America has been a two - party , Democrat - and - Republican system for so long that it sometimes feels like they ’re the only political parties we ’ve ever had . But throughout our history , other party found their way into the spotlight — with mixed outcome . We take a flavour back at some of the most successful third parties in our country ’s history .
1. ANTI-MASONIC
The first third company in American history , the Anti - Masonic Party was exactly what it sounds like : Their sole issue was opposition to the Freemasons , a hidden society that was wide blamed for the disappearance of William Morgan , a New Yorker who had contrive to publish a book of the sodality ’s secrets . begin in New York in 1827 , they grapple to elect 15 member to the New York Assembly ( compare to 12 for candidates aligned to then - president John Quincy Adams ) . However , they were unable to get a senator elected because it turned out the movement ’s nominee in their hard district was really a Mason . In 1828,the movement extend national , drawing support from the wholesale animosity toward Masons holding public office .
What Party Members fend For : Opposition to the Freemason frat for its elitism and silence , which they considered un - American .
Notable Members : Attorney General William Wirt
Why They Disappeared : Though the Anti - Masons introduced the drill of nominating conventions and party platforms , they did n’t have enough impulse to get them past their first presidential election . Wirt , their1832 campaigner , only win Vermont , and soon they were gradually absorbed by the freshly - institute Whig Party , before in full disappearing before the 1840 election .
2. NULLIFIER
John C. Calhoun , then the frailty president , started this short - populate party in 1828 under the banner of states ’ rights . However , the political party did n’t have much reach beyond its foundation in South Carolina .
What Party Members stand For : The vista that states could nullify federal jurisprudence within their own mete .
Notable member : Vice President John C. Calhoun , Senator Stephen Decatur Miller
Why They Disappeared : After putting Virginia Governor John Floyd at the top of their 1832 ticket against his will , the party only won South Carolina ’s 11 electoral voting , and petered out as a national organization . Though Nullifiers served in the U.S. Senate and House throughout the 1830s , the last party member leave the House in 1839 .
3. WHIG
Formed in 1834 , the Whigs were n’t united under any core beliefs or value system . alternatively , they came together in their common hate of President Andrew Jackson , whom they dubbed “ King Andrew ” for what they saw as his totalitarianism in office . In an attempt to contrive the election to the House of Representatives , they ran a number of candidate in 1836 — one each for the East , South , and West , as well as an unexpected fourth candidate in South Carolina — and in 1840 won the White House by nominating military Cuban sandwich William Henry Harrison .
What Party Members stand For : Though they began with a consolidative antagonism for Jackson , they never developed a common party chopine , and were ride mostly by their dream — signification , whatever would win them an election .
Notable Members : Presidents William Henry Harrison , John Tyler , Zachary Taylor , Millard Fillmore , and Abraham Lincoln ( who was elected to the House of Representatives as a Whigin 1846 ) .
Why They Disappeared : By the remnant of the 1840s , the Whigs had separated into factions over slaveholding : The Conscience Whigs were against it , while the Cotton Whigs sustain it . The Whigs were unable to bridge over the gap , and they effectively disappeared by 1854 , when the Republican party formed .
4. FREE SOIL
Calling for “ costless dirt , free talking to , costless labor and gratis men , ” the Free Soil Party was combine by a single issue : observe slaveholding out of the new territories that had been acquired from Mexico in 1848 . For many party members , though , the trouble with slavery was n’t moral ; it was rooted in eliminating competition from smutty laborers — enslaved or free — in the new territories .
What Party Members Stood For : Opposing the extension service of slavery .
Notable member : Former President Martin Van Buren , U.S. Senator John P. Hale
Why They Disappeared : Despite put Van Buren , a former president , at the top of their ticket in the 1848 election , the company only arrest 10 percent of the vote . When campaigner John P. Hale set about just 5 percent four old age later , the national party fell into disarray , and in 1854 , was subsumed by the Republican Party , who partake Free Soilers ’ opposition to slavery .
5. KNOW NOTHING
Much like today , immigration was a hotbutton issue throughout the United States in the 1840s and 1850s . As millions of people pour in from Germany , Ireland , China , and other countries , some Americans felt threatened , and nativist groups set about to boom in secret . Officially known as the American Party , the Know Nothings Party receive its byname when members , wary of any care and looking for deniability , told odd reporters : “ I have intercourse nothing . ”
What Party Members endure For : Vast restrictions on immigration , include a up to 21 - class residence requirement for citizenship , excluding anyone not born in the U.S. from voting or holding public post , and universal hostility to foreigner .
Notable Members : Former President Millard Fillmore , U.S. Representative Nathaniel Banks , U.S. Representative Lewis Levin
Why They evaporate : At the party ’s conventionality in 1856 , delegate quarreled over whether to endorse thraldom : When Southern Know - Nothings argue for a pro - slavery board , the Northerners left to join forces with the Republican party . Though they name Fillmore , he carried only one state — Maryland — in the election , and the party dilapidate shortly after .
6. POPULIST
prompt by the crusade for agricultural reform in the South and Midwest in the eighties , the Populist Party , also recognise as the People ’s Party , officially launch in 1892 . The group press for reform that would put sodbuster on equal economic footing with industry and patronage . Though the national party was relatively short - live , its left over - wing idea found raw life a few decades subsequently in Theodore Roosevelt ’s Progressive Party .
What Party Members Stood For : increase the circulating currency to set off economic depression , a graduate income tax , banking reform , and more federal intervention to prevent poverty among the poor and working division .
Notable extremity : U.S. Representative James B. Weaver , U.S. Senator Marion Butler , U.S. Senator Tom Watson
Why They Disappeared : Weaver , the Populists ’ 1892 presidential candidate , gain over one million votes , but in the years before the next election the party get division amongst its rank . Fusion Populists reason that the party should join with the Democrats to commit the latter further to the left ; mid - roaders advocated that they remain in the sweet-smelling spot in between the two major party . What stay of the political party fell asunder when populist endorsed the Democratic prospect , William Jennings Bryan , at their 1896 convention . The party organization — but not its ideas — soon go out .
7. BULL MOOSE
After failing to clench the Republican nominating speech in 1912 because of what he feel was a steal election , former President Theodore Roosevelt threw out his GOP rank card in favor of a sliver political party : the Progressives . The party , which shape later that summer , was on the side dubbed the Bull Moose Party , after its willful measure - toter .
What Party Members brook For : Many liberal reforms , including womanhood ’s suffrage , the beginnings of a internal healthcare system , and an eight - 60 minutes workday for women and children .
Notable phallus : Former President Theodore Roosevelt , California Governor Hiram Johnson
Why They disappear : Though the Roosevelt - head ticket earned 25 per centum of the vote in November , the political party machinery did n’t have the impulse to continue on much longer . In 1916 , delegates again make their Bull Moose , but he refused to accept , and the Progressive faction dissolved .
8. DIXIECRATS
Also know as the States ’ Rights Party , the Dixiecrats were aggravate Southern Democrats who ’d had enough of their northerly opposite number ’ civil right agenda and , in 1948 , split off to shape a new party . The group was only active for that presidential election , put forward South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond in the promise of part the balloting , creating a stalemate , and strongarming one of the major party into dropping their polite rights board .
What Party Members Stood For : Opposition to federal regulations that , in their opinion , step in with DoS ’ rights , as well as to the Democrats ’ civil rightfulness push .
Notable Members : South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond , Mississippi Governor Fielding L. Wright
Why They Disappeared : When their political strategy fail , leaving them with just 39 electoral votes — not enough to alter the election — the Dixiecrats were allow without a unifying objective , and ultimately disbanded .
