From
Forgotten No More:
The Third Party System (1880-1924)
Newfoundland is the only state where no Party won a plurality of elections in the Third Party System
Ute was the only state where a minor Party won a plurality of times during the Third Party System
The
Third Party System lasted almost twice as long as the
Second, and just eight years shy of the
First. It was a period marked by a return to largely bi-partisan federal government competition in the form of the Federalist Party and the newly formed Workers Party. It was an era defined by reformism across both sides of government, American involvement in critical wars, and an explosion of the American middle class. It was also a period marked by increasing government bureaucracy, corruption, scandals, and political bloodshed. Despite it overseeing two less elections than the
First, the
Third Party System carried the most Presidents of the first three systems at 14. Undoubtedly the period was marked by a few events, but the Presidency of George Armstrong Custer is easily considered a watershed moment in US history. Though Custer did not destroy the Third Party System, he did change it substantially and played a major role in the eventual growth of the Constitution Party. As such, the system can be sub-divided into two phases, the
Early Third and the
Late Third, both spanning 6 elections a piece.
Early Third
Newfoundland did not participate in any election during the Early Third
Gray states indicate a tie between the Workers and Federalist Party
Virginia voted for the Federalist candidate in all six elections, while Indiana, Lee and Minnesota all voted for the Workers candidate in all six elections.
The
Early Third saw six different Presidents, massive economic and foreign policy success, on the backs of reforms meant to bring up the average American so that another crisis like the Long Sad would never befall America again. Despite the important reforms of the era, typically associated with the Workers, only two of the six men that held the office in this phase of the
Third Party System were members of the Party. The other four were Federalists, and one, George Armstrong Custer, would serve longer than any other President in United States history at 11 years in office. Custer would be the first President elected to three terms. His 1896 victory is considered the biggest theft in US election history, and it heralded Electoral College reform. Minimum wage laws, income taxes, and an assortment of other labor laws were the main focus of debate in these years, culminating in the 1900 election of Thompson Murch, called the
New England Marx by opponents. The period is also notable for the Great War that occurred during Custer's presidency which greatly expanded the United State's border and standing internationally, despite costing hundreds of thousands of lives and having started on dubious grounds. Custer's decision to use federal troops to defend black voters across the Upper South would be tipping points amongst many who felt the federal government had overstepped it's boundaries. The factions would eventually coalesce under the moniker of the Constitution Party in 1904, bringing in the
Late Third.
Late Third
Gray states indicate a tie between the Workers and Federalist Party
The Constitution Party won a plurality of elections in three states during the Late Third
The
Late Third spans the latter half of the
Third Party System and is marked by the more volatile nature of the economy, the rise of soqualist common thought, and the
Reactionary Movement of the early 20th Century. The Constitution Party would be the only third party to garner significant staying power throughout the
Third Party System, becoming the embodiment of the
Reactionary Movement with it's social conservatism, pro-state rights, anti-government platform. Federal troops became an election constant in various states creating much turmoil. Rather than reducing election violence, clashes between private militias and federal ballot guards became frequent. Amongst the most racist circles, attacks against black Americans intensified; lynchings rose exponentially in the
Late Third. Black militias would also form in this period as a reaction, centered on the Reconstructed States, but also present across cities of the Midwest where many African-Americans settled in the
Early Third. The social movement known as
common thought soqualism became mainstream during this period; President Miles continued to protect black troops, the Federalists nominated Booker T. Washington in 1912, Andy Rabinovich was elected and his sweeping reforms passed, then W.E.B. Du Bois would be elected in 1920. Of course, Rabinovich, and Du Bois, would be assassinated, and the latter assassination would rock the nation into a breaking point. With the Constitution Party outlawed and it's leaders arrested following their alleged involvement in the Inaugural Day Riot and Assassination of Du Bois and Hawley, the nation fell into a three-way Civil Crisis. With States threatening secession, and others harboring illegitimate
Free Republic governments, radical change was coming to America. Nicholas Butler would win the last election in the
Third Party System, bringing with him a new Constitutional Convention and, undoubtedly, a new era of politics in America.