Term
| Who were the Federalists? |
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Definition
| They were property owners and Merchants (North). They Feared excessive Democracy. They favored strong national government. |
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Term
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Definition
| Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. |
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Term
| Who were the Anti-Federalists? |
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Definition
| Small farmers and shop keepers (South). They feared concentrated power of elites and return of monarchy. They also favored strong state governments. |
|
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Term
| Important Anti-Federalists? |
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Definition
| Patrick Henry and George Mason |
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Term
| Representation of Anti-Federalists |
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Definition
| Representatives must have a deep understanding of the circumstances and desires of their constituents. ("Delegate"). This can only be achieved in small, homogenous republics such as states. |
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Term
| Representation of Federalists |
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Definition
| Representatives are individuals possessing ability, experience, and talent greater than their constituents ("Trustee"). The benefits of representatives democracy over direct democracy. |
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Term
| Source of Tyranny-Anti-Federalists |
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Definition
| Tendency of all governments to become gradually more "aristocratic" in character as the few use their growing power to tyrannize the many. Critical of institutions that were not directly responsible to the people (Senate, President, and Judiciary). |
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Term
| Source of Tyranny-Federalist |
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Definition
| The real danger is the "Tyranny of the Majority" in which a popular majority would trample over the rights of others. |
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Term
| How to Limit Government-Anti-Federalists |
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Definition
| Favored limiting national action to those powers specifically enumerated (as it pertains to its relationship with the states and people). This will prevent the national government from seizing all of the power held in the states and violating the rights of the people. |
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Term
| How to Limit Government-Federalists |
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Definition
| Favored granting national government broad powers that would face internal checks and controls (separation of power). The way to prevent the misuse of power is not to deprive the government of power but to establish controls on it. For this reason, they originally opposed the Bill of Rights as an unnecessary restriction on government power. |
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Term
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Definition
| Organized groups that attempt to influence government policy by electing their members to important government offices. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Organized group that attempt to influence elected officials and government policy. |
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Term
| Political Parties vs. Interest Groups |
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Definition
| Same goals but different names. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Citizens united by common interest, opposed to the rights/interests of other citizens, and/or opposed to the national interests. For example, Political Parties or Interest Groups. Because Political Parties hold formal political power – they are probably a closer fit to the “Faction” definition than Interest Groups. |
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Term
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Definition
| Instability of government. Disregard for Public Good and Tyranny of the Majority. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Overruled by Republican Principles of Majority Rule. |
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Term
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Definition
| Majority rules enables them to pursue private interests at expense of public good and rights of other citizens |
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Term
| Importance of Liberty-Federalists distrusted democracy and equality for what they could do to individual liberty |
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Definition
| Democracy could degenerate into tyranny of majority. Feared that demands from those without property for a “leveling spirit” (economic and social equality) would lead to majority tyranny and infringe individual liberty. |
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Term
| Importance of Liberty-However, liberty may itself lead to greater democracy and equality |
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Definition
| Liberty breeds democratic activity and participation. Liberty offers a chance at greater equality while tyranny always leads to greater inequality. |
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Term
| Source of Faction-The propensity for faction is part of our human nature |
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Definition
| Result of differences of opinion which manifest themselves in formal divisions that predispose groups to oppress each other rather than cooperate. These differences of opinion need not be substantial |
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Term
| Implication – It is our human nature to seek limited cooperation to more fully realize our interests. |
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Definition
| Whether distinctions are substantial or superficial is irrelevant – what is important is that there is a division that will allow us to pursue our private interests over common interests. |
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Term
| Source of Faction-Most common distinction is distribution of property |
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Definition
| Division between the haves and have-nots. Division between creditors and debtors. Division between different property interest |
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Term
|
Definition
| These different groups have different opinions and material interests |
|
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Term
| How do we solve this problem? (Factions) |
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Definition
(1) Removing the causes of Faction. Destroy liberty or Homogenize public. Neither option would be wise or practical.
(2) Controlling the effects. We cannot count of “enlightened statesmen” to keep biases in check in favor of public good. Solutions lies in a Large Republic
• i.e. In proposed Federal Constitutional framework
• i.e. an institutional solution |
|
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Term
| Benefits of Republic-Balance |
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Definition
Too large a constituency means that officials will be unfamiliar with local conditions and interests
Too small a constituency means that officials will be to wedded to these local conditions and interests.
We find happy balance in the distinctions between federal and state governments. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Fewer distinct interest and factions means it is easier to capture majority and act upon those private interests |
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Term
|
Definition
| More diverse interest and factions means that it is harder to capture majority and act upon those private interests. |
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Term
| Implications-Madison (in this essay and others) expresses fear of “excessive democracy” |
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Definition
| Republics are preferable to democracies because public passions are mitigated by wise and virtuous representatives. |
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Term
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Definition
| The public cannot be trusted to govern, we must rely on the American Aristocracy |
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Term
| Implications-Madison is implicitly articulating theory of “Pluralism” |
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Definition
Existence of diverse and competing interests ensures that no one can dominate (they are forced to negotiate and compromise)
System of checks and balances ensures that local factions cannot oppress the nation. |
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Term
| Our structure of government (strong federal system) has many benefits |
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Definition
| Supports independence, peace, safety, and liberty. Ensures collective and individual happiness |
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Term
| We should self-identify and take pride in being an American above other parochial distinctions. |
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Definition
We have achieved our liberty and independence because of our unity and common efforts
Aside from these emotional appeals, we also share material interests in maintaining national unity.
i.e. cross-regional trade
Greater means of defending ourselves from external threats |
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Term
| They will argue that it is “us” against “them” |
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Definition
| Political parties seek to gain adherence and one of the easiest way to do that is to “misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts” |
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Term
|
Definition
| We should be wary of those who suggest a real difference in interests between geographic regions. Warns that there will be those that will go to great lengths to obscure these benefits of unity and sew divisions. |
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Term
| Sectionalism-Danger is that our nation cannot be effective or sustainable with these divisions. |
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Definition
“No alliance, however strict, between the parts can be an adequate substitute.”
This is why our present constitution was such an improvement over the Articles of Confederation |
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Term
|
Definition
Sectional interests give rise to faction
These seek to replace the will of the nation with the will of the party
Regardless of how and why they are constituted, they will ultimately enable “unprincipled men to subvert the power of the people” and destroy the liberty which enabled them to reach power in the first place.
i.e. Hitler, Mussolini, Emperor Palpatine… |
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Term
| Dangers of Parties (Generally) |
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Definition
Party competition necessitates the domination of one faction over the other and a “spirit of revenge”
Those who suffer at the hands of one party in power turn to the protection of an alternative party and devolve absolute power to its individual leader.
