Question 1

Which of the following is the primary goal of an American political party?

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of an American political party is to get the party's candidates elected to office by winning elections. While the other options may play a role in a political party's activities, this is the main priority.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes political parties during the period leading up to the Civil War?

Accepted Answer

The Whig Party split over the issue of slavery, and antislavery factions of many parties coalesced to form the Republican Party. This is the most accurate description of the political parties leading up to the Civil War. The split of the Whig Party over slavery was a key factor in the formation of the Republican Party, which was dedicated to opposing the spread of slavery in the United States. The Federalist Party had ceased to exist by this time period, so it did not experience a resurgence of support.

Question 3

Just prior to the Civil War, which party was born from a coalition of antislavery Liberty Party members, Free Soilers, and antislavery northern Democrats?

Accepted Answer

The Republican Party was born from a coalition of antislavery Liberty Party members, Free Soilers, and antislavery northern Democrats just prior to the Civil War.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes George Washington's views on political parties?

Accepted Answer

George Washington strongly warned against the formation of political parties in his farewell address, seeing them as a threat to national unity and popular government. He believed that they would lead to the elevation of one faction over another, to the detriment of the common good.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the system of patronage?

Accepted Answer

Patronage was a system where political power was used to grant government jobs and contracts to reward party loyalists. This system was widely practiced in the United States before the civil war.

Question 6

Which of the following is the lowest layer of official party machinery?

Accepted Answer

The local organization supported by district leaders, precinct or ward captains, and party workers is the lowest layer of official party machinery. They are responsible for organizing local events, mobilizing voters, and coordinating with higher levels of the party organization.

Question 7

The four most important functions of a political party are structuring the voting choice in elections, proposing alternative government programs, coordinating the actions of government officials, and which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Nominating candidates for election to public office is one of the most important functions of a political party as it allows for individuals to run for office under a particular party’s platform and ideology. This helps the voters to understand the options available to them and make informed decisions while voting.

Question 8

The first political parties in the United States, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, had opposing views related to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Federalists believed in a strong national government, while the Anti-Federalists favored greater power for the individual states. This disagreement was a major issue during the ratification of the Constitution and was tied to concerns about potentially oppressive federal authority.

Question 9

Which of the following describes the formation of the modern Republican Party?

Accepted Answer

The modern Republican Party was formed from a coalition of antislavery factions, including members of the Whig, Free-Soil, and Know-Nothing parties, in response to the expansion of slavery in the United States.

Question 10

From 1832 to 1856, which two parties dominated American politics and presidential elections?

Accepted Answer

The Democrats and Whigs dominated American politics and presidential elections from 1832 to 1856. The Democratic Party was led by Andrew Jackson and his supporters, who emphasized individual liberty and states' rights. The Whig Party, founded in opposition to Jackson's policies, sought to limit the power of the executive branch and promote economic development through government intervention. This period saw the election of Democratic presidents such as Jackson, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, and Franklin Pierce, as well as Whig presidents such as William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Millard Fillmore.

Question 11

The task of planning the next campaign and convention, obtaining financial contributions, and publicizing the national party belongs to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The national chairperson is responsible for these tasks as the leader of the national party.

Question 12

Minor political parties that present an alternative to the two dominant political parties in the American political system are known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Third parties are the minor political parties that present an alternative to the two dominant political parties in the American political system. Factions refer to groups within political parties that have different views or interests, alternative parties and choice parties are not common terms used to refer to minor political parties, and right wingers is a term used to describe a specific political ideology rather than a minor political party.

Question 13

Which of the following is a group of individuals who join together to choose candidates for elected office, whether by informal group voting or a formal nominating process?

Accepted Answer

A political party is a group of individuals who come together to choose candidates for elected office, whether through an informal group voting process or a formal nominating process. Interest groups, labor unions, lobbies, and special interest groups may have certain political preferences or endorse candidates, but they do not have the primary purpose of selecting candidates for election.

Question 14

A political party is a group of individuals who do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A political party is essentially an organized group of people who come together to win elections and operate the government. While they may have designated leaders and shared policy positions, the primary goal is to gain power and influence in government. Therefore, option D is the best choice as it accurately reflects the primary purpose of a political party.

Question 15

What is at the top of the party organization with its members chosen by each state party organization?

Accepted Answer

National committees are at the top of the party organization with its members chosen by each state party organization.

Question 16

The main purpose of a political party is to do which of the following in order to control government and implement its policies?

Accepted Answer

The main purpose of a political party is to win elections in order to control government and implement its policies. While the other options may also be important activities of a political party, they ultimately serve the overall goal of winning elections.

Question 17

The first partisan political division in the United States was between which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The first partisan political division in the United States was between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, who clashed over the ratification of the US Constitution in 1787-1788. The Democratic Party was not formed until the 1820s, and the Republican Party was not formed until the 1850s. The Whig Party emerged in the 1830s as a coalition of different political factions opposed to Democratic President Andrew Jackson. The Tories were a British political party and not relevant to early American politics.

Question 18

What most distinguishes political parties from interest groups like the AFL-CIO and the National Association of Manufacturers?

Accepted Answer

Political parties are organizations that nominate candidates to run for office and represent a wide variety of policies and interests under a general ideological umbrella. Interest groups, on the other hand, focus on specific issues and advocate on behalf of their members or constituents, but they do not run candidates for office. Therefore, the key difference between the two is that political parties nominate candidates, while interest groups do not.

Question 19

Which of the following lays out the party's core beliefs and policy proposals?

Accepted Answer

A party's platform lays out their core beliefs and policy proposals. The other options (Agenda, Charter, Constitution, White paper) may be related to a party's policies, but they do not specifically layout the party's core beliefs and policy proposals.

Question 20

After winning office in 1828, Andrew Jackson shortened the name of his party to what, signaling that it was a new kind of political party organization?

Accepted Answer

After winning office in 1828, Andrew Jackson shortened the name of his party from Democratic-Republican to simply the Democratic Party, which signaled a new kind of political party organization that would be more open to the participation of ordinary voters.

Quiz 9: Political Parties