ABSTRACT
Americans have always been deeply suspicious of political parties. George Washington warned "in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party" in his "Farewell Address" in 1796. Why are parties so disliked if they are essential to democracy? What makes them essential in the first place? This chapter addresses those questions as it explores the role of political parties in campaigns and elections in the United States. It examines the two-party system in the United States. This will include a review of the historical development of that system and some thoughts about why it includes only two major parties. The history of political parties in the United States appears to be a tale of two parties battling for power. However, third parties have played a significant role in that tale. The Progressive era of the early twentieth century brought about many electoral reforms, including nonpartisan elections in many cities and towns.
