US Political Parties: Origins and Evolution

• Political parties are organized groups sharing beliefs to elect like-minded individuals.
• The Era of Good Feelings was a time of political unity and economic prosperity.
• A corrupt bargain led to a lack of trust and support in the establishment in 1824.
• This situation created the Democratic Party.
• Andrew Jackson won in 1828 with more voters participating.
• The Democratic Party began to grow, supporting the South and pro-slavery views.
• The Whig Party collapsed due to competing slavery and business interests.
• The Republican Party was created in 1852.
• 1860 marked the beginning of the Civil War.
• Party politics in 1860-1932 prioritized the party over the candidate.
• There were clear political lines, with the North being Republican and the South being Democratic.
• Stability in parties was due to political machines, which built loyalty and support through jobs.
• The Modern Era (1932-present) saw political processes increasingly controlled by the government.
• This includes the use of referendums, recalls, and direct election of senators.
• Candidate-led elections allow the candidate to direct the party.
• Voters tend to ignore issues if they like the candidate.
• Growth of suburbs occurred.
• Party realignment involves dramatic shifts in voting patterns and preferences.

Critical Elections

• 1800: led to one-party politics
• 1828: led to the rise of populism
• 1860: led to Civil War/sectionalism
• 1932: led to Depression/rise of "big" government
• 1968: led to the Southern Strategy
• 2012: led to Tea Party politics
• Secular realignment involves smaller, more local changes.

Organization of Parties

• National Party comprises chairperson and committees.
• The chairperson is the primary spokesperson.
• The committee includes the DNC and RNC, which oversee conventions and distribute funds.
• The National Convention happens every four years to select presidents and VPs and sets the party platform.
• Delegates support the candidate who won the primary.
• Superdelegates are free agents.
• State and local levels include state central committees, congressional district committees, city and county committees, precinct and ward committees, activists, volunteers, and voters.

Activities of Political Parties

• Gaining political power includes selecting candidates, raising money, and mobilizing support.
• Formulating policy happens every four years, outlining the party's goals.
• Organizing of party involves Congress, the Presidency, Courts, and States.
• Party identification is shown through voting affiliation with a political party.
• Political socialization shapes beliefs via parents, friends, marriage, children, job, and economic status.
• Group affiliations are influenced by geography (coasts more liberal, middle America more conservative), gender, race/ethnicity, age, social and economic status, religion, and marital status.
• Minor parties focus on specific issues, using proportional and ranked-choice voting.
• Polarization is a division that drives political ideas apart, leaving no more liberal Republicans or conservative Democrats.
• It's caused by a decline in good citizenship, a 24-hour news cycle/social media, homogenous communities, more polarized candidates, and clear articulation.

Consequences of Polarization

• Less productive government
• Increase in biased info
• Lack of government integrity
• Lack of strong policy
• Minor (third) parties struggle to gain traction but may steal from major parties.
• Usually, minor parties have a narrow focus, compelling candidates or ideas.
• The Libertarian Party focuses on individual liberty and limited government.
• It supports a free market, non-interference in private lives, and privatizing most services outside of foreign affairs.
• The Green Party focuses on environmental issues (green economy).
• It advocates for renewable energy, a living wage, affordable housing, non-interventionism, demilitarization, and a sustainable society.

Public Opinion

• Thoughts are on any key issues or policy.
• Public opinion polls are surveys or interviews aimed at determining the public's stance.
• Straw polls are informal surveys to get quick feelings on issues.
• Straw polls can misconstruct who is sampled and depend on the timing and self-selection of those polled.

How to Create Polls

• Determine content and phrasing, avoiding bias and push polls.
• Push polls persuade people to feel a certain way.
• Deciding who will be asked uses random sampling, which may not reflect the actual population.
• Stratified sampling divides into subgroups and weighs against national averages.
• Phone calls are basic, allow for daily tracking, and involve protected speech.
• In-person polling is most accurate, detailed, and hardest but creates bias.
• Internet polling is most popular, easiest, and can lead to extreme results taken over by bots.
• Analyzing data involves breaking down info to inform decision-making.

Shortcomings of Polling

• Survey error (margin of error)
• Limited response choices (a good poll has 5-7)
• Lack of info (no knowledge on the topic)
• Measure intensity
• Lack of interest

Why Poll?

• There is still good polling, random and diverse.
• Polling can influence policy and action in competitive seats.
• Can be used to overcome outside influences like lobbying.

Explore the origins and evolution of US political parties. From the Era of Good Feelings to the rise of the Democratic and Republican parties, this historical overview examines key events and shifts in political alignments. It covers the impact of slavery, political machines, and government control.