5.4 How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt

• What are political parties organized groups designed to influence?

  Government policy
• One function of political parties is to recruit and nominate candidates
• Educating voters about party positions is a key function of political parties.
• What do political parties do when they are in power?

  Implement party policies
• Match the factor influencing party change with its description:

  Critical elections ↔️ Realign voter coalitions and platforms

  Major policy shifts ↔️ Changes in party positions on issues

  Leader turnover ↔️ New perspectives and strategies

  Changing demographics ↔️ Parties adapt to evolving groups

  Economic conditions ↔️ Influence voter preferences and agendas
• Arrange the major eras of the United States party system in chronological order:

  1️⃣ First Party System (1792-1824)

  2️⃣ Second Party System (1828-1854)

  3️⃣ Third Party System (1854-1896)

  4️⃣ Fourth Party System (1896-1932)

  5️⃣ Fifth Party System (1932-1968)

  6️⃣ Sixth Party System (1968-present)
• Which party system saw the rise of Republicans due to the slavery crisis?

  Third Party System
• The Fifth Party System was characterized by the New Deal coalition
• The Sixth Party System is marked by increased political polarization.
• What is the term for elections that realign voter coalitions and party platforms?

  Critical elections
• Match the political process with its definition:

  Realignment ↔️ Major shift in voter loyalty

  Dealignment ↔️ Decline in voter attachment to parties
• What are some causes of dealignment in voter attachment to political parties?

  Dissatisfaction with ideologies
• Targeted advertising allows parties to tailor their messages to specific voter groups
• Organizing and mobilizing voters is a key function of political parties.
• What is one example of governing by political parties when in power?

  Implementing policies
• Arrange the major eras of the United States party system in chronological order:

  1️⃣ First Party System (1792-1824)

  2️⃣ Second Party System (1828-1854)

  3️⃣ Third Party System (1854-1896)

  4️⃣ Fourth Party System (1896-1932)

  5️⃣ Fifth Party System (1932-1968)

  6️⃣ Sixth Party System (1968-present)
• Which party system saw the decline of the Federalists?

  First Party System
• The Second Party System featured the Democrats and the Whigs
• What is the primary focus of the United States party system's evolution?

  Key periods
• The First Party System (1792-1824) involved the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, and a significant event was the election of Thomas Jefferson
• What was a major change during the Second Party System (1828-1854)?

  Rise of Jacksonian democracy
• The Republican Party rose to prominence during the Third Party System (1854-1896) due to the slavery crisis.
• Which movement influenced the Fourth Party System (1896-1932)?

  Progressive movement
• The Fifth Party System (1932-1968) saw the emergence of the New Deal coalition and Democratic dominance
• What characterizes the Sixth Party System (1968-present)?

  Increased polarization
• What is the process of realignment in a party system?

  Significant shift in voter loyalty
• Dealignment leads to a decline in voter attachment to political parties.
• Order the key differences between realignment and dealignment:

  1️⃣ Realignment involves a major voter shift, while dealignment involves a decline in voter attachment

  2️⃣ Realignment is caused by critical elections, economic crises, or policy shifts

  3️⃣ Dealignment is caused by dissatisfaction, changing attitudes, or increased information access
• Technology plays a critical role in party adaptation through digital media, data analytics, and targeted advertising
• How do demographic shifts influence party change?

  By altering voter base composition
• Younger voters may favor progressive policies, while older voters often support conservative platforms.
• Social movements often influence political party platforms by raising awareness about critical issues
• Which social movement influenced parties to support same-sex marriage?

  LGBTQ+ Rights
• Order the adaptation strategies parties use to maintain relevance:

  1️⃣ Modernizing platforms

  2️⃣ Revising voter targeting

  3️⃣ Utilizing digital tools

  4️⃣ Rebranding

  5️⃣ Forming coalitions
• Critical elections can realign voter coalitions and alter party platforms.
• New leaders can bring fresh perspectives and strategies to political parties
• Critical elections are defined as elections that realign voter coalitions and alter party platforms
• Leader turnover in a political party always results in significant policy changes.

  False
• Order the eras of the United States party system chronologically.

  1️⃣ First Party System (1792-1824)

  2️⃣ Second Party System (1828-1854)

  3️⃣ Third Party System (1854-1896)

  4️⃣ Fourth Party System (1896-1932)

  5️⃣ Fifth Party System (1932-1968)

  6️⃣ Sixth Party System (1968-present)
• The First Party System in the United States featured the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans