AH Challenge: a Major Progressive Party in the USA

[black angel]

taking one (or all) of the Progressive Parties that have started in the USA and make it a Major Party in the USA.

the Parties:
1912 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_(United_States,_1912))

1924 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_(United_States,_1924))

1948 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_(United_States,_1948))

[burmafrd]

well the Democrats claim they are progressives NOW.
Of course in this day and age that is just a code word for Liberal.

[black angel]

i'd love to see some one try and make thge 1948 party one of the big two in the US :p

[Aberblue]

taking one (or all) of the Progressive Parties that have started in the USA and make it a Major Party in the USA.

the Parties:
1912 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_%28United_States,_1912%29)

1924 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_%28United_States,_1924%29)

1948 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_%28United_States,_1948%29)

Just get Theodore Roosevelt to win in 1912, and be re-elected in 1916.

[Bobindelaware]

Right now - 2008 - the Greens are the most organized Progressive party, but I don't see them (I'm one) becoming a major party. As far as 1948, there was the danger of Progressives being labeled by McCarthy as "Communists."

Bobindelaware

[Chengar Qordath]

Just get Theodore Roosevelt to win in 1912, and be re-elected in 1916.
Definately a solid PoD, but that might well just result in the Progressives absorbing/being absorbed by the Republican party when TR makes his peace with them.

[yourworstnightmare]

Nah I would love to see a POD that creates a three party system in the US; Democrats, Republicans and Progressives. The two party system is just so dull.

[Bobindelaware]

Nah I would love to see a POD that creates a three party system in the US; Democrats, Republicans and Progressives. The two party system is just so dull.

Dull? That's about the best that can be said. There's actually not a whole lot of difference, and what difference ther is, polarizes the two. A viable third party would force everyone to talk, negotiate and actually collaborate and develop coalitions. More spice, more entrtainment, probably more involvement by average citizens.

Bobindelaware

[General Mung Beans]

taking one (or all) of the Progressive Parties that have started in the USA and make it a Major Party in the USA.

the Parties:
1912 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_%28United_States,_1912%29)

1924 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_%28United_States,_1924%29)

1948 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_%28United_States,_1948%29)

1912 is the most plausible. 1924 is barely possible while 1948 is impossible. The Progressives in '48 got 4th place and would have been destroyed in the McCarthyism of the '50s even if it survived.

[Alexius]

There is also the modern Vermont Progressive Party- but it's single-state and wouldn't have much chance anywhere else with the possible exception of Massachusetts.

[Matt Wiser]

The 1912 incarnation is the most likely, but then TR will make peace with the GOP and go from there. There's no way for the 1948 version to survive to 1952, given the anti-communism that swept the U.S. after 1949. In those days, anyone calling themselves "Progressive" was trying to hide the fact that they were Pink at best and Red at most. The fact that the Communist Party in the U.S. endorsed the 1948 Progressive ticket didn't help them any, not to mention quite a few "fellow travelers" were involved in the campaign. Any political party in the 1950s not seen as anti-communist was doomed. Period.

Nowadays "Progressive" is a term a lot of Democrats use instead of "Liberal" (which can be a political kiss of death).

[black angel]

people have talked about the 1912 party and the 1948 but not the 1924 one :confused: werid

[alt_historian]

Dull? That's about the best that can be said. There's actually not a whole lot of difference, and what difference ther is, polarizes the two. A viable third party would force everyone to talk, negotiate and actually collaborate and develop coalitions. More spice, more entrtainment, probably more involvement by average citizens.

Bobindelaware
Well, it would depend on the electoral system... if you keep it FPTP, then it becomes similar to the situation in Britain, where in England up to he last 15 years or so, it's effectively been two-party.

You only habitually need coalitions in a proportional representation system... so maybe that needs to change first.

[Derek Jackson]

I do not know if this is cheating but imagine in 1968 the anti war movement somehow united around the idea of a third party candidacy.

Suppose King survives the murder attempt and is persuaded that being a candiate is the right thing to do

Popular vote

Nixon Republican (37%)

King (Progressive) 28 %

LBJ(Democrat) 20%

Wallace (racist) 15%


Electoral vote


Nixon probably wins more than 270 electoral votes and otherwise is put into the White House by the House of Representatives/

Republicans easily win in 1972 but the Progressives (probably running McGovern easily push the Democrats into third place whilst George Wallace disapears.

Wategate comes out rather later than in OTL

1976 is close but Republicans win.

In 1980 Shirley Chislom is elected President

Greed is good (or God) Capitalism never takes hold the way it did in OTL.

[black angel]

I do not know if this is cheating but imagine in 1968 the anti war movement somehow united around the idea of a third party candidacy.

Suppose King survives the murder attempt and is persuaded that being a candiate is the right thing to do

Popular vote

Nixon Republican (37%)

King (Progressive) 28 %

LBJ(Democrat) 20%

Wallace (racist) 15%


Electoral vote


Nixon probably wins more than 270 electoral votes and otherwise is put into the White House by the House of Representatives/

Republicans easily win in 1972 but the Progressives (probably running McGovern easily push the Democrats into third place whilst George Wallace disapears.

Wategate comes out rather later than in OTL

1976 is close but Republicans win.

In 1980 Shirley Chislom is elected President

Greed is good (or God) Capitalism never takes hold the way it did in OTL.

um i doubt a King ticket could do any were near that good, and the thought of Shirley Chislom becoming President is close to ASB, how ever there is a TL about the anti-war movement forming a Progressive Party

here we are:
http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=95349