FEMA Camp Administrator
Cathcon
Atlas Star
Posts: 27,284
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« on: March 25, 2013, 06:27:43 PM » |
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I tend to stick with the "36 year rule" regarding these things.
1789-1824: You had Federalists vs. (Democratic) Republicans, with the Republicans eventually surpassing initial Federalist strength.
1824-1860: The "Jacksonian" era. Basically the debate over things such as internal improvements, education, the Bank, and the growing slavery crisis. Dominant parties were the National Republicans (later Whigs) and the Democrats. Republicans born during this.
1860-1896: The first era of Republican strength. Marked by Lincoln's election, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Gilded Age political alginment.
1896-1932: The "Progressive" Era, and the second era of Republican strength. As opposed to the previous era, the main political alginment is urban Republicans vs. agrarian Democrats. (compare 1896 and 1916, both being perfect examples) Ended with the Great Depression.
1932-1968: The New Deal Era. Marked by the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the first era of true Democratic strength since the "Jacksonian" era. Ended thanks to increased divisions in the "liberal consensus" over Vietnam, civil rights, etc.
1968-2008 (?): The Nixon/Reagan era of politics. Here is where the "36 year system" breaks down as, logically, it would be in 2004 that the system ended. I instead would go with 2008 as the proper year for its demise. The political system that in many ways was to be set up by Nixon was used to greater effect by Reagan. Democrats win a majority of the popular vote only once during this time, and achieve popular and electoral victory only thrice. The Republican strength is marked largely by ufulfilled economic promises, Republican domination of the foreign policy debate in most decades (70's, 80's, 00's) and such. However, much as with another Texas in the 60's, America would give a Democrat a good majority in 2008 amid failing foreign wars.
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