John James Valente, Jr.
At the outset of the unit, students will receive a learning packet which will contain a general explanation of the unit, teacher expectations for content and term recognition, and various readings both primary and secondary on the development of political parties in Connecticut and in the nation as a whole.
A general explanation of the unit will include a rationale for study, and a brief summary of some classroom activities. Students will be expected to address with teacher aid the following content areas: the development of political parties in Connecticut; the lives and writings of early political party leaders most notably Noah Webster, and Joel Barlow; the issues concerning political parties and voters during party formation; and the present day party system. Students will also gain an understanding of some political science terminology and be able to define and differentiate between those terms (Appendix A). Students will be reading and analyzing early political party rhetoric and will be able to differentiate between the writings of different parties. Students will also analyze similar present day party rhetoric through contact with local politicians. Students will in addition be able to diagram in a timeline the Evolution of Political Parties in Connecticut (Appendix B).
Present day political parties as we know them with their “prime time ballyhoo,” packaged “puffs,”’ intensive organization, and declared electorate have existed for a relatively short time.
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To political scientists, a political party is an intensive organization of persons united by certain common political ideologies about the way government should be run.
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The definition of political parties in 1755, was simply a number of persons confederated by a similarity of designs or opinions in opposition to others.
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Political groups of the 18th century do not, therefore, require “intensive organization” or “ideologies about the way government should be run” to be considered political parties. Tehy simply need to be “confederated” or united by similar opinions in “opposition to others.”
If I searched Connecticut history for examples of 20th century political parties I would be guilty of presentism that is, looking for the present in the past. To avoid this historical problem, I will describe the evolution of Connecticut political parties according to the 18th century definition. Use of this definition will provide an accurate view of the 18th century perspective as to when and how political parties developed. The following narrative will include: an overview of the development of political parties in Connecticut from 1750-1818; a comparison of Connecticut party development and national party development; a summary of the lives and writings of Joel Barlow and Noah Webster; and a brief analysis of recent scholarship on the existence of a two party system in the United States. The study will address the following broad questions: How and why did political parties form in Connecticut? How can the lives of Democratic-Republican and Federalist writers illuminate this analysis? and finaly, Why did Connecticut and the rest of the United States form and maintain only two political parties?