2. How did political parties rise and then decline in influence?

3. Discuss the factors that led to the fall of political machines in the United States.

4. What groups and interests now are more likely to be affiliated with the Democratic and the Republican parties? What role do you predict for the electoral process as more people identify themselves as Independents?

5. How have religious affiliations impacted party alignments? Do you think religion plays a role in determining how people vote?

6. Why was the period after the Civil War referred to as the “golden age” of political parties? What tactics did the parties use at the time to maximize their power?