The Minor Parties

• What types of minor parties have been active in American politics?

• Why are minor parties important even though they seldom elect national candidates?

The Odds Are Against Them

• It is difficult for third parties candidates to raise enough money to compete with the major parties.

• Only one candidate can win in a given district. Usually the winner is either Democratic or Republican.

• Third-party candidates must show they have support by getting voter signatures to even be placed on the ballot for national office.

Minor Parties in the United States

Splinter Party

Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party

Economic Protest Parties

Example: The Greenback Party

Ideological Parties

Example: Libtertarian Party

Types of Minor Parties

Single-issue Parties

Example: Free Soil Party

Minor Parties in the United States

Why Minor Parties Are ImportantMinor parties play several important roles:

“Spoiler Role” • Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the

major parties’ candidates, especially if the minor party candidate is from a splinter party.

Critic• Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take stands on

and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore.

Innovator• Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues and

propose innovative solutions to problems. If these proposals gain popular support, they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.

Third Parties• Any party other than the two major

parties can be called a “Third party.” • No third party has ever gained control

of the White House. Sometimes, third parties win seats in Congress or gain office in lower levels of government.

• When these smaller groups challenge the two major parties, they can change the outcome of elections.

• Their most important role is to influence policy on one or more issues.

Ralph Nader, Green Party Candidate,

2000

Third Parties at the Turn of the Century

• In the late 1800s, the People’s Party, or “Populists” became popular.

• They had the support of farmers and workers who called for better working conditions.

• They never succeeded in getting a national candidate into office, many of their ideas on workers’ rights became laws in the 20th Century.

The Republicans Split

• Former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt left the Republican Party and was nominated by the Progressive Party.

• It was nicknamed the “Bull Moose Party” because TR said he was “fit as a Bull Moose”.

• TR split the 1912 Republican vote, allowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson to defeat President William H. Taft.

Ideological Third Parties• An ideology is a body of ideas put forth by a

person or group.• Minor third parties are often formed to support a

specific issue. These rise and fall over time.• Ideological parties want to change society in

major ways. • The Socialist and Communist Parties want to

nationalize major industries. The Green Party calls for companies to respect the environment.

Cult of Personality• Some third parties form from

the efforts of famous people.• If they cannot gain support

from one of the major parties, they form their own.

• H. Ross Perot’s Reform Party was a force in the 1992 and 1996 elections. This party also placed pro wrestler Jesse Ventura in the governor’s mansion in Minnesota.

• These parties usually fade after their candidate is defeated.

Minor Parties in the United States

Year Party Presidential Percent Electoral Candidate Popular Votes

Vote Received

1832 Anti-Masonic William Wirt 8% 71856 American Milliard Fillmore 22 81860 Democratic John C. Breckenridge 18 72

(Secessionist)1860 Constitutional Union John Bell 13 791892 People’s (Populist) James B. Weaver 9 221912 Bull Moose Theodore Roosevelt 27 88

(Progressive)1912 Socialist Eugene V. Debs 6 01924 Progressive Robert M. LaFollette 17 13

Minor Parties in the United States

Year Party Presidential Percent Electoral

Candidate Popular Votes Vote

Received1948 States’ Rights Strom Thurmond 2% 39

(Dixiecrat)1948 Progressive Henry A. Wallace 2 01968 American George C. Wallace 14 46

Independent 1980 National Unity John Anderson 7 01992 Reform Ross Perot 19 01996 Reform Ross Perot 8 02000 Green Ralph Nader 3 0 Reform Pat Buchanan 0 02000 Independent Ralph Nader 0 0