Political Parties and Interest Groups

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the history of the two main political groups in the United States and then compares them to interest groups. The paper examines the history and make-up of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. It then looks at the ways that interest groups help to support them. It concludes by analyzing the differences between interest groups and political parties.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Interest Groups
Interest Groups versus Political Parties

From the Paper:

"The Republican Party did not come into existence until 1850. It was formed by activists working against the institution of slavery. The first meeting of the Republican Party took place in Wisconsin and the members believed that the government should give land grants to those settling in the west (Republican Party http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm)."
"Once the party became official a formal meeting was help in 1854 in Michigan at which time the name Republican was adopted. The name was chosen because the members believed that it mean equality (Republican Party http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Democratic Party (accessed 5-1-07) http://www.democrats.org/a/party/history.html
• Interest Groups (accessed 5-1-07) http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html
• Republican Party (accessed 5-1-07) http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm
• Walker, Jack L., Jr., Mobilizing Interest Groups in America (Univ. of Mich. Press 1991).

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