The System has Changed.

TL;DR

Overall Summary: American politics operates in distinct "party systems" defined by consistent voter coalitions and beliefs, and we've likely entered a seventh era driven by Trump's populist nationalism and the rejection of neoliberal consensus.

Key Points

• 1.Party systems are eras when the two major parties' beliefs and voter bases remain stable before dramatically shifting
• 2.First system (1790s-1820s): Federalists vs Democratic-Republicans fought over federal power and national banking
• 3.Second system (1820s-1850s): Democrats (Jackson's populism) vs Whigs collapsed over slavery expansion
• 4.Third system (1850s-1890s): Republicans (Lincoln, civil rights, strong federal government) dominated; Democrats held the South
• 5.Fourth system (1890s-1930s): Progressive Era—both parties supported breaking monopolies, worker rights, and taxing the wealthy
• 6.Fifth system (1930s-1970s): FDR's New Deal created lasting consensus; both parties preserved social welfare programs
• 7.Sixth system (1980s-2010s): Reagan's neoliberalism dominated—both parties agreed on free trade, interventionist foreign policy, and capitalism
• 8.Seventh system (now): Trump transformed Republicans into populist nationalists rejecting free trade; Democrats shifting left on economics; geographic coalitions have flipped