| One of the prominent features of the American | | | | system creates unbalance. |
| political system is the presence of a competitive | | | | In a multi-party system, extreme elements are |
| two-party system. Parties were formed in the | | | | allowed in which may cause the system to |
| U.S. polity while the founding fathers were against | | | | become unstable. A single-party system is also |
| the formation of parties and George Washington | | | | unstable since not all people of a country have |
| in his farewell speech warned the nation against | | | | the same attitudes and beliefs. So, any opposition |
| parties. The reason for that might have been the | | | | to the dominant party weakens the stability of |
| fear of parties splitting the country in parts once | | | | the country. However, at this point one might say |
| they had just managed to make a union. Contrary | | | | that two parties cannot also represent the will of |
| to Washington's idea, the United States | | | | the entire nation. This is true but what is |
| experienced a short period of partyless politics. | | | | interesting about the American polity is that its |
| During the presidency of Washington's successor, | | | | two major parties are very inclusive and their |
| John Adams, the Federalists consisting of Adams | | | | views cover a long spectrum of ideas. Thus, the |
| and his allies supported a strong central | | | | need for having a three- or multi-party system is |
| government while the Democratic-Republicans of | | | | not really felt. It seems that the two parties of |
| Thomas Jefferson were more in favor of state | | | | Republicans and Democrats can be |
| power. So, the first two-party competition in the | | | | representatives of the majority of the population |
| U.S. began at that time and Jefferson who | | | | since nearly two-thirds of Americans identify |
| succeeded Adams was the first U.S. president | | | | themselves with either the Republicans or the |
| elected as the nominee of a political party. | | | | Democrats and most of those who introduce |
| The second party system began around 1824 | | | | themselves as independents have partisan |
| when the old Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans | | | | leanings. According to statistics about 71 percent |
| changed to be the Democratic Party to which | | | | of democratic-leaning independents and 79 |
| President Andrew Jackson belonged and the | | | | percent of Republican-leaning independents have |
| opposition party to the President was called the | | | | voted for their parties' nominees in the last four |
| Whig Party. The Whig Party was replaced with | | | | presidential elections. It is estimated that only 9 |
| the Republican Party which was formed in 1854. | | | | percent of Americans are 'pure independents'. We |
| Since that time the Republicans and the | | | | can see that the scope of the ideas of the two |
| Democrats have been the two major parties in | | | | parties is broad enough to represent the will of |
| the U.S. Other parties have also been formed | | | | the majority. Hence, the American two-party |
| throughout the history but they have not been | | | | system does not contradict its democracy. |
| very influential and the two parties of Republicans | | | | Moreover, in polities with the system of "first past |
| and Democrats have dominated elections in the | | | | the post" having a two-party politics is needed so |
| United States since the presidential election of | | | | that two similar candidates would not split the |
| 1860. Now, the question is 'why has the United | | | | same voters. Although the two-party system |
| States maintained a two-party system up to | | | | provides people with only two choices and limits |
| now?' | | | | the diversity of the government, it makes it |
| America since its foundation has tried to | | | | easier for the voters to vote. This is beneficial to |
| represent democracy. However, preserving a | | | | the American system which usually experiences a |
| two-party system seems contrary to what | | | | low voter turnout. |
| people expect of a democratic country. While | | | | All in all, despite the deficiencies of a two-party |
| some people believe that American two- party | | | | system and the criticism against it, in America this |
| system no longer serves the interest of the | | | | system has long been preserved. This is because |
| nation, we see that this system is unlikely to | | | | bipolarity is the most balanced system which |
| change. The reason for this lies in the American | | | | maintains consistency and promotes stability. The |
| mindset. As stated at the beginning of this essay, | | | | American two-party system; however, does not |
| the founding fathers of America were against | | | | contradict democracy since the two major parties |
| parties because they were afraid of the country | | | | have a wide range of views to which the |
| being divided in parts; thus, creating a chaotic | | | | majority of people can attach themselves. Thus, |
| environment. American polity was based on the | | | | the country maintains its stability while |
| system of checks and balances and balance is the | | | | representing the ideas of the majority via the |
| key to American mindset. A single- or multi-party | | | | two parties. |