Aim: How have third parties impacted American government?

1
Aim How have third parties impacted American
government?

• Do Now
• Choose one issue that you feel is not being
  sufficiently addressed by the two major parties
  (Republicans and Democrats).
• Why do you think this issue is being ignored?

2
I. Third Parties

• A. Address an idea or cause that the two major
  parties are ignoring
• B. Often have a specific ideology that differs
  from the two major parties
• C. There are
• 1. Ideological Parties
• 2. One-Issue Parties
• 3. Economic Protest Parties
• 4. Factional Parties
• 5. Bolter Parties
• 6. Individual Personality Parties (organized
  around a charismatic figure)
• What are some of the issues being addressed by
  third parties today?
• The environment
• Racism
• Social Justice
• Drug Legalization

3
Party Time Period Main Goal Success
Anti-Masonic Party 1832 Election Opposed the power of politicians who belonged to a secret society known as the Free Masons Won 7 Electoral Votes in 1832
Socialist Party of America 1904-1920 Establish a socialist government in America Eugene Debs won 6 of the popular vote in 1912 and 1920 (from prison). Different Socialist/Communist parties still exist today
Progressive (Bull Moose) Party 1912 election Social justice, correct abuses of big business, environmental conservation Teddy Roosevelt won 88 Electoral Votes. Took votes away from the Republicans, securing election for Wilson, a Democrat.
States Rights Party (Dixiecrats) 1948 election Racial Segregation Strom Thurmond won 39 Electoral Votes in the South
4
Party Time Period Main Goal Success
Reform Party 1990s Today Shifted from centrist conservative under Perot to ultra conservative under Buchanan Perot (as an independent) won 16 of votes in 1992 and 8 of votes in 1996, and hurt Republicans chance of winning in those elections. The party has declined since and is now almost totally defunct
Natural Law Party Today Bring scientific and new age solutions to problems in govt. Little. Received less than 1 of the vote in past three presidential elections
Libertarian Party 1970s Today Total individual liberty (pro-drug legalization, pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, anti-gun control, pro-home schooling, anti-welfare, anti-govt. regulation of business, anti-income tax) Some. Received 1.1 of votes in 1980. Has received less than 1 in every election after that.
Green Party Today Environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice, pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay marriage Won 2.7 of vote in 2000 election. May have hurt the Democratic partys chance of winning
5
Tea Party more of a movement than an official political party Today Most identify themselves as Republicans or hold favorable views towards the Republican party. Want Lower taxes, smaller government, rejection of Obamas stimulus bill and health care bill. Some are conservative on economic and social issues, some hold populist views on economic and social issues. Some hold libertarian views Tea Party backed Republicans won a few key races in the midterm elections of 2010. The overall movement may have helped promote opposition to policies of the Democrats, leading to a major Republican victory in the House.
6
II. Failure of Third Parties

• A. People do not donate money because they do not
  think the third party will win
• B. People will not waste their vote on a
  third-party because they do not think the third
  party will win
• One or both of the major parties address the
  issue or cause promoted by the third-party making
  the third-party unnecessary
• The issue being addressed is obscure or
  unimportant to most Americans

7
Questions to Consider

• Why havent more minor parties emerged to
  challenge the two major parties
• Why would a person vote for a third-party even
  though that party has little chance of winning?
• Do you think the two major parties accurately
  reflect your interests? Explain.