Difference between revisions of "Third Party System"
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==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | *<ref>http://www.svcc.edu/academics/classes/edlemap/gov163/Chapter9PoliticalParties/</ref> | + | *<ref>[http://www.svcc.edu/academics/classes/edlemap/gov163/Chapter9PoliticalParties/ Sauk Valley College]</ref> |
| − | *<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2007/10/more_on_third_parties.html</ref> | + | *<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2007/10/more_on_third_parties.html RealClearPolitics]</ref> |
| − | *<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/592400/third-party</ref> | + | *<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/592400/third-party Encyclopedia Britannica]</ref> |
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category: United States]] | [[Category: United States]] | ||
[[Category: Politics]] | [[Category: Politics]] | ||
Revision as of 04:22, November 20, 2008
The Third Party System refers, generally, to American politics from about 1854 until 1896, when more than just the two major parties exerted influence over national elections in the United States. The Third Party System was dominated by the newly created Republican Party, which claimed success in saving the Union, abolishing slavery, enfranchising the freedmen, and adopting many of the Whig Party's progressive, or modern programs such as national banks, railroads, high tariffs, homesteads and aid to the land grant colleges. It includes the politics of what is now called the Gilded Age. The Democratic Party was very competitive in most states, but won the presidency only in 1856, 1884 and 1892. In 1892, the Populist Party made a remarkable showing, winning 22 Electoral College votes and one million popular votes, in that time a high percentage of the total vote.
In terms of voter coalitions, the main groups involved ethnic/racial, and religious affiliations, who closely tracked moral issues in politics. The South was split between the white Democrats and the black Republicans. Liturgical voters, Catholics, Episcopalians, German Lutherans supported the Democrats. Irish Catholics emerged as a major leadership group in the Democratic party. In the North, evangelical Protestants, Methodists and Congregationalists & Lutherans, dominated the GOP and supported it to be more strongly anti-slavery and anti-liquor. Class differences also existed, with the middle class Republican and the working class Democratic. Farmers split usually split their votes.
A central issue centered on the right to vote of Freedmen (former slaves), which they had from 1867 to about 1890, when they were disfranchised by the Democrats once again.
