I have read the two party systems evolved due to the slavery question. But did it evolve or was it designed? A two party system uses political issues to create power. A polarized populace, one side against the other, focused on divisive arguements will keep the masses more interested in election campaign more than a populace that gets along and agrees on most. The Civil War came about by an uncontrolled political wedge created by radicals of the two most powerful political parties. The Whigs didn't count, as a political force they had no power because they didn't lean hard enough one way or the other. I think maybe those who seceded saw the future of what would become a continious, never ending, divisive and easier corruptible political system now used by both parties and were trying to separate from it to avoid losing political power to it. Of course the two party system didn't come about over night but its seed was sewed during the Second Party System between 1837-1852 and came to maturity during the Fourth Party System of 1896 to 1932 and continues strongly today.

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David Upton