HIST 311 - History of American Political Parties

Is an assessment of the role of political parties in American national life from the Age of Jefferson to the present. Course topics will include: the role of parties and partisan competition in the development of democracy; how parties facilitate governing in the United States; distinctive features of the two-party system; and, the role of third parties throughout American history. The course will also emphasize the cultural roots of political affiliation and the ways in which orthodox and progressive strains are manifest in American politics.

Prerequisite(s): HIST 105
Credits: 3 hours