Changes

The System was heavily Democratic through 1964 and heavily Republican at the presidential level since 1968, with the Senate switching back and forth after 1980. The Democrats usually controlled the House except that the Republicans won in 1946, 1952, and 1994 through 2004 elections. Both Houses went Democratic in 2006. Of the nineteen presidential elections since 1932, the Democrats won 7 of the first 9 (through 1964), while the GOP won 7 of the 10 since 1968. Down to 1964 Democratic control of Congress was the norm, but the [[Conservative coalition]] had effective veto power; since 1966 divided government has been the norm.

The System was heavily Democratic through 1964 and heavily Republican at the presidential level since 1968, with the Senate switching back and forth after 1980. The Democrats usually controlled the House except that the Republicans won in 1946, 1952, and 1994 through 2004 elections. Both Houses went Democratic in 2006. Of the nineteen presidential elections since 1932, the Democrats won 7 of the first 9 (through 1964), while the GOP won 7 of the 10 since 1968. Down to 1964 Democratic control of Congress was the norm, but the [[Conservative coalition]] had effective veto power; since 1966 divided government has been the norm.

With Republican promises of prosperity discredited by the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], the four consecutive elections, 1932-36-40-44 of Democrat [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] gave the Democrats dominance, though in domestic issues the [[Conservative coalition]] generally controlled Congress from 1938 to 1964. The activist [[New Deal]] promoted [[American liberalism]], anchored in a [[New Deal Coalition]] that dominated the [[U.S. Democratic Party, history|Democratic party]]. The party was dominated by liberal groups, especially ethno-religious minorities (Catholics, Jews, African Americans), white Southerners, well-organized labor unions, big city machines, intellectuals, and liberal farm groups.  Opposition  [[U.S. Republican Party, history|Republicans]] were split between a conservative wing, led by Senator [[Robert A. Taft]], and a more successful moderate wing led by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].   

With Republican promises of prosperity discredited by the [[Great Depression]], the four consecutive elections, 1932-36-40-44 of Democrat [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] gave the Democrats dominance, though in domestic issues the [[Conservative coalition]] generally controlled Congress from 1938 to 1964. The activist [[New Deal]] promoted [[American liberalism]], anchored in a [[New Deal Coalition]] that dominated the [[Democratic party]]. The party was dominated by liberal groups, especially ethno-religious minorities (Catholics, Jews, African Americans), white Southerners, well-organized labor unions, big city machines, intellectuals, and liberal farm groups.  Opposition  [[Republican Party|Republicans]] were split between a conservative wing, led by Senator [[Robert A. Taft]], and a more successful moderate wing led by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].   

==New rules==

==New rules==

New rules took effect that changed the political universe. The most important was the enfranchisement of the blacks in the South, thanks to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In addition, poll taxes were abolished, 18 year old were given the right to vote, and the role of women was informally expanded inside both parties.  At the same time the old big city machines, with their neighborhood structures, collapsed in nearly every city.  Communications media changes with the rise of television after 1960 as the dominant medium for political discourse and campaign advertising.

New rules took effect that changed the political universe. The most important was the enfranchisement of the blacks in the South, thanks to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In addition, poll taxes were abolished, 18 year old were given the right to vote, and the role of women was informally expanded inside both parties.  At the same time the old big city machines, with their neighborhood structures, collapsed in nearly every city.  Communications media changes with the rise of television after 1960 as the dominant medium for political discourse and campaign advertising.

==Collapse of 5th Party System==

==Collapse of 5th Party System==

The period climaxed with [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s smashing electoral defeat of [[American conservatism|conservative]] Republican presidential candidate [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964; in no other election since 1944 has the Democratic party received more than 50.1% of the popular vote for President.<ref>See, for example, the election pages at [http://www.presidentelect.org/index.html presidentelect.org]</ref> The Democratic coalition divided in 1948 and 1968, in the latter election allowing the Republican candidate [[Richard Nixon]] to take the White House.  Democrats kept control of the House until the 1994 election. For the next twelve years the [[U.S. Republican Party|GOP]] was in control with small majorities, until the Democrats recaptured the House in 2006. The Democrats held the Senate until 1980; since then the two parties have traded control of the Senate back and forth with small majorities.

The period climaxed with [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s smashing electoral defeat of [[conservative]] Republican presidential candidate [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964; in no other election since 1944 has the Democratic party received more than 50.1% of the popular vote for President.<ref>See, for example, the election pages at [http://www.presidentelect.org/index.html presidentelect.org]</ref> The Democratic coalition divided in 1948 and 1968, in the latter election allowing the Republican candidate [[Richard Nixon]] to take the White House.  Democrats kept control of the House until the 1994 election. For the next twelve years the [[Republican Party|GOP]] was in control with small majorities, until the Democrats recaptured the House in 2006. The Democrats held the Senate until 1980; since then the two parties have traded control of the Senate back and forth with small majorities.

==Sixth Party System==

==Sixth Party System==

The Sixth Party System is variously dated by scholars, usually from 1968 or 1980.  Shafer (2007) calls it the "Late New Deal System." The 6th System was characterized by a Republican dominance, with the GOP winning 7 of 10 presidential elections from 1968 through 2004.  Control of Congress was split. The dominant leader of the 6th Party System was [[Ronald Reagan]], with Republicans using his as their standard of proper politics into the late 21st century.   

The Sixth Party System is variously dated by scholars, usually from 1968 or 1980.  Shafer (2007) calls it the "Late New Deal System." The 6th System was characterized by a Republican dominance, with the GOP winning 7 of 10 presidential elections from 1968 through 2004.  Control of Congress was split. The dominant leader of the 6th Party System was [[Ronald Reagan]], with Republicans using his as their standard of proper politics into the late 21st century.   

New rules changes involved campaign financing, as very large sums were raised and candidates spent much of their energy focused on raising money behind the scenes.  New campaign technologies involved the Internet, but television advertising continued to grow in importance, overshadowing the Internet as a campaign tool. [[Howard Dean]] in 2004 demonstrated that the Internet could be used to organize and finance a crusade, and this model was followed by most of the candidates for the 2008 election, with [[Barak Obama]] and [[Ron Paul]] the most successful.  

New rules changes involved campaign financing, as very large sums were raised and candidates spent much of their energy focused on raising money behind the scenes.  New campaign technologies involved the Internet, but television advertising continued to grow in importance, overshadowing the Internet as a campaign tool. [[Howard Dean]] in 2004 demonstrated that the Internet could be used to organize and finance a crusade, and this model was followed by most of the candidates for the 2008 election, with [[Barack Obama]] and [[Ron Paul]] the most successful.  

==New Deal Coalition: voting %D 1948-1964==

==New Deal Coalition: voting %D 1948-1964==