Political Polarization Essay
Unlike many countries in Europe that have multiparty elections and parliaments, the United States government uses two-party system, and the form of the two-party was established since Civil War—Republicans and Democrats. The political conflicts between those two parties in the United States have existed for decades. However, in recent years, there appears a sign of escalation of the situation. The essential purpose of building two-party political system is to guarantee the fairness in making national decisions, avoid single-party corruption and excessive powers, and ensure the democracy. However, seen from the undying fights during the government official election period and the apparent gradually polarized judicial institution, the fairness
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The United States has had the history of political party system of "political polarization" precedent that laid the foundation for later polarization formation. The first time was during the Civil War period. It was the only time in history that existed political system cannot solve the problem of political polarization and thus endured the risk of national secession. Since the radical leader of abolitionism, William Lloyd Garrsion, published an letter that talked about abolitionism on a anti-slavery newspaper, The Liberator in 1831, until the Reconstruction, the slavery, federal split and the issues of African American civil rights successively become the reasons of party and the voters secession. In 1854, the "Kansas - Nebraska Act" provoked intense election voter reaction, voters who were supporting the slavery and the voters who proposed abolitionist divided into two camps, and the voters’ enthusiasm greatly rose. As a result, the Republican Party, a small party that only established for two years, advocated the abolition of slavery, grew to become a big party in congress in 1855 (although a minority party), and then even won the 1860 election. Equally strong reaction resulted in the southern voters to split the southern states from the federal, civil war then broke out. During this period, between the two parties of the elite and ordinary party members not only diametrically opposed on the issue of slavery and the abolition of slavery, but also in terms of voting behavior also more partisan line drawing. According to statistics, before the Republicans seize control of Congress in 1857, partisan vote was 68%. From 1857-1873, partisan voter turnout rose to 75 percent (Brady1988, P.156). After the civil war, the political parties further polarized, the two party combat reached its
The United States has had the history of political party system of "political polarization" precedent that laid the foundation for later polarization formation. The first time was during the Civil War period. It was the only time in history that existed political system cannot solve the problem of political polarization and thus endured the risk of national secession. Since the radical leader of abolitionism, William Lloyd Garrsion, published an letter that talked about abolitionism on a anti-slavery newspaper, The Liberator in 1831, until the Reconstruction, the slavery, federal split and the issues of African American civil rights successively become the reasons of party and the voters secession. In 1854, the "Kansas - Nebraska Act" provoked intense election voter reaction, voters who were supporting the slavery and the voters who proposed abolitionist divided into two camps, and the voters’ enthusiasm greatly rose. As a result, the Republican Party, a small party that only established for two years, advocated the abolition of slavery, grew to become a big party in congress in 1855 (although a minority party), and then even won the 1860 election. Equally strong reaction resulted in the southern voters to split the southern states from the federal, civil war then broke out. During this period, between the two parties of the elite and ordinary party members not only diametrically opposed on the issue of slavery and the abolition of slavery, but also in terms of voting behavior also more partisan line drawing. According to statistics, before the Republicans seize control of Congress in 1857, partisan vote was 68%. From 1857-1873, partisan voter turnout rose to 75 percent (Brady1988, P.156). After the civil war, the political parties further polarized, the two party combat reached its