American Party is a conservative political party in the United States. The party was set up in 1968 under the name American Independent Party to support former Governor George C. Wallace of Alabama in his campaign for President. Wallace had been governor of Alabama from 1963 to 1967 and had run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for president in 1964. Wallace had gained national attention by resisting the U.S. government’s efforts to desegregate Alabama public schools.
The roots of the American Independent Party can be traced back to the 1960 presidential election. Six of Alabama’s 11 Democratic electors in the Electoral College rejected the national Democratic candidate, John F. Kennedy. Instead, they cast their votes for Senator Harry F. Byrd of Virginia.
In 1968, Wallace’s supporters succeeded in placing the American Independent Party on the ballot in every state. That year, Wallace chose retired General Curtis E. LeMay as his running mate. The party platform condemned government welfare programs, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and what the party considered a “no-win” policy in the Vietnam War. Republican Richard M. Nixon won the 1968 election. Wallace ran far behind the Democratic candidate, Hubert H. Humphrey. However, Wallace got 131/2 percent of the popular vote and 46 electoral votes.
In 1969, representatives from 38 states established the American Party as the successor to the American Independent Party. In 1976, the party split into the American Party and the American Independent Party. Both of the parties have nominated candidates for the presidency and other offices. But neither party achieved the strength of the American Independent Party under Wallace’s leadership. The Know-Nothing Party of the 1850’s also used the name American Party (see Know-Nothings ).
