In the United States there are two major political parties, the Democratic and the Republican. The Democratic Party is older than the other, tracing back to the time of Andrew Jackson in the 1820 s. The Republican Part was organized in the 1850 s primarily as an antislavery part followed the Federalist Party and the Wings. From 1860 to the present day there have been many attempts to found new parties, however failed. Among third parties, the Populists in the 1880 s, the Bull Moose Progressives of Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, and the later Progressives of Robert La Follette in 1924 have been able to collect impressive vote totals.
But whenever a third party has had considerable appeal at the polls, one or both of the major parties in the next election has embraced the platform plank accounting for its appeal, and the third party has faded away. Therefore, over the years, the position of the two major parties have been changing and adapting themselves to the currently important problems of public policy. At one time the Democratic Party was considered to be a party standing up for state rights, and the Republican Party a party represent the interests of business and industry. However, the clear-cut difference between the two has not existed for more than half a century. If one reads the platform of the two parties, one finds that there is very little difference between them.
Each party seems to be appealing to practically every group of voters. There are people and logician who wonder why the system does not collapse of its own imperfections. But the test of any social institution, of course, is how well it works. By the criterion, the American party system works very well indeed. It is able to reconcile the considerable sectional differences and interests that exist in this vast country. It seems to produce national uniformity and sectionalism where they are desirable.
Federalists vs Democratic Republicans Essay
From the beginning of the formation of a republic in the United States, many people feared the creation of factious voting blocks which would impose the will of a vocal minority on the majority of the people. Despite steps to avoid this, two political parties did form after George Washington stated that he would not seek another term and it became unclear who would be the next president. These ...
In times of national peril, minor differences are forgotten, and the parties unite to work together for the national good. Under two-party system, furthermore, a stalemate is never possible after an election. One party or the other wins a majority of the national legislative body. Bargaining, coalitions, compromises, stalemates, and governmental paralysis are never the outcome. For all its defects, the American party system endures, and for the future, shows no sign to basic alteration.
