Political Parties

Question 1

What was one of the very first issues to shape the political institution we have today?

Answer 1

-Federalist vs. Anti Federalists

Question 2

What are the five main Era’s the party system is broken up into?

Answer 2

1. Jeffersonian Party
2. Jacksonian Party
3. Reconstruction Era
4. Industrial Republican under William McKinley system
5. Roosevelt Era

Question 3

What occurred in the Jeffersonian party system?

Answer 3

• 1790-1824
• The foundation for the two major political institutions are set up
• The Anti-Federalist developed into the modern Democrat.
• -> the party was generally southerners that wanted to maintain an agrarian society
• The Federalists formed the modern Republican
• ->the party was for setting up a modern banking system for international trade

Question 4

What occurred during the Jacksonian Party?

Answer 4

• Began with the election of Andrew Jackson
• Also known as “Era of good feelings” b/c there was only a one party system.
• First mass party system
• Est. of a national bank, road infrastructure, and other government funded public projects

Question 5

What occurred during the Reconstruction Era system?

Answer 5

• The two party system we have today emerged
• By 1860 the Republican party of the North and Democratic party of the South
• Republicans were abolitionists and Democrats were for slavery

Question 6

What occurred during the period of 1874-1896?

Answer 6

-There was no indefinable party institution in control

Question 7

What occurred during the William McKinley Era?

Answer 7

• Both Democratic and Republican parties wanted to break away form the faction
• -> Progressive Republican and Populous party Democrats
• By the end of the party’s era the Democrat and Republican factions were absorbed back
• Introduced classical economics
• -> Adam Smith “magic hand” for the free market

Question 8

What is Keynesian economics?

Answer 8

• During economic crises the government ought to intervene by artificially creating short term debts with public work projects.
• Government ought to stimulate the economy.

Question 9

What occurred during the Roosevelt Era?

Answer 9

• Paradigm shift to Keynesian economics.
• New Deal policy that implemented social security, dams, and bridges
• Democrats focused on public work projects
• Republicans focused on small government
• set the stage for politicians arguing about regulations in modern society

Question 10

What is realignment?

Answer 10

• Is the switch in political parties

- Occurred with the North and South, North was initially Republican and S. switched Republican

Question 11

What is the purpose of political parties?

Answer 11

• Representation of the populous in government

- Can magnify representation by political parties

Question 12

What are the 3 forms that political parties exists in?

Answer 12

1. A group of people in the electorate
2. Party organization
3. Get majority of the members elected to get party in government
   - Goal is then to change public policy or translate members policy preferences into law