The Sixth Political System – The Disguised Multi Party Era Political scientists have classified five distinct party systems in American history. First being the Federalist vs. Democratic-Republicans or Antifederalist (Brewer 2012, 26). This was the period to settle the disputes of the post-Independence and the early growing pains of a new nation. Followed by the second period led by an “Era of Good Feeling” (Brewer 2012, 28) and then captured by the Jacksonian Period. Followed by the third system or post-Civil War period. Known for the patronage jobs distributed by huge political machines (Brewer 2012, 35). Followed by the fourth political system or “Era of Reform” (Brewer 2012, 39). Commonly referred to as the “Two Republican Eras” that sandwiched …show more content…
This defining case divides the electorate on social issues from now on changing the electorate (Brewer 2012, 45). The new electorate identifies with social issues that cross former boundaries and demographics not witnessed in previous eras too. The eighties the Republican will define their party in terms of social issues, trying to make some sense of party alignment with this rising social issue identification or emerging political system. The Reagan era declared, Republicans the conservatives of social issues (Brewer 2012, 46). According to Maisel and Brewer in Parties and Elections in America, social issues will become important to the voters and defining identification for party alignment (Brewer 2012, 46). However, this was short lived at best. Brewer concludes, “Parties no longer serve as issue short cuts for voters…” (Brewer 2012, 47). The parties have weakened and become partisan, while the social issues have intensified and continue to gain importance to the voters. This conflict has seen the emergence of increased independents identifying with social issues rather than the defined two-party system of the …show more content…
National Election Studies (NES) examined data in the 1960’s and 1970’s found the American electorate were growing less committed to a specific party and beginning to look at candidate characteristics or a specific social issue (Brewer 2012, 84). Theses early signs alone were far from the declaration of any critical realignment yet. Changing American Voter claimed in 1979 that these issues have not led to any realignment due to the very fact that the parties themselves were weak and inconsistent (Brewer 2012, 85). The very nature of political parties lack of definition and control left voters ambiguous and even affiliated candidates grew independent within its own ranks (Brewer 2012, 85). Independents and ticket splitting were almost nonexistent until now as research continued to measure the decline of party identification (Ward 1973, 391). The two party system continued to ignore this trend and claimed victory and control when