Elite Strategy and Electoral Appeals in 19th Century American Party Platforms

• In Event: Political Parties

Abstract

Over the course of the nineteenth century in the United States, political parties attempted to reconcile national and subnational conflicts to forge a winning electoral coalition. The challenges in crafting such a coalition reflects the complex relationship between elites and voters. One question is how elite perception of voter demands influenced the creation and presentation of policies in the electoral arena. A key vehicle through which to assess this strategy of political elites is the party platform, the official statement by a party in an election. Previous research has demonstrated that throughout this period, the major parties tended to emphasize the same issues in their platforms, while, for the most part, offering competing positions on those same issues. This study builds on that research by comparing the scope and breadth of the platforms in individual elections. Party leaders craft platforms to appeal to specific constituencies. The number of policies presented in a platform—its comprehensiveness—suggests the constituencies to which elites believe they need to appeal to achieve victory. This study examines state and national platforms of the major parties from 1840 through 1896 to explore the conditions under which a party advances a more, or less, comprehensive platform. I predict that if one party presents a platform focused on one or two policies, the other opposing party will offer a more comprehensive document. Overall, this study explores tensions inherent in a democratic republic in which political elites attempt to shape or be responsive to the concerns of their voters.

Author

• Adam Silver, Emmanuel College