In an effort to maintain this absolute power, the leader will destroy the liberty which enabled his elevation and threatens his permanent hold on power.
The result is misery and despotism |
|
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Term
| Dangers of Parties (Generally) |
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Definition
Party politics distracts our representative bodies and weakens the execution of the public’s business.
Manufactures false jealousies, threats, animosities
Foments disorder and insurrection
Party politics opens the door to foreign influence and corruption
Different parties have different preferences regarding our foreign relations |
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Term
| Parties as a Check on Government?-Concedes that within certain limits, parties may be a useful check on the administration of government and encourage the spirit of liberty |
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Definition
| This is particularly true of non-democratic governments |
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Term
| Parties as a Check on Government?-But in democratic governments, we must be concerned with the dangers of excess |
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Definition
| “A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent it bursting into a flame, lest instead of warming it should consume.” |
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Term
| Washington seems to be restating the Federalist fear of “Excessive Democracy” |
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Definition
Liberty is a virtue and is to be cherished – but we must not allow it to go to extremes and sew divisions in the population.
i.e. Parochial interests and liberty must not be allowed to subvert the national interest and liberty. |
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Term
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Definition
| “Democratic rights incorporated in the Bill of Rights made parties possible; the need to compete effectively made them inevitable; the ability to represent citizens who would otherwise not be adequately represented made them desirable.” |
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Term
| Dahl-Party Politics-Partisan politics transformed the constitution |
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Definition
| Framers did not foresee that in a democratic republic political parties are not only possible, but inevitable and desirable |
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Term
|
Definition
Madison now trusted popular majorities more
Would have advocated to check majority rule less and facilitate it more.
–
Parties are a natural offspring of freedom
But in combination with broad suffrage may create a conflict over property.
Majority rule is less “imperfect” than minority rule |
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Term
| Dahl-Madison of 1821 “In every political society parties are unavoidable” Their dangers may be overcome by: |
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Definition
Establishing political equality for all
Withholding unnecessary opportunities from a few to increase the inequality of property by immoderate and unmerited amount.
Silent operation of law which would reduce extreme wealth and poverty (all without violating rights of property)
Abstaining from measures which favor one interest at the expense of another
Making one party a check on another – so existence of parties is not prevented and their views not accommodated. |
|
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Term
| Problem of Social Choice in Government |
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Definition
| Parties make it possible for government to actually function – for politicians to cooperate |
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Term
| Problem of Collective Action in Voting |
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Definition
| Parties help to make voting “cheaper” for public |
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Term
| Problem of Political Ambition |
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Definition
| Parties help regulate competition for office – ensure that politicians will want to run for office |
|
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Term
| Problem of Ambition-Parties regulate competition for elected office |
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Definition
If office is desirable you will have more aspirants for those positions than positions to give out.
Problem is that too much competition limits the ability of ambitious political actors to achieve their goals |
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Term
| Problem of Ambition-Parties help to limit access to that competition |
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Definition
Create an orderly process by which access to competition is granted (i.e. Nomination)
Create institutional mechanisms that mitigate the dangers of within-party splits (i.e. Support for Party Candidate)
i.e. minimize danger that within-party competition will occur and result in success for opponents. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Elections decided by plurality or majority rule yield a two-party system. Voters don’t want to waste their votes. Political elites have an interest in reducing competition to just two choices |
|
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Term
| Probability of election is higher with a party than without |
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Definition
| Party members gain assistance in overcoming the two collective action problems facing electorate. |
|
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Term
| Higher probability that they will affiliate with a major party rather than a minor party |
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Definition
| Major parties provide a higher probability of access to office now and in the future than minor parties |
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Term
| Problem of Collective Action in Elections-Political parties help defray those costs |
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Definition
Parties provide brand name which conveys information cheaply
Parties provide economies of scale to get out the vote
i.e. Candidates for different offices work together to get out the vote and defray the individual costs. |
|
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Term
| Politicians have incentives to help public overcome these collective action problems |
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Definition
| But solutions are expensive |
|
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Term
| Election requires the support and mobilization of the public. |
|
Definition
Requires an informed public that knows its preferences
Requires a decision to actually vote
How do you get your supporters to vote and contribute to your campaign (money, energy, etc) rather than “Free-Ride”? |
|
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Term
| Problem of Social Change-Parties help provide a voting majority for specific policy choices and help maintain those majorities over time. |
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Definition
Parties are enduring institutions who differ in some fundamental ways from one another.
Politicians (and voters ) remain loyal to these parties and the policies and values they emphasize. |
|
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Term
| Without Parties, individual politicians may have different ranked preferences resulting from their diverse constituency and the will of the public as a whole. |
|
Definition
We are likely to find in-transitive (cyclical) ranked preferences
Majority is not possible. |
|
|
Term
| Problem-Parties help provide a voting majority for specific policy choices and help maintain those majorities over time. |
|
Definition
Parties are enduring institutions who differ in some fundamental ways from one another.
Politicians (and voters ) remain loyal to these parties and the policies and values they emphasize. |
|
|
Term
| Problem of Social Change-Parties are institutions designed to promote the achievement of collective choices |
|
Definition
| Parties help ensure that preferences among political actors are transitive and that a majority can be reached and maintained. |
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Term
| Solving this Problem: Median Voter Theorem (Black 1958) |
|
Definition
| If voter preferences can be arranged on a single dimension between two alternatives – a majority option is possible |
|
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Term
| Problem of Social Change: Arrow's Theorem |
|
Definition
Transitive” Ranked preferences
A > B > C
Majority favored outcome is possible
“Intransitive” (Cyclical ) ranked preferences
A > B, B > C, C > A
Majority favored outcome is not possible.
i.e. Plurality elections rather than majority elections |
|
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Term
| Arrow’s Theorem-Very complicated theory – but in short: |
|
Definition
| When voters are faced with more than two alternatives and those alternatives cannot be collectively placed in non-cyclical ranked order – it is impossible to arrive at a majority favored outcome |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| No method of choosing can guarantee that noncyclical social preferences can be obtained from noncyclical individual preferences |
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Term
| Achieve Cooperation – Prior Agreement |
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Definition
Institutional arrangements that provide a basis for binding commitments (Political Party)
Ensures that one player is not made to be the sucker for cooperating while the other defects.
