2. What is politics?
• Politics – effort to influence the behavior and
policies of the government
• Political parties - groups of people who share
similar beliefs about how the government
should be run and how the issues facing our
country should be solved
3. Roles of Parties
• Nominate candidates
• Influence policy
• Create policy
• Unite government
• Create balance
– Majority – focuses govt. attention on issues important
to them
– Minority – opposes majority, keeps them in check
• Inform citizens of issues and how the govt. works
– beware of BIAS!!!!
4. What do they believe?
• Platform – what the party “stands on” – their
views on specific issues (ex. The
economy, national security)
• Ultimate goal – GET THEIR CANDIDATE
ELECTED!!!!
– Once in office, the elected official creates policy
that reflects the platform
5. Party Systems
• Single party – NOT democracies – no
opposition (ex. China – ruled by the
Communist party)
• Two-party – third parties exist but rarely gain
enough power to win elections (ex. The U.S.!)
• Multi-party – three or more parties
(sometimes more than 20!) – no party gains
control of the govt. so they work together
6. Both Reformers – fought
for votes in the middle
(Moderates)
Liberal Conservative
Eugene Woodrow Teddy Pres.
Debs Wilson Roosevelt William Taft
(Democrat) (Progressive/ (Republican
Socialist
Bull Moose incumbent)
Party Party)
7. The RESULTS
• ¾ of Americans voted for
parties of CHANGE Woodrow Wilson 41.48%
Theodore Roosevelt 27.39%
– T.R. and Taft – 7 million William Howard Taft 23.18%
– Wilson - 6 million Eugene Debs 5.99%
– Debs - 1 million
Wilson didn’t have a majority, BUT
Republicans split the vote –
WILSON WINS!
8. • How is this person influencing the outcome of
an election, even though he thinks he is
wasting his vote?
9.
10. • During the mid term elections in 1874, Democrats tried to scare voters into
thinking President Ulysses S. Grant would seek to run for an unprecedented third
term. Thomas Nast, a cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly, depicted a Democratic
donkey trying to scare a Republican elephant – and both symbols stuck.
• http://www.gop.com/our-party/our-history/
11. Donkeys to the Left, Elephants to the
Right
• Political parties tend to have very different
ideologies – basic beliefs about
life, culture, government and society.
12. • On the next slide, read about the Republican
and Democrats’ views on major issues, and
summarize each in your notes.
13.
14.
15. Now, test your knowledge of the
political spectrum
• Complete the handout that you were given in
class entitled “One Big Party?”
– Going to Extremes
– Left or Right?
16. Pre Class
• Complete the political ideology survey in your
candidate packet. We’ll go over it together!
• Rank the major issues according to which
matter most of you (front page of your
packet).
21. “Take the Other to Lunch”
• Why is it dangerous to “otherize” people we
don’t agree with?
• What does Elizabeth Lesser suggest we do in
order to understand people we don’t agree
with?
• What were her and the Tea Party woman most
surprised to learn?
22. Group Presentations
• Session 1
– Jobs and the Economy
– Education
• Session 2
– Immigration
– Social Issues
• Session 3
– Healthcare
23.
24. TODAY!
• Research your issue
– www.myhistoryteach.com
– Click Election 2012 Resources
– CNN Election Center and the Candidates’
websites are great resources!
• REMEMBER
– 10 facts for each candidate!
–Quotes!
–Why is this issue important?
25. Today!
• Go to www.socrative.com and click “student
login”
• Join room mrsL108
• Take the short quiz (be sure to enter your
name)
• Work on your candidate research!
• If you finish – play the candidate matching
game at the top of the election resources
page!
26. The Electoral College
(up to date map)
• Electoral college –
• Swing state –
• Polling -
