The Fifth Party System
The Fifth Party System arose in the wake of the New Deal--an extensive effort headed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to relieve America of its intense economic crisis known as The Great Depression. These new policies shaped the two major political parties into what they are today.
The Democrats
With the election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933, the Democrats began to regain political influence. Roosevelt's New Deal created a number of new programs which would prove to define the major characteristics of the modern Democratic party. For example, the New Deal created organizations such as the Tennessee Valley Association, which restored power to those living in the south. The New Deal also promoted countless new building projects, such as the construction of the Hoover Dam, which were initiated in order to create jobs for those in economic despair.
The modern Democratic party has developed ever since, and is now one of the two major political parties in the United States. Modern Democrats typically support government-regulated healthcare, job creation and preservation for the lower economic classes, gay marriage rights, abortion rights, the legalization of marijuana, more strict gun laws, and the education system. The Democratic party is generally concerned with change in the United States.
Democratic presidents, including our current President Barack Obama, have been elected throughout the past century at various times.
The modern Democratic party has developed ever since, and is now one of the two major political parties in the United States. Modern Democrats typically support government-regulated healthcare, job creation and preservation for the lower economic classes, gay marriage rights, abortion rights, the legalization of marijuana, more strict gun laws, and the education system. The Democratic party is generally concerned with change in the United States.
Democratic presidents, including our current President Barack Obama, have been elected throughout the past century at various times.
The Republicans
Modern Republicans seek to conserve American society rather than promote change. The Republican party generally supports higher taxes to finance American defense, the preservation of the second amendment right to bear arms, and the preservation of individual, capitalistic wealth. Republicans base their views on the conservation of capitalistic values and constitutional rights. The Republican Party opposes most of the major political views held by the Democratic party, as mentioned above. Influential Republican leaders throughout the Fifth Party System include Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush.
Minor Parties
The modern political landscape has been heavily infiltrated by less influential minor parties, many of whom were created for a particular cause. The largest minor parties today include the Libertarian Party, the Tea Party, and the Green Party. The Green Party, for instance, was created to promote ecological and environmental protection in the United States. Minor parties are typically unsuccessful at electing individuals to political office. They usually dissolve as a result of public disinterest, an obsolete cause (such as the fate of the Prohibition Party), or their views are integrated into a major party.
The Rise of Independents
America has seen a rapidly growing number of independents, or those who do not align with any particular political party. Independents vote based on the individual candidates rather than party guidelines. Independents can also engage in split-ticket voting, in which they can vote for candidates of different political parties on the same ballot.
Influence
Political parties have become less influential in politics primarily because of the vagueness and ambiguity of modern political parties. Many people today find that they hold more moderate political views, and many choose not to align with any party. Also, less influential minor parties conflict with the goals of the two major parties, which leads to less influence for all parties. Finally, modern Americans often reduced political efficacy, since they simply do not care to participate in politics. Throughout history, political parties have been motivated by changing circumstances and mindsets, which have shaped the nation, but today, political parties play less of a role in people's lives. Therefore, political parties seem to have lost their value in our modern culture.