issue parties - concentrate on a single public policy matter (Right to Life Party) 3. Economic protest parties - protest in times of economic hardship, usually have solution or blame (Greenback Party) 4. Splinter parties - split away from one of the major parties, formed around some strong personality (Bull Moose Party)

4. The Key Role of Minor Parties 1. Critic - bring issues to the forefront of the country by pointing them out first (abortion) 2. Innovator - first to do something (national convention) 3. Spoiler - can’t win, but can decide, the presidential election (Perot 1992)

5. Create a Party! You will be placed into groups of 4. Start by making a list of the following: 1. 4-5 political issues 2. Your policy on each of those issues 3. A party name 4. A party symbol 5. A candidate

6. When you are done with those five things, split up the four assignments so that each of you is responsible for one of them. See the handout and/or ask me for more explanation of each of them: 1. The Manifesto 2. The Speech 3. The Party Poster 4. The Press Release *This entire project will be presented Thursday, so get to work NOW!!!