American Government and Politics Today, Brief Edition, 2014-2015

chAPTeR seven • InTeResT GRouPs AnD PolITIcAl PARTIes 163

North versus South. At times—for example, in the North after the Civil War—cultural dif-

ferences have been important, with advocates of government-sponsored morality (such

as banning alcoholic beverages) pitted against advocates of personal liberty. During much

of the twentieth century, economic differences were pre eminent. In the New Deal period,

the Democrats became known as the party of the working class, while the Republicans

became known as the party of the middle and upper classes and commercial interests.

In situations like these, when politics is based on an argument between two oppos-

ing points of view, advocates of each viewpoint can mobilize most effectively by forming

a single, unified party. The result is a two-party system. When such a system has been in

existence for almost two centuries, it becomes difficult to imagine an alternative.

Political socialization

and Practical considerations

Given that the majority of Americans identify with one of the two major political parties,

it is not surprising that most children learn at a fairly young age to think of themselves

as either Democrats or Republicans. This generates a built-in mechanism to perpetuate a

two-party system. Also, most politically oriented people who aspire to work for change

consider that the only realistic way to capture political power in this country is to be either

a Republican or a Democrat.

Republican (Mitt Romney)

Democratic (Barack Obama)

PA

20

NY

29

ELECTORAL

VOTE

TOTAL: 538

38%

62%^206

332

WASH

12

UTAH

6

NEVADA

6

ARIZONA

11

TEXAS

38

NEBRASKA

5

IOWA

6

ILL

20

MO

10

LA

8

GA

16

FLA 29

OHIO

IN 11 18

16

SC

9

fIGuRe 7–2: The 2012 Presidential election Results by state

In the 2012 presidential elections, Democrat Barack Obama received a majority of the Electoral College

votes, defeating Republican Mitt Romney. Obama carried two fewer states than in 2008—he lost

Indiana and North Carolina. Despite the relatively good showing by the Democrats, regional political

preferences in this election were similar to those in recent elections.

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