What role has the The Third Party now referred to as The Minor Parties played in American politics?
hi1954 Teacher eNotes Editor “Third party” political parties have traditionally been parties with limited platforms such as the Anti-Masonic Party or the Prohibition Party, ones with specific philosophical bases such as various socialist parties, or those coalescing around specific personalities, such as the Progressive (or “Bull Moose”) Party centering on former President Theodore Roosevelt. “Third party” is somewhat of a misnomer, as frequently there are more than one operating at a time. Such parties contested the presidential election of 1832 and every one since 1840. Some of these have been splits from the two major parties (the Democratic-Republican Party which became the Democrats, the other the Federalists then Whigs then Republicans). Splits have produced parties such as the Free Soil Party and the Progressives. Other third parties are complete alternatives to the major parties, including the Socialist, Socialist Workers and Communist Parties, as well as America First, Populis