You will win more over the long haul than if you act independently
You will gain more with a minimal coalition than a universal coalition |
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Term
| Political parties are collections of individuals who act collectedly to provide public goods |
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Definition
| Hence, they face a collective action problem (individually rational decisions result in Pareto inferior outcomes – Fail to Cooperate) |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| “Logic of Collective Action” |
|
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Term
| Problem of Collective Action: Olson-It is in your individual self-interest to attain the public good, but not to pay for it. |
|
Definition
Public goods – “Jointness of supply” and “non-excludability”
Everybody assumes that someone else will pay for it and that they can “Free-Ride”
Eventually, nobody pays and the good is not produced.
Everyone loses (“Pareto Inferior” Outcome)
This becomes a bigger problem as the groups size increases.
Can be overcome by either Compulsion or providing Selective Incentives |
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Term
|
Definition
“A series of problems that necessarily arise in elections and in governance make it possible for politicians to win more of what they seek to win, more often, and over a longer period by creating parties.” (28)
“The historical context determines when, and in what form, these theoretical possibilities actually arise” (28) |
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Term
| Aldrich-History Context Matters-Technological Changes |
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Definition
| Today, politicians can run a campaign without party support if necessary |
|
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Term
| Aldrich-History Context Matters-Values and Ideas (“Civil Religious Eras”) |
|
Definition
| Parties and politicians are forced to operate within the cultural context of what is deemed appropriate at a given time. |
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Term
| Aldrich-History Context Matters-Institutional “Path Dependency” |
|
Definition
“Critical Juncture” – Choice between alternatives
Once choice is made, it becomes more difficult to reverse course and deviate from equilibrium.
i.e. Two Party System – minimizes incentives to form a third party |
|
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Term
| Technological Changes, Values and Ideas, and Institutional "Path Dependency" |
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Definition
| These historical contexts determines when, and in what form, parties emerge to enhance the goals of political actors |
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Term
| Parties are designed to solve problems that other institutional arrangements are incapable of resolving |
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Definition
Politicians believe that these problems cannot be solved by any other means.
Politicians believe that these problems will adversely affect their chance of winning office |
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Term
| Parties are utilized if they further those goals |
|
Definition
i.e. Politicians may distance themselves from the party when that party is currently unpopular
(Republicans during the 2008 General Elections)
i.e. Politicians may align themselves with the party when it is currently popular
(Republicans during 2002 Mid-term Elections) |
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Term
| Parties are a vehicle by which politicians may achieve a variety of goals |
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Definition
| Fenno (1973) – Career, policy, power, prestige, etc. |
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Term
| Political Parties are not created by the people or those outside the system |
|
Definition
| They are created by those within (“Endogenous”) |
|
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Term
| “Creature of the politicians, the ambitious office seeker and officeholder.” |
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Definition
| “They have created and maintained, used or abused, reformed or ignored the political party when doing so has furthered their goals and ambitions.” |
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Term
| Health of party system is judged according to the competitiveness of the two parties |
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Definition
Strong Party System – 1990s – Present
Weak Party System – Reconstruction, New Deal |
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Term
| Political party is a vehicle used to win elections |
|
Definition
They formulate policies to help win elections (rather than the other way around)
In a competitive party system, politicians and parties find it in their rational self-interest to be responsive to the public |
|
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Term
| Actors are utility maximizers who adopt the most appropriate strategy to achieve goals (Rational Choice) |
|
Definition
Primary goal is to win elections
All other goals are secondary because they cannot be achieved while out of office. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Coalition of diverse members articulating a message that will appeal to majority of voters |
|
|
Term
| Party diversity ensures moderation and compromise |
|
Definition
i.e. New Deal Coalition
i.e. Republican Coalition of economic and social conservatives. |
|
|
Term
| Both parties are united by fundamental values (“American Creed” or “Civil Religion”) |
|
Definition
However, they differ in relative emphasis for these values and the means (policy) of achieving them.
i.e. Liberty and Equality (of opportunity) |
|
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Term
| Responsible Party - Schattschneider - Not what parties are but rather what they should be (ideal type) |
|
Definition
Make policy commitments to voters and work to achieve them (in and out of office)
Two parties differ sufficiently to provide a real choice to the electorate |
|
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Term
| Responsible Party - Schattschneider - Is this desirable or realistic? |
|
Definition
More akin to Parliamentary Government
Because of “parliamentary supremacy”
Public may desire moderation rather than two stark choices
And…did we not create our institutions specifically to |
|
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Term
| E.E. Schattschneider (1942) – “Political parties created democracy, and…democracy is unthinkable save in terms of parties.” |
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Definition
| All democracies have political parties |
|
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Term
| Individual representatives are held accountable for their actions by their constituency |
|
Definition
| But government policy is the result of the collective actions of the entire congress – How do we ensure accountability at that level? |
|
|
Term
| Political Parties are a vehicle by which we may establish accountability for collective action |
|
Definition
| Punish the party at the polls |
|
|
Term
Problem of Collective Action Within
Government (Social Choice)-Political parties are collections of individuals who act collectedly to provide public goods |
|
Definition
Hence, they face a collective action problem (individually
rational decisions result in Pareto inferior outcomes – Fail to
Cooperate) |
|
|
Term
Problem of Collective Action Within
Government (Social Choice)-Two Solutions |
|
Definition
(1) Agree to Cooperate during Action (i.e. Vote-Trading)
Problem – “Folk Theorem” – There is no guarantee that cooperation will continue to occur
(creates uncertainty)(No Trust)
(2) Agree to Cooperate ahead of time
Create Institutional arrangements that provide a basis for
binding commitments (Political Party)
Ensures that one player is not made to be the sucker for
cooperating while the other defects (Creates Trust)
You will win more over the long haul than if you act
independently |
|
|
Term
| Problem of Social Choice-Parties help provide a voting majority for specific policy choices and help maintain those majorities over time. |
|
Definition
Parties are enduring institutions who differ in some fundamental ways from one another.
Politicians (and voters ) remain loyal to these parties and the policies and values they emphasize. |
|
|
Term
| Problem of Social Choice-Parties are institutions designed to promote the achievement of collective choices |
|
Definition
Without Parties, individual politicians may have different ranked preferences resulting from their diverse constituency and the will of the public as a whole.
We are likely to find in-transitive (cyclical) ranked preferences
•Majority is not possible.
Parties help ensure that preferences among political actors are transitive and that a majority can be reached and maintained. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Location of the Capital, Hamilton’s (Treasury Secretary) Fiscal Plan, and "Great Principle" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
How strong and active should our federal government be?
