thanks, what does party realignment mean? Does it mean when a party changes its principles to accomodate with the public? please don't give me those wiki links, thanks, but they are sort of not reliable. sorry to keep asking!

Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. Usually that means the voter switches parties.

Sra

http://www.google.com/search?q=party+realignment&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

There are various articles here that may help you. And when you go into one of the Wikipedia links, be sure to go to the bottom of the page and examine the articles under External Links. It's one of the best ways to find additional material, whether you read the Wikipedia article or not.

No problem at all! Party realignment refers to a significant shift in the political alignment and voter support of political parties. It typically occurs when there is a long-term change in the voter bases, policy priorities, or coalition formations of the parties in a political system.

Party realignment can occur for various reasons, such as shifts in social or demographic factors, major policy issues or crises, or the emergence of new political movements. It does not necessarily mean that a party changes its principles to accommodate the public, although that can be one aspect of realignment.

To understand party realignment, you can analyze historical examples and patterns. Here are a few steps to get started:

1. Research historical changes in party platforms and voter bases: Look into specific periods or events when parties underwent significant changes, such as the New Deal realignment in the United States during the 1930s.

2. Examine shifts in voter demographics: Investigate how different groups of voters have switched their support from one party to another over time. This can involve studying changes in ideology, race, religion, and other factors that influence voting patterns.

3. Analyze the impact of major political events: Explore how significant events or crises, like economic depressions, wars, or social movements, have shaped party allegiances and policy positions.

4. Read academic analyses and books on party realignment: Look for scholarly articles, books, and research papers that delve into the subject. These sources often provide in-depth analysis and historical context.

Remember, it's important to gather information from a range of reliable sources, both online and offline, to get a comprehensive understanding of party realignment.