The elephant and the donkey are common symbols for the Republican and Democratic Party in the United States, respectively, denoting its two-party system (John Morton/Wikimedia Commons)
From the advent of its foundation, America has practically been defined by its political landscape, or, more so, its political divisions. The country was born out of a hunger for independence, sated only by remarkable growth and undeniable turmoil. The story of America is an expansive tale, one that is rooted firmly in the evolution of its political values and the subsequent, inextricable culture that emerged from them.
The History of the Two-Party System in America
The early framework of the United States Constitution made no mention of political parties. The birth of the country was rooted in unity, with a strong disdain for anything that could be perceived as “political factionalism.” In his farewell address, George Washington remarked that these “factions” would lead to “frightful despotism,” a premise only exacerbated by Alexander Hamilton’s perspective that factionalism was the “most fatal disease.”
The belief in this ideology was prevalent under the leadership of Washington, with America being built through the union of 13 colonies against British colonial rule. However, after the end of Washington's presidency, the beginnings of the once-disparaged political divide took root. Catalyzed by the disparate beliefs of Federalists and anti-Federalists (or, Democratic-Republicans), early U.S. politicians disagreed on the amount of power to be afforded to the federal government, as well as foreign policy relations with Britain or France.
The election of 1800, or, the start of the Jefferson presidency marked the beginning of the end of Federalism. In 1815, these sentiments ushered in the “Era of Good Feelings,” a period of relative unity in American political beliefs. This era continued through both the terms of James Monroe, coming to an end only in 1824, when Andrew Jackson lost the presidency to John Adams, despite having won the popular vote. Jackson’s supporters banded together to form the Democratic Party, one that subscribed to the Jeffersonian ideals of stronger state governments and decentralization of power. Those not in favor of these values became known as the Whigs and hewed closer to Federalist traditions.
Party Stances
The fall of the Whigs in 1850 led to the formation of the Republican Party, a congregation of reformers who coalesced around being anti-slavery and pro-business. This development caused southern states to primarily lean democratic, as the Democratic Party at the time didn’t feel as strongly about emancipation. The composition of the Democratic Party in the mid-late 1800s was varied; ranging from wealthy landowners to working-class immigrants.
Today, the political stances and compositions of Democrats and Republicans have evolved considerably from their original intents, developing through the formation of new technologies and cultural ideas. Contested issues that are especially prevalent include abortion (Democrats generally in favor of choice, while Republicans typically against), taxation (Democrats believe in higher taxation, especially for those with a higher income, while Republicans value lower taxes for all), and immigration (Republicans value stronger border enforcement, while Democrats place greater value on finding a path to legal status for those who entered the country illegally). The evolution of party stances is a true demonstration of the fluidity of American democracy.
The Rise and Fall of Third Parties
One of the earliest examples of a third party, the Populists emerged in the 1880s. Populists believed in a national income tax, a distrust of businessmen, plutocrats, and bankers, and the regulation of farm prices and railroad shipping rates. Though they won several congressional elections, the Populists eventually merged with the Democrats to nominate William Jennings Bryant as their presidential candidate. This scenario describes a broader pattern in American democracy: Duverger’s Law.
“The simple majority, single ballot system favors the two‐party system,” is the cornerstone of Maurice Duverger’s philosophy in Duverger’s Law. The American political system exemplifies this phenomenon, with the presidency being held solely by Democrats and Republicans since the 1850s. This is not to say there is a lack of alternate parties in the U.S.; The Green Party, Libertarians, The Constitution Party and The Natural Law Party make up a small portion of electoral candidates.
The American plurality voting system discourages voters from electing from any alternate party as the election of a candidate in a distinct minority leads to an advantage for the candidate one least wants to vote for. This phenomenon is called the spoiler ef ect, a non-winning candidate whose presence on the ballot affects which candidate wins. Third parties in America will likely never be as prevalent as Democrats or Republicans, as their presence currently lends only to detract from one of the majority contenders.
Implications of the Two-Party System on the 2024 Election
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2022 determined that 61 percent of Americans have some form of desire for more political parties to choose from. This number reflects the over 43 percent of Americans who feel as though none of the electoral candidates represent their values well, denoting a pattern of dissatisfaction with the current plurality system.
In only having two dominant parties, America provides voters with significantly fewer options for representation than other countries. In the upcoming election cycle, voters will have to decide which candidate best aligns with their beliefs and potentially have to make significant compromises in that choice.
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