AHC: Make the Readjuster Party more successful

Zioneer

Banned
So I was looking at successful American third parties on Wikipedia today, and I came across the Readjuster Party, a Virgina third party based around pro-public education, pro-trustbusting, and anti-poll tax initiatives (at least based on what the Wiki says). Apparently, it was very successful as a third party, getting a governor and two senators (in fact, one of the senators was William Mahone, the founder of the Readjuster Party).

All in all, they seem to have been pretty successful and somewhat interesting. So how can we make them even more successful and keep their appeal long-lasting?
 
Avoid the end of Reconstruction. Snake Featherston's TL has a POD where Benjamin Butler becomes Lincoln's VP and the CSA falls sooner. If Lincoln was shot (doesn't happen in that TL) and the CSA had a little rising again (happened in that TL) then I expect Butler to crush it, ram Radical Reconstruction through, be succeeded by Secretary of War Grant in '72, who with luck is succeeded by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in '80.
 
Just seems like a local variation of the liberal republicans. It looks like they never really expanded out of Virginian politics.

For a more successful party you'll need to change the end of the Civil War significantly. Perhaps Lincoln isn't assassinated and Reconstruction is a smoother process. Even though I think the best you could see would be a 'Readjuster' faction of the Republicans, likely strong in the middle and upper southern states.
 

Zioneer

Banned
Good thoughts, but I meant more successful as in more successful in Virgina. Sorry about not making that clear. I was really just thinking of having the Readjuster (am I the only one that sees "Read-juster" there?) Party be a lasting force in specifically Virgina, nothing more than that.

Good ideas though, both of you.
 
The trrouble you have is that the two main parties are both very broad church, and one or the other will be able to encompass any popular movement.

To get more parties you will need to narrow the appeal of either (or both) of the repulicians or democrats.
 
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