Last great unresolved constitutional question |
|
|
Term
| Hamilton’s (Treasury Secretary) Fiscal Plan |
|
Definition
| Should national government assume state debts from Revolutionary War? |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Symbolic, Economic, and Political Ramifications
North or South? |
|
|
Term
| The origins of our first political parties emerged in an effort to resolve these conflicts |
|
Definition
| Rather than engaging in individual vote-trading and compromise, leaders sought to organize supporters |
|
|
Term
| "Great Principle"-Resolution required policy outcomes that would illustrate the character of government |
|
Definition
| Fundamental division between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. |
|
|
Term
| "Great Principle"-The strength and reach of the federal government was left ambiguous in the constitution (perhaps purposely so) |
|
Definition
Political elites would have had preferences on the resolution of the Great Principle
Political elites would have also had preferences regarding the specific policy outcomes adopted
These outcomes set precedent for the Great Principle |
|
|
Term
| "Great Principle"-These two sets of preferences would not necessarily line up with one another |
|
Definition
i.e. could favor weak national government but vote for policy that would use strong government to benefit your parochial interests
Therefore – Median Voter Theory cannot be utilized
The conflict is multi-dimensional |
|
|
Term
| Social Choice Problem-Instability of temporary majority coalitions made it difficult to resolve individual issues along with the “Great Principle” |
|
Definition
Any compromise or vote trade meant that neither side got its most preferred outcome
It also meant uncertainty about the long-term consistency and clarity of principle |
|
|
Term
| Social Choice Problem-Leaders sought an institutional means to circumvent this social choice problem |
|
Definition
Institutions would allow for resolution of these conflicts and overcome instability of majority rule
Provide constraints and incentives such that members found it in their interests to vote according to great principle rather than on individual policy preferences. |
|
|
Term
| Opposing Forces-In an effort to win policy victories consistently and establish undeniable precedents on the great principle, two groups emerge |
|
Definition
| Federalists and Jefferonian Republicans |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Hamilton and Adams
Favored Northern Capital, Assumption of Revolutionary War Debt and Stronger National Government
Favored closer ties with Britain |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Jefferson and Madison
Favored Southern Capital, No Assumption of War Debt, and Weaker National Government
Favored closer ties with France |
|
|
Term
| Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans were not parties as understood today |
|
Definition
Similar to “Party-In-Government”
i.e. Organizing Politicians to achieve a common set of policy goals |
|
|
Term
| 2nd Congress-“Federalists” emerged first behind their informal leader and spokesmen Hamilton |
|
Definition
| He was able to create consistent voting majorities that allowed them to shape the outcome of the “Great Principle” Debate |
|
|
Term
| 2nd Congress-“Jeffersonian Republicans” realized that they needed to organize an opposition in response. |
|
Definition
| They won the capital debate and temporary victory on assumption of debt…but were losing the most important battle on the Great Principle |
|
|
Term
| 3rd Congress-Political parties had come into existence |
|
Definition
Politicians were divided into two recognizable alliances which cut across geographic divisions
Partisan interests could be found in nearly all legislation under consideration
Began to develop electoral strategies and partisan newspapers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| This organization provided incentives to keep politicians voting on the party line |
|
|
Term
| Testing this Theory-Votes on issues important to development of parties should be different before and after the emergence of these parties |
|
Definition
Examined roll call voting in the House
Party affiliation should be related to great principle dimension
Party voting should increase in the latter congress
Found tentative evidence for these hypotheses |
|
|
Term
| Party organizations helped induce members to vote according to great principle rather than other considerations. |
|
Definition
| Conflict became one-dimensional which created opportunity to overcome social choice problems. (i.e. Median Voter) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Engaged the voting masses (at all levels) to secure victories on election day
Still functioned as a “Party-In-Government” but now primarily focused on appropriating the “spoils of office” to ensure continued electoral support.
i.e. Machine Politics |
|
|
Term
| _______ Party was the first national, mass-based party in history |
|
Definition
| Democractic, 1828 was the birth of party politics |
|
|
Term
| Mass Party-Previously, Parties functioned almost entirely as “Parties-In-Government” |
|
Definition
They organized members to achieve policy goals
Tool of “Natural Aristocracy” to realize prized principles
They only modestly engaged in electoral politics |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| "Federalists” favored closer ties to the British and after the war the party could not be sustained. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
“Federalist” and “Jeffersonian Republicans”
“Federalists” were the first to organize, but soon began to consistently lose elections following the emergence of “Jeffersonian Republicans” |
|
|
Term
| Founders of the Democratic Party |
|
Definition
| Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Military hero of War of 1812
Won plurality of popular vote in 1824 but lost in the electoral college |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Mobilized elite support and resources for Jackson’s presidential run in 1828
Resources were used to create new electoral organization
Electoral victories would provide spoils of office for supporters. |
|
|
Term
| _______ won presidency in 1828 on the back of a 20% increase in vote turnout. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Most choose to “free-ride” rather than vote |
|
Definition
Individual impact is limited and benefits of outcomes are public goods.
Decision to vote largely becomes a function of the intrinsic benefits derived from voting minus the costs. |
|
|
Term
| Political Parties lower the costs |
|
Definition
Logistic-Transportation to polling sites, information on how to register and vote, etc.
Decision Making-Speeches and rallies helped a largely illiterate population become informed about the issues and candidates |
|
|
Term
| Political Parties increase the intrinsic benefits |
|
Definition
Political campaigns and events were cheap entertainment and generated enthusiasm.
Benefits derived from being identified as a party supporter
Social, Political, and Economic |
|
|
Term
| How do we explain the 1828 turnout-1824 Election – 26.5%...1828 Election – 56.3% |
|
Definition
Heightened interest in presidential politics
Increased competitiveness of parties in many states
Increased structuring of parties |
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Term
| How do we explain the 1828 turnout-Turnout increased because parties were now competitive in more states |
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Definition
Increased interest in the competition
Increased sense that individual votes matter
Increased effort by parties to attract voters |
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Term
| Mass-Based Parties: Why 1828?-Technological Advances |
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Definition
| Improved transportation and communication |
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Term
| Mass-Based Parties: Why 1828?-Presidential Suffrage |
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Definition
90% of states used popular voting to choose electoral college
rather than electors being chosen by state legislature |
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Term
| Why Jackson (1828 Election)-He was a war hero and thus incredibly popular |
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Definition
Those running for office under the same party label would benefit electorally
i.e. selective incentives |
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Term
| Why Jackson (1828 Election)-He lacked any real political platform |
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Definition
Democratic Party would be held together by the loose principles generally articulated by the Jeffersonian Republicans during their founding.
