This document discusses party realignment and dealignment in American politics. It outlines five eras of party control from the First Party System to the current era of divided government since 1968. Critical elections often resulted in realignments when one party took control during a national crisis. However, dealignment has also occurred as fewer voters identify with parties, independents have grown, and ticket splitting is more common. Media coverage and lack of clear policy differences between parties are blamed for weaker party attachments among voters. Solutions proposed include adopting a "responsible party model" with distinct solutions and accountability for governing.
8. Realignment
• One party takes over
the entire
government from the
other party
• Usually happens
during a national
crisis
9. Critical Election – Crisis in the country, a
switch in party control on the government
10. Party Era (when one party takes control of
the government for an extended period)
11. Era #1:The First Party System
1796-1824
• Democratic-Republicans
• Anti-Federalists gain
power from the
federalists
• Coalition forming
around agriculture and
land
12. Era #2: Jackson and the Democrats
1828-1856
• Andrew Jackson
• Coalition
included… just
about everyone
who wasn’t rich in
the early 1800’s
that was a lot of
people
13. Era #3a: The Republican Era: Lincoln
1860-1896
• Anti-slavery into new
territories
• Republican party
thrives for another 60
years due to this
realignment
14. Era #3b: The Republican Era
1896-1928
• But the extent of power
• Ensures that Republican
Party is in power until
1930’s
• Called a “watershed”
election
• Watershed refers to an
important point of
division or transition
between two phases or
conditions
15. Era #4:The New Deal Coalition
(Democrats) 1932-1964
• Plan formulated by FDR to
get country out of depression
• Most support after his first
term
• Coalition included
– Urban dwellers
– Labor Unions
– Catholics and Jews
– The poor
– Southerners
– African Americans
16. Era #5: The era of divided party
government
1968-Present
• No one party
dominates
• Democrats control
the White House,
Republicans control
the Congress
33. Responsible Party Model
1. Parties need to have distinct solutions for the
government
2. Each candidate must be committed to his/her
party
3. Majority power needs to implement program,
minority power critique
4. Majority party must take responsibility for
performance