Why Parties?

Acknowledgments Pt. 1: Political Parties and Democracy 1: Politics and Parties in America 2: Why Parties Form Pt. 2: Party Formation in America, 1790-1860 3: Founding the First Parties: Institutions and Social Choice 4: Jacksonian Democracy: The Mass Party and Collective Action 5: Whigs and Republicans: Institutions, Issue Agendas, and Ambition Pt. 3: The New Political Party in Contemporary America 6: Party Activists and Partisan Cleavages in Contemporary Elections 7: Political Parties and Governance 8: The Critical Era of the 1960s Pt. 4: Conclusions 9: Political Parties, Historical Dynamics, and Democratic Politics Notes References Index