Political Actors from across sectional cleavages could join together without fear that a party platform would constrain their actions
Ambiguity meant that you could campaign for whatever policies served you best among your own constituency
i.e. reducing the costs of participating in collective action |
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Term
| "National Alliance"-Electoral coalition of various factions opposed to the incumbent Adam’s administration |
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Definition
Northern Radicals (Van Buren) and Southern Interests (Jackson-Calhoun)
Revival of original Jeffersonian-Republican alliance |
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Term
| "National Alliance"-Both stood to gain from winning office |
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Definition
| Southern interests faced little risk to their own electoral prospects by joining this alliance |
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Term
| Prior Collective Action Problem-Parties can solve the collective action problem of mobilizing the electorate |
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Definition
But…they first have to solve the collective action problem of getting political actors to join the party and commit the necessary resources
Office seekers and holder
Benefit seekers who have the resources |
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Term
| The "Caucus"-Organizational arm of this alliance |
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Definition
| Raised revenues and coordinated electoral mobilization efforts |
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Term
| The "Caucus"- Three Points |
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Definition
Takes time to build state-level organizations
Requires extensive resources which meant that high level benefit seekers had a critical influence in shaping policy
Resources were allocated according to “Strategic Parties Hypothesis” |
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Term
| The "Caucus" - The Results |
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Definition
Organized in states expected to be the most competitive
State organizations already existed to some degree
Potential benefits were large – thus increasing the stakes |
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Term
| Strategic Parties Hypothesis |
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Definition
| Studies show that turnout tends to be highest in the closest elections – and it is at least partially attributable to the resources expended by parties |
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Term
| Strategic Parties Hypothesis-Relatively small per capita costs add up to substantial sums in large campaigns |
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Definition
Party can limit these costs by being strategic about where they invest their resources
i.e. Where resources will make a difference
Tight race rather than landslides one way or the other |
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Term
| According to “Strategic Party Hypothesis”, organizational efforts were directed at non-alliance states that were competitive |
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Definition
| Results were massive increases in turnout and ultimate electoral victory for the Democrats |
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Term
| Organizing State Democratic Parties-Many state level party/faction organizations already existed. |
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Definition
–Democratic leaders sought to minimize the collective action costs of creating state level organizations by combining (co-opting) what existed with their own vision
–Party selectively choose which organizations were ripe for these efforts
•i.e. which organizations had leaders, principles, |
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Term
| Expectations of Model-Coalition is large enough to win electoral vote majority |
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Definition
Base of coalition are those states where support for Jackson was expected
States that he carried in 1824 election
Expanding to other competitive states as needed |
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Term
| Expectations of Model-Composed of: |
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Definition
Those who either already supported Jackson or opposed Adams
Those who stood to benefit from the election of Jackson
i.e. Members of the Alliance and Caucus |
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Term
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Definition
Democrats became divided over sectional issues
Slavery became the defining issue
New Party System would divide North and South
Culminating in Civil War |
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Term
| 2nd Party System was Competitive |
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Definition
Democrats and Whigs
Both were intersectional alliances
Divided on economic lines
Parties kept slavery from becoming a defining issue |
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Term
| Van Buren recognized that an intersectional alliance was a normative good. |
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Definition
Ensured that parties sought policy in the common interest rather than individual or sectional interest
Understood that slavery would be a nationally divisive issue that could tear country apart and this alliance would keep it from getting on the agenda
Both Parties understood this and took steps to maintain their alliances |
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Term
| How to Keep Slavery Off the Agenda-South was perpetually in minority status |
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Definition
Perpetual threat that non-slave majority could limit or terminate the practice.
To prevent breakdown of intersectional alliance, the South would need some assurances |
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Term
| How to Keep Slavery Off the Agenda-Institutional Balance |
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Definition
South was given an effective and credible veto in the Senate (“Balance Rule”)
South was given a symbolic commitment and potential veto in the executive branch (“Balanced Tickets”) |
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Term
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Definition
Variety of ad hoc legislative compromises ensured that there was a rough balance between the number of free and slave states
Resulted in Southern Senatorial Veto
Effective but not certain
Required unity of Southern Senators
Required support from either the Vice President or President
Vice-President could break tie in Senate
(Veto House Actions)
President could veto legislation all together |
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Term
| To ensure veto potential, both parties presented voters with balanced tickets |
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Definition
| i.e. Northern and Southern Politicians running for President and Vice-President |
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Term
| "Balanced Tickets"-This was not a “Guarantee” of a veto – but rather a symbolic affirmation of the commitments to intersectional alliances and moderation |
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Definition
Republican Party broke this trend with a non-southern ticket in 1856 and 1860
Lincoln returned to balanced ticket in 1864 (Andrew Johnson) |
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Term
| National Convention made up of representatives proportional to a state’s electoral votes |
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Definition
| As in the electoral college – South was well represented but remained in the minority |
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Term
| Nomination rules required a 2/3 majority vote |
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Definition
Both North and South could veto
Ensured that no pro-slave or anti-slave extremists could be nominated |
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Term
| Institutionalized Balanced Tickets (Democrats)-However, because this was a party rule, it could be changed at any convention |
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Definition
| There was no credible commitment to permanently maintain this balance |
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Term
| Whig Dilemma-By 1852, the Whigs were steadily losing and expected to continue losing elections |
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Definition
Internally, Whig Party was becoming increasingly divided along sectional issues
Compromises on slavery related issues were dividing the Whigs intersectional alliance more than Democrats
Economic issues were no longer the most salient issues despite the fact that is remained the primary distinction between the two parties
Whigs could not hope to win on economic issues alone
These were also becoming increasingly sectional
Slavery, Nativism, and Temperance were salient
These were sectional issues that would further divide the Whigs and lead to their certain demise.
