4.3 QuickWrite- Re-Alignment Elections

Realigning elections

Realigning elections or political realignment describe elections that cause a significant shift in the way voters align themselves, that is, in who they vote for. Such a political realignment may center on a "critical election" or be spread among several elections. More specifically, they often refer to American national elections in which there are sharp changes in issues, party leaders, the regional and demographic bases of power of the two parties, and structure or rules of the political system (such as voter eligibility, or financing), resulting in a new political power structure and a new status quo.

What happens in a party realignment?

1.The disruption of the existing political order because of the emergence of one or more unusually powerful and divisive issues

2.An election contest in which the voters shift their support strongly in favor of one party

3.A major change in policy brought about through the action of the stronger party

4. An enduring change in party coalitions, which works to the lasting advantage of the dominant party

A central component of realignment is the change in behavior of voting groups. Realignment means the switching of voter preference from one party to another, in contrast to dealignment (where a voter group abandons a party to become independent or nonvoting). 

Review the information on Re-alignment elections using the link below

2.4 Re-alignment Elections

Presidential Election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson

Presidential Election of 1828, Andrew Jackson

Presidential election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln

Presidential election of 1896, William McKinley

Presidential election of 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt 

Discussion Questions:

1. Define a Re-alignment election-

2. Review the articles in the Atlantic Links to an external site. (2019) and  Homeland Security Links to an external site. (2014), select a re-alignment election and discuss its causes and outcomes. 

This is not an analytical paper, but a summary analysis of your knowledge of the concepts in this chapter.   The response should be about 400 words (one page). Students posting less than a 400 word response will get reduced or no credit.