Four Major Eras: The Progression of American Parties

1968

-Since 1968, neither Republicans nor democrats has consistently held the presidency

-Congress has often been controlled by the opposing party

1971

busing

-US supreme court

upheld use of

to desegregate schools

-a huge milestone for

furthering

Era 4: Somewhat Republican Era

steps towards racial equality

2000

-unclear winner in presidential

election

was

-proved that electoral vote

more important than popular vote

-This period lasts from 1968- Now

2001

on the

-the 9/11 terrorist attack

world trade center

-beginning of heightened national

security and war on terror

http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks

-The Republicans have won 7 out of 13 elections making this era fairly even thus far between Republicans and Democrats

2008

-President Barack Obama is

elected president

-First African-American president;

https://www.icivics.org/games/win-white-house

opened doors for all races

and

genders to run for president

1860

-President Abraham Lincoln was elected

-Due to Lincoln's election the Republican Party became the only party in American history to jump from third-party to major party status

1861

-The civil war began in 1861

-This crippled the democratic party, they were only able to survive through the "solid south" after reconstruction

Era 2: Republican Era

1896

-Republican candidate, who supported the gold standard, William McKinley wins the presidential election

-This period was from 1860-1932

-This drew a response from a broader range of the electorate for the republican party

-This secured the Republican Party's role as "dominant party" for a while

http://www.ushistory.org/us/41e.asp

-The Republicans won 14 out of 18 elections

1892

-In 1892 was the election of William Howard Taft

-Support of republicans became divided between Taft and Roosevelt

-This resulted in a democrat being able to secure the presidency

1896

-William Jennings Bryan lost the presidential election

- However, he helped push the nation's party politics back towards the economic arena, and away from the divisions of sectionalism

1801

-Thomas Jefferson was elected into office.

-This led to the disappearance of the Federalists party

1828

-The Whig Party arose to challenge the democrats

-They were only able to elect two, however they were the "other major party" of the era.

Era 1: Democratic Era

1850s

-Slavery becomes a major issue in the United States

-This split both major parties and due to the death of Clay and Webster the Whig Party fell apart.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html

-This period is from the 1800s-1860

1854

-The Democrats won 13 out of 15 elections

-The Republican Party was formed; it drew many Whigs and anti-slavery democrats, they became popular.

-This more than likely led to the Republicans winning the next 14 of 18 elections

1857

-The Dred Scott supreme court decision occured

-A major event preceding the civil war, and contributed to the start of it

1932

-The depression is happening

-The Depression brings about a shift in the perception of the role of the government in society and a return of the Democrats to power.

Era 3: Democratic Era

http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression

1932

-President Franklin D Roosevelt is elected

-This period was from 1932-1968

-Roosevelt developed economic and social welfare programs that helped the economy and won a wider array of support (keeping him president)

-The democrats won 7 of 9 elections, making this a democratic era

1948

-Democrats try to protect African Americans from discrimination at worksites and polls

-This leads to increased support for the democratic party, keeping them in office

1952

-many former dixicrats chose to support Eishenhower and marked the decline of the Southern Democratic Party

-fall of one party south

Four Major Eras: The Progression of American Parties

Maddie Hunnicutt