These were not national issues |
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Term
| Whigs had two options to oppose Democrats |
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Definition
Organize opposition to slavery
Would utterly divide their inter-sectional coalition
Lose the South – Gain Midwest – Ambivalent in Northeast where slavery was not a salient issue
Organize in favor of Nativism
Could find intersectional support but policy proposals were more local than national – thus failing to offer a national policy issue to rally around. |
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Term
| Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)-The Whig alliance was more vulnerable |
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Definition
Since they were out of power, they could not offer other policy benefits to northern members to pacify them. (i.e. Pork)
They lacked any other national issue to unify their party |
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Term
| Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)-Residents in new territories would decide for themselves whether they would be free or slave (Proposed by Democrats) |
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Definition
| Pro-slavery elements favored by Southerners of both parties, but principle of popular sovereignty was moderate enough to maintain Democratic intersectional alliance |
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Term
| Whigs had two options to oppose Democrats |
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Definition
Organize opposition to slavery
Would utterly divide their inter-sectional coalition
Lose the South – Gain Midwest – Ambivalent in Northeast where slavery was not a salient issue
Organize in favor of Nativism
Could find intersectional support but policy proposals were more local than national – thus failing to offer a national policy issue to rally around. |
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Term
| Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)-The Whig alliance was more vulnerable |
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Definition
Since they were out of power, they could not offer other policy benefits to northern members to pacify them. (i.e. Pork)
They lacked any other national issue to unify their party |
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Term
| Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)-Residents in new territories would decide for themselves whether they would be free or slave (Proposed by Democrats) |
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Definition
| Pro-slavery elements favored by Southerners of both parties, but principle of popular sovereignty was moderate enough to maintain Democratic intersectional alliance |
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Term
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Definition
With declining success of Whigs, ambitious politicians now faced a real considered choice regarding which party to affiliate with
(Analytically focused on Mid-level party members)
Do you stay a Whig or turn to a third party?
If so, which one? And Why? |
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Term
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Definition
Seeks power not policy
No inherent preference for one party or the other
Party Choice is a calculation of the costs, risks, and probabilities of success in seeking office as a member of one party or the other.
Ambitious Politician will run for office as a member of whatever party offered the most probable access to office |
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Term
| Ambitious politicians may choose to run with a party with a more attractive platform regardless of electoral prospects |
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Definition
Value of making a principled stand
i.e. anti-slavery advocates running as Liberty or Free Soil candidates |
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Term
| Ambitious politicians may choose to run with a party that has a credible chance of becoming a major party |
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Definition
Major parties offer a higher probability of being able to enact policy
But this decision is also influenced by the probability that others in the party will also win their elections.
In 2nd party system – This was between Democrats and Whigs
In beginning of 3rd party system
This was between Democrats and a number of alternatives (Whigs, Republicans, American) |
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Term
| Republican or American? Which party stood the best chance of becoming a major party (and thus allowing one to implement policy)? |
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Definition
Which party’s platform was most attractive to local constituency?
Anti-slavery sentiment stronger in Northwest
Nativism sentiment stronger in Northeast
Which party would attract and be successful in electing other ambitious politicians
i.e. Which party platform could be successfully utilized by enough politicians to become a major party?
i.e. Which party had enough national appeal to become a majority? |
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Term
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Definition
Initial strength at congressional level in the Northwest (where slavery was primary issue)
Nativism was a weak issue, so choice was between becoming a Republican or remaining a Whig/Democrat
i.e. campaigning on issue of slavery or not |
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Term
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Definition
Strong third party status in Northeast where Nativist sentiment was high
Slavery was a weak issue, so choice was between becoming a American or remaining a Whig (Democrats were happy)
i.e. campaigning on issues of Nativism or not
Also – whether you were sufficiently disaffected with Whigs following Kansas-Nebraska Act |
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Term
| Whig Party was already weaker in Northwest |
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Definition
| Anti-Kansas-Nebraska Act sentiment was more salient in Northwest |
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Term
| Decision between Whigs and Republicans |
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Definition
| Nativism was less relevant (less immigration) |
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Term
| Rapid Republican Growth in Northwest-Decision was Easy to Make |
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Definition
| Midlevel ambitious politicians evaluate whether to stick with declining party or join the only other party that could be viable in the region |
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Term
| The choice between these two alternatives was more complex in Northeast than Northwest |
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Definition
Coordination problem that would require active leadership (Senators and Governors)
This active leadership was not necessary in Northwest where decision was easy to make |
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Term
| Republican and American Parties were potential alternatives for those defecting from Whigs |
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Definition
Republican party could hope for Northern Alliance
Could you beat American and Whig competitors in Northeast?
Could Republican Northern Alliance defeat Democrat intersectional alliance?
American party could hope for North-South Alliance
Greater prospects of winning northeast |
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Term
| Southern appeal of Whig Party |
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Definition
Reasonable to believe that Whigs had long term potential to remain a major party
i.e. could recover from recent electoral failures |
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Term
| Slow Republican Growth in Northeast-Whig Party was stronger |
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Definition
Anti-slavery sentiment exacerbated by Kansas-Nebraska Compromise was not as pronounced
Anti-slavery was still an issue but not as much as in northwest |
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Term
| To become a major party, you need to able to win nationally |
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Definition
| i.e. Presidency or control of congress |
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Term
| Anti-slavery Republicans could not hope to gain support in the south |
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Definition
They had to win nationally based on the numerical majority held by north over the south
Not enough to merely compete with Democrats in North – they had to dominate the North to beat Democrats nationally |
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Term
| To win the North, they also had to defeat the American Party running on a platform of Nativism |
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Definition
| Solution – Platform combining Anti-slavery with Nativism but with leadership drawn from and emphasis towards the former. |
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Term
| Party was anti-slavery but not abolitionist |
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Definition
Sought to limit slavery's expansion
South a broad coalition that would allow them to be major party |
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Term
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Definition
Organized interests (“Factions”) are not desirable, but inevitable…how do we limit the negatives?
Large republic where parochial factions are forced to moderate, compromise, and consolidate with one another to gain majority support |
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Term
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Definition
No single interest/faction can permanently dominate society
Those interests they ignore will be represented by their competitors
Success requires that each faction create a broad and inclusive coalition (which itself requires moderation) |
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Term
| Washington's Farewell Address |
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Definition
The most dangerous manifestation of factions is “Sectionalism”
i.e. Competition among regional factions
Destroys national unity and inspires revenge politics
How do we limit this? |
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Term
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Definition
Intersectional alliances organized around broad principles that focus on national rather than regional issues.
Institutional mechanisms that maintain this alliance and preclude discussion of the most divisive sectional issues
i.e. Balance Rule and Balanced Tickets |
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Term
| Challenging Assumptions (Pluralism)- Assumed that party competition ensures the representation of a variety of groups |
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Definition
| Search for electoral majority incentivizes a more inclusive and moderate politics |
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Term
| Challenging Assumptions (Pluralism)- Frymer – This ignores the electoral incentive to “capture” and ignore marginalized groups |
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Definition
Focus is on African-Americans, but this concept can be applied to others as well.
