The two-party system that America uses today is an extensive and vigorous process. In order to keep peace, there had to be a dividing factor, two sides, both with completely different opinions. While both Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton envisioned a healthy government, they had contrasting views on how the United States should be run. The disagreement that the two political men had for the country’s future carved a path that soon sparked the creation of the two-party system that America still uses to this day. Hamilton and Jefferson both wanted better for the country, war time debt was a weight on the United States economy, in order to pay them off, they would have to come up with a compromise.
This pattern however, works to discourage minor and non-major parties. Republicans and Democrats usually find common ground and work together, also known as bipartisan. It seems that the electoral process shape election laws to preserve, protect, and defend the two-party system; furthermore, not giving the minor party a fair
The Two Party System: How it was developed and the impact on the U.S. today A two-party system is where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government. Under this system, one of the two parties typically holds a majority in the legislature and is usually referred to as the majority party while the other is the minority party. The current majority party in the USA is the Republican Party and the minority party is the Democratic Party. How did the two party system start? Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were the first to initially be part of the development of political parties.
With two parties you are polarizing the electorate. In terms of the party system, America is currently in the sixth party system which is focused on the candidate. During the 2016 primary elections, voters seemed to focus more on the candidate than the party. For example, republican voters hated Hillary Clintons email scandal and hence many voters turned towards Donald Trump. Primary elections have influenced voters to focus on the candidate’s personality rather than policy base.
The two-party system has sustained for all of the American political history and has become a trademark recognized by all Americans. “Despite civil upheavals, wars, and the collapse of several parties, two parties have dominated nearly every national political contest since the early 19th century” (“Two-Party System”). But, in what way, historically, has this system, that has sustained damage and prevailed against all odds, been detrimental to the United States governmental system? This ancient system has caused voters to compromise their ideology, as there is a lesser diversity of policies to complement the diverse voter population, and has allowed for already dominating parties to sustain their dominance and give little to no voice to third
The Two-Party system soon controlled the decisions of all Americans. This is all this country has ever known, and if it were to every drastically change, our country would spin into ultimate turmoil. This system works
This system may have some flaws but in the end it is the best way that we can continue to have a two-party system and run our government the way it has continued to work for so
One major argument is that “the elimination of the Electoral College would destroy the two-party system” effectively “destroying the cohesiveness of the nation” which is not true (McCollester). Rather, the two-party system has had a negative effect on the country, “ideas outside the mainstream may have a difficult time being heard” as third parties are minimized in favor of two major parties (Hartvigsen). Maintaining the Electoral College to preserve the two-party system is pointless; a greater variety of candidates could improve elections and better represent voters (pattern 1). Others have argued that the Electoral College is a sacrosanct tradition that is endemic to the country and the paradigm of voting systems; however, traditions can change (pattern 1a, list 4, 12, 14). However, many scholars and savants censure and deride the system because of its age, claiming that it “was obsolete within a bare decade of its inauguration” and has been outgrown by the country (Rakove, list 8, 13).
Unfortunately, the country still till this day have political parties. Many say the era where divided government began before
Therefore, once the voters discern that the current status quo is unproductive, they seek another path to follow to tackle these inefficiencies. Since our nation prides itself on the two-party system, voters really do not have the choice but to turn to
7/9/2023 The Evolution of the Political Party and Political Polarization [1] After the events of the American Revolution, in his Farewell Address, President George Washington warned against the nature of political parties; however, as political affairs became increasingly complex, the government required a different system. Today, and throughout much of American history, this system takes the form of political parties. Furthermore, despite the existence of other parties like the Green Party, Reform Party, and Socialist Party, the only two political parties genuinely elected within the United States are the Democrat Party and Republican Party. Even with just two parties within the election system, dynamic change, and rich history
Partisans on both sides of politics are often so angry with each other that they barely communicate, making it difficult to work together to find solutions for America’s issues. Extreme partisans sometimes refuse to work with members of an opposing party. Each party believes the other is treasonous, and is purposely harming the nation. The same Pew Research Center study found that opposite sides do not just believe they have better ideas, but honestly think the other party is more interested in partisan gains than the well-being of the nation. The study also found that over that last thirty years the nation has become more partisan, and Congress has become less effective.
The power struggle between the two main parties causes conflict within governments and between governments and their people when the people are not properly represented, and trifectas can cause bills that represents a minority of the overall population to quickly become law and legislations, distancing themselves from the people that they are supposed to govern. Minorities, such as women and people of color, are underrepresented under a two-party system, and third and independent parties rarely get elected seats. In the end, America would benefit from a new system that would create more options and provide better representation than the current two-party system that is in place. As J.T. Young
Finally, it will be argued that the modern political party system in the United States is a two-party system dominated by the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. These two parties have won every United States presidential election since 1852 and have controlled the United States Congress since 1856. The Democratic Party generally positions itself as centre-left in American politics and supports a modern American liberal platform, while the Republican Party generally positions itself as centre-right and supports a modern American conservative platform. (Nichols, 1967)
Political parties serve countless roles in America’s government. Foremost, it needs to be said they are crucial to America’s political system. The political parties are the heart and brain of our government's body, urging people to conceive and feel different ways on different topics whether the controversy is over how money is distributed or the way immigrants should be treated or dealt with. With each party having a biased view it shows how a group can be increasingly powerful with bountiful amounts of support, names and divisions can be heard. Democrats are widely known to be liberal rather than conservative.
