American Party of the United States

The party began as part of the American Independent Party, supporters of George Wallace's 1968 campaign for the presidency, and was the formal name of the party on the ballot in Tennessee.^[1] The party rejected terms such as "liberal" or "conservative" instead defining themselves as those who "acknowledges the Lord God as the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the Universe and of the Nation."^[1]

The party claimed to represent "forgotten Americans" who are insulted as "Archie Bunker"^[a] and are called "old fashioned" and "flag wavers" to offer them a real patriotic option, instead of the "lesser of two evils."^[1]

The party was opposed to the Vietnam War claiming it was illegal since Congress never authorized American entry, and that it led to a generation of Americans to suffer through a war that the government had no intention of winning.^[1] However, the party also supported extra-judicial raids on Viet Cong prison camps to liberate POWs.^[1]

In 1969, the AIP became the American Party at a convention attended by representatives from 37 states. Following the 1972 election, the American Party formally split from the American Independent Party. Both parties have nominated candidates for the presidency and other offices, although the AIP has in more recent years considered itself a California affiliate of the Constitution Party. ^{[citation needed]}

In New York, the American Party ran a state ticket in 1974 under the name of Courage Party, because a state law there prohibits the use of the word "American" on the ballot. The AIP won its strongest finish in the 1972 presidential election; nominee John G. Schmitz carried 1,090,673 votes (3rd place).^{[citation needed]}

In 1990, some former members of the American party founded the Christian Party.^[2]

In 1995, the Utah Independent American Party became the party's Utah state affiliate.^[3]

The American Party has failed to achieve ballot status in any state since 1996.^{[citation needed]}

In 1998, the Utah party split and formed the Independent American Party, and began pursuing their own state affiliate parties across the country.^[4]

The party's website disappeared sometime in 2008.^{[citation needed]}

In 2010, the Ohio party endorsed several Libertarian Party candidates.^{[citation needed]}

The party had a Florida affiliate, the American Party of Florida, that appeared to carry on operations into June 2011, but became defunct after that and no longer is listed as a political party in Florida.^{[citation needed]}

In 2015, the party created a new website