When you see these images, what words come to mind?

When you see these images, what words

come to mind?

two-party system:

a political system dominated by two major parties

How did the two-party system begin?

Alexander Hamilton(1755-1804)

Born into poverty in the British West Indies

Orphaned at age 13 and went to work as a shipping

clerk

Attended King’s College in NY

Served as an aide to Washington during the American Revolution

Intensely ambitious and moved up in society quickly

Had little faith in common people and sided with the

interests of the upper class

Hamilton’s Views

Strong federal government

Fear of mob rule

Republic led by well-educated elite

Loose interpretation of the Constitution

Wants a national bank (A bank controlled by the federal gov’t that prints money and handles taxes)

Economy based on shipping/manufacturing

Thomas Jefferson(1743-1826)

Southern planter, accomplished scholar, architect, inventor and

founder of the University of Virginia

Wrote the Declaration of Independence

Elected governor of Virginia in 1779

Minister to France in 1785

Secretary of State for 1790 to 1793

Despite his elite background and his ownership of slaves, he was a

strong ally of the small farmer and average citizen.

Jefferson’s Views

Strong state and local governments

Fear of absolute ruler

Democracy of virtuous farmers and tradespeople

Strict interpretation of the Constitution

National bank is unconstitutional

Economy based on farming

Who would support Alexander Hamilton?

Who would support Thomas Jefferson?

Think, Pair, Share

Those who shared Hamilton’s views were called

Federalists.

Those who shared Jefferson’s views were called

Democratic-Republicans.

American politics has always been dominated by a two party system, but lots of

other parties exist.

Why do we still call it a “two-party system”?

Why has American politics always been dominated by a two-party

system? o Tradition

o Single-member districts: each district elects one person to represent it; encourages fewer, larger parties

o Two major parties unite to prevent minor parties from becoming too powerful

o Americans are not that different from one another ideologically

Third Party

• A political party organized as opposition to the existing parties in a two-party system.

• Third parties have popped-up consistently throughout history.

• They don’t often last very long, but they do influence the course of political history.

Type of 3rd Party Characteristics Example

Economic Protest Party

usually based on the economic interests of a particular region.

Populist Party gathered support for Midwestern and southern farmers who felt taken advantage of by big banks and companies.

Ideological Party

profess broad political beliefs and values that are radically different from the mainstream.

Communist party wanted to replace capitalism with socialism.

Single-Issue Party

goal is to influence one economic, social or moral issue; usually do not continue after the issue is

resolved

The main purpose of the Free Soil Party was to stop the expansion of slavery into the western territories.

In your opinion, does the two-party system adequately represent the American people?