The Continuing Rhyme of History: "The Order of the Star Spangled Banner"

"As late as 1850, the two party system was, to all outward appearances, still healthy. Both the Democrats and Whigs were able to attract support in every section and neither party was able to win more than 53 percent of the popular vote. Then, in the space of just five years, the two-party system disintegrated in response to two issues: foreign immigration and the reemergence of the issues of