Christopher C. Burkett
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POLSC 305:
POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
The purpose of this course is to gain a
better understanding of the role parties play in American
politics today by investigating and
discussing the ideas that have shaped and animated American
political parties since the early years of
the Republic. The course will focus, first of all, on the
place of parties in constitutional
government; then we will examine the major periods of
realignment within and across the parties,
including the election of 1800, the second party system
(1830s-1850s), the sectional split among
Democrats and the rise of the Republican party (1854-
1860), Progressive reforms (after 1880), the
New Deal Democratic realignment (1930s), and the
Great Society and Republican reaction after
1960. When we examine these periods of
realignment, emphasis will be on issues and
ideas. At the same time, we will discuss
contemporary issues that both influence and
are influenced by the parties today.
Fall 2006 Syllabus & Reading Plan
Week 1 Readings: Parties & the American
Founding
Week 2 Readings: Parties & the Early Republic
Week 3 Readings: 1st & 2nd Party Systems
Week 4 Readings: Birth of Republican Party
Week 6 Readings: Election of 1860
Week 7 Readings: Progressive Reform Movement
Week 8 Readings: New Deal Realignment
Week 9 Readings: The Great Society & Rise
of Conservative Movement
Weeks 10 & 11 Readings: The Importance
of Midterm Elections
Week 12 Readings: Congress & the Parties
Weeks 13, 14 & 15 Readings:
President & the Parties
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