This occurs even when party competition is strong
i.e. when the incentive to incorporate minority interests should be strongest…because incorporation has potential to be a decisive factor in a close election |
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Term
| Racial cleavages are often treated as an irrational and exceptional feature of politics |
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Definition
It defies assumptions of rational decision making
But…this ignores the fact that our institutions and political practices are predicated on racial divisions. |
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Term
| Two-Party system emerged (in part) as an effort to create broad coalitions that could avoid dealing with the divisive issue of slavery |
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Definition
| Effectively excluding black interests from politics |
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Term
| Winner-Take-All (First-Past-The-Post) electoral structures encourage the promotion of policies which appeal to the majority |
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Definition
If voter preferences can be reduced to a single-dimension (i.e. liberal vs. conservative) then parties can most effectively achieve a plurality by appealing to the median voter
In the process parties minimize their differences but remain distinct in an effort to hold onto their electoral base at the more extreme ends of the spectrum. |
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Term
| Median Voter-Assume that primary goal of political actors is to get elected (and goal of political parties is to get their members elected). (Downs, 1957) |
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Definition
| Policy platforms and ideology is a means to an end |
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Term
| Assumptions of Median Voter Model |
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Definition
Median voter model predicated on assumption of a single-dimension
Voters are divided according to preferences regarding role of government in economy (Racial issues are not an explicit aspect of the electoral conflict)
Assumed that African-Americans are merely a subgroup of a larger coalition of ideologically liberal voters
Their inclusion in politics actually moves the national median over to the liberal direction |
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Term
| Invalid Assumption-However, when race does become a salient issues in an election, the distribution of voters is likely very different |
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Definition
Most whites fall on the conservative end
Most blacks fall on the liberal end |
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Term
| Because whites are a numerical majority, the more effective electoral strategy is to reach out to the white median voter |
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Definition
| At the expense of the black vote. |
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Term
| Sectional conflict over slavery had split the Jeffersonian-Republicans into various factions |
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Definition
| The philosophical principles (decentralized political power) that had largely united these factions had given way to divergent policy preferences |
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Term
| Van Buren sought to create an electoral coalition that could reunite these factions under these principles by avoiding the issue of slavery |
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Definition
Party identity would replace sectional identity
Party could control which issues would be addressed |
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Term
| Andrew Jackson was a unifying candidate |
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Definition
Very popular war hero
Ambiguous policy positions |
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Term
| “Take our popular leader and no controversial policies. We will provide resources to you, so long as you agree to call yourself Democrats. For your part, you can continue to hold to your current policy positions.” |
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Definition
Whigs eventually adopted a similar strategy of cross-sectional coalition building and moderation
Political parties became a means of preventing the factionalism that was so feared by our founders. |
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Term
| Democrats vs. Whigs (1828-1850s) |
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Definition
| Race (Slavery) kept off the agenda |
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Term
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Definition
Slavery replaced economics as the most pressing issue for the public and began to split the parties
Democrats were in power and could keep their coalition together through spoils system
Whigs were out of power and could not. |
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Term
| Republicans emerge by appealing to those interests that were ignored |
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Definition
Slavery and Nativism
i.e. Exactly what Pluralist theory predicts |
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Term
| Post-Civil War Radical Republicans |
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Definition
Believed that bringing Freed Slaves into their coalition would provide them with a majority
Combination of Federal protection of “Freedmen” and disenfranchisement of Confederates created one-party rule (i.e. weak party competition) |
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Term
| Median voter appeared to shift left and radical racial policies were enacted to reflect that. |
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Definition
| Similar to what happened in the Civil Rights era |
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Term
| Median Voter didn’t really shift left… |
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Definition
Changing the dominant issue to Race did the opposite
Race could now be used as a divisive wedge by the minority party (Democrats) to break apart the majority coalition (Republicans) |
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Term
| Republicans realized that liberal racial agenda is the cause of their fall from dominance |
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Definition
| Similar to what happened in the post-civil rights era. |
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Term
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Definition
| Where outcomes are uncertain, individuals will more heavily weigh the potential for losses than gains. |
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Term
| Party leaders have become Risk-Averse |
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Definition
| Party leaders have learned that they are better off appealing to white median voter and avoiding potentially volatile racial policy proposals |
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Term
| It is only during periods of one-party rule that liberal racial policy has been possible |
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Definition
i.e. Reconstruction and Civil Rights Era
Complete contradiction of Pluralist Assumptions |
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Term
| Shifting Median Voter-During and After Civil War |
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Definition
Republicans capitalized on New Median on Pre-Racial Dimension
Promoted Black Interests
Democratic party reacted to this by appealing to those disaffected with those policies (i.e. White Republicans who were conservative on racial issues)
Median voter shifted to Post-Racial Dimension |
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Term
| Electoral Capture-Party leaders can therefore ignore the interests of this minority group |
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Definition
Can assume that most will not abstain from voting
Can assume that most will not support a third-party candidate for fear of “wasting their vote”
Can assume that previous support of their interests will result in more positive evaluation than other party which opposed interests
Can therefore assume that they will continue to support the party as the lesser of two evils. |
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Term
| Electoral Capture-Marginal Group has no real choice but to remain a constituent member of one political party. |
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Definition
The opposing party does not want them
They therefore cannot threaten their own party with defection |
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Term
| Why would opposing party not want this minority group?-Believe that the inclusion of this group in their coalition and advocacy of their interests as part of the platform will alienate their existing members who can then defect to other side |
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Definition
Parties seek to appeal to as many groups as necessary to achieve electoral victory but no more
Will not reach out to a group of voters if their numbers are less than what would be lost as a result of this inclusion. |
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Term
| Opposing party would prefer to maintain electoral conflict centered on racial divisions |
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Definition
| They are able to divide the opposition on this issue |
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Term
| “Support from black voters is not perceived by strategic actors as merely an addition to a party’s existing electoral count, but as an entire alteration of the makeup of both parties’ coalitions” |
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Definition
Primacy of white swing voters’ perceived hostility to black interests creates a power imbalance
Black political leaders wield less influence than other groups with similar characteristics
i.e. size, finances, geographic concentration, ideology, etc. |
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Term
| Despite our Pluralist assumptions that party competition leads to representation of all societal interests – the reality is that blacks are not represented |
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Definition
No party is competing for their vote
In many cases, both parties advocate policies that operate to their detriment |
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Term
| Intersectional alliances of 2nd party system were predicated on ability to keep slavery off the agenda |
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Definition
| Republican Party sought a north-east/north-west alliance that championed the interests of abolitionists and civil rights advocates (along with Nativist sentiments) |
