Minor Parties in Realigning Eras

Abstract

This article treats the minor party as an independent variable in the realignment process and establishes an association between the strength of the minor party and the sharpness of the realignment. The research correlates the percentage of the Democratic vote in counties throughout the nation over three historical periods, 1884 to 1900, 1916 to 1932, and 1960 to 1976. In the first two eras the data supported the conclusion that the minor parties (the Populist party in the election of 1892 and the Progressive party in the election of 1924) were strongly associated with the sharpness of the realignment process. No realignment was uncovered for the third period, although there was evidence of electoral disaggregation. The relevance of the minor party, the American Independent Party, could not be determined.