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Term
| Election of Lincoln led to Civil War |
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Definition
Ticket was not balanced (No veto in Executive)
Many southern congressmen refused the position after Lincoln’s election (No veto in Congress) |
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Term
| Immediate Post-Civil War-Party Competition was virtually non-existent |
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Definition
Democratic Party could not compete in the north because of its association with the confederacy
Democratic Party in the south either did not participate in electoral politics or could not as punishment for rebellion
Republican Party dominated
“Radical Republicans” led the party |
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Term
| Andrew Johnson was Lincoln’s running mate in his second election |
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Definition
Lincoln’s strongest supporters were “Radical Republicans” who saw the advocacy of Black civil and political rights as a winning strategy
Johnson was a southerner selected to even out the ticket |
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Term
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Definition
Radical Republicans pushed Reconstruction programs to protect blacks and institute a powerful electoral presence in the south
Johnson pushed back with more conciliatory policies towards the confederacy and attempts to undermine these policies. |
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Term
| Late 1860s-Republicans began losing elections in the North and this was blamed on Radical Republican Reconstruction Strategy |
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Definition
Conservative Republicans argued that reconstruction prevented the party from forging an cross-sectional coalition with white southerners
Conservative Republicans also feared that Radicals would push for black suffrage and equal rights in the North
This would alienate white supporters in the North |
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Term
| Radical Republicans began losing influence |
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Definition
Conservative wing nominated Ulysses Grant (1868)
War Hero
Moderate on Reconstruction Policies (appeal to southern whites)
Northern Black Suffrage should be a decision made by states – not federal government (appeal to northern whites)
Barely won popular vote |
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Term
| Politics of the 15th Amendment-Black Suffrage (Ratified 1870) |
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Definition
–
Grant barely won election
–
Conservatives argued for appeasement of southern whites and easing reconstruction
Radicals called for passage of 15th amendment
To take the “negro question forever out of national politics”
Democrats were making gains because race remained a salient issue
Passage of 15th Amendment would settle the racial question and hopefully make it a less salient issue in the future |
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Term
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Definition
President could use federal troops and courts to prosecute those who infringed on black voting
Grant was reluctant to use force and left the matter up to individual states. |
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Term
| Democrats were elected in many southern states in the late 1860s |
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Definition
Refused to enforce suffrage laws
KKK intimidated black voters and white sympathizers
Led to further Democratic gains in the region |
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Term
| Republicans were split on a variety of non-race related issues |
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Definition
| i.e. Tariffs, Civil Service Reform |
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Term
| Internal debate on Race and the South |
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Definition
Northeast “Liberals” sought reconciliation with the South and literacy tests
Let south deal with violence against blacks
Radicals sought stronger protections for blacks
Nationwide and in the south (i.e. send in federal troops) |
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Term
| Grant took a moderate route |
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Definition
| Party continued to face loses in North and South |
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Term
| Tilden-Hayes Compromise (1877)-Dispute over winner of 1876 Election |
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Definition
Rutherford Hayes (R) and Samuel Tilden (D)
Hayes led by 1 vote in electoral college but there were charges of fraud |
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Term
| Democrats agreed to accept Hayes as President in exchange (informally) for the end of Reconstruction in the South |
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Definition
Republicans hoped that they could now compete with democrats on economic rather than race issues
End of Reconstruction ensured that black political rights would be violated
Ensured that Democrats would now dominate (1-party system)
Ensured that Jim Crow would be institutionalized |
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Term
| Throughout late 1870s Republicans continued to leave the south alone despite reports of racial violence and disenfranchisement |
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Definition
| Attempt to appease whites and white southerners |
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Term
| Grant and Hayes sought to forge ties with moderate republican, democrat and independent movements in the south that distinguished themselves from black voting coalitions. |
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Definition
| Effort to remove race as an electoral issue and replace it with economic differences among the parties |
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Term
| Southern State-Level Politics-Provides an overview of a internally divided Republican Party at the state level in the south |
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Definition
| Radicals and Conservatives |
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Term
| Southern State-Level Politics-Democrats achieved electoral dominance |
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Definition
Violence and racism played a role
So too did Republican failures to enter into coalitions with Black Republicans
Product of both racism and electoral strategy |
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Term
| Southern State-Level Politics-Black Republicans were unable to join in coalitions and received scant support from national party structure. |
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Definition
| Left disempowered to fight against democratic party abuses in the region. |
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Term
| Grant through Arthur-4 Consecutive Republican Presidents in Post Civil War Period (1869-1885) |
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Definition
Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur
–
All sought to attract white southern democrats
–
All minimized associations with Blacks
All supported independent movements in the south (i.e. essentially white republicans)
These movements often lost elections to democrats
But they prevented the party from having to either support or protect black republicans
Helped to maintain their northern coalition |
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Term
| 1896-1923-Republican Party returned to dominance |
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Definition
Democrats were internally divided
Panics and Populist Movement (Next Week)
Largely Northern Republican Coalition
Won with little support from southern blacks or whites |
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Term
| 1896-1923-Republicans did not pursue Black interests with this new majority |
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Definition
Blacks were captured in the north and disenfranchised in the south
Although they faced limited competition, they feared the result of activating race as an issue
Happy that the economy was now the dominant issue. |
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Term
| Even when Republicans believed they needed Southern electoral votes (1870s and 1880s) – they promoted policies that went against black interests |
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Definition
i.e. failed to produce stronger enforcement of voting and civil rights
So long as status of blacks is a primary issue in campaign, the party representing them feels obligated to appeal to racially conservatives whites to win elections. |
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Term
| “Radical Republicans” pushed for various civil and political rights for blacks immediately following Civil War (13, 14, 15 Amendments) for both moral and strategic reasons |
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Definition
Late 1860s – Republicans began losing in the North and this was attributed to the Radical Republican Program.
Eventually, the Radicals lost out to the more pragmatic wing of the party. |
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Term
| Southern Republicans marginalized black interests in an effort to win local elections. |
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Definition
White and black republicans divided over strategy
Many whites believed they could not win with a coalition of black voters and left the party to run as independents
These independents were often supported by national republican party when they ran against black coalitions |
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Term
| Even when Republicans no longer needed southern votes (late 1890s) they continued to pursue white voters in the region. |
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Definition
| Race disappeared from national electoral politics |
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Term
| Black Electoral Marginalization was the result of a lack of party competition in the South. |
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Definition
| Frymer – Marginalization is a result of electoral capture; not lack of competition |
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Term
| V.O. Keys-Rational-Choice Electoral and Party Theories |
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Definition
Party competition ensures that there is a clear choice for voters
This ensures accountability
Ensures that voters will be mobilized
Party competition forces parties to represent all interests in an effort to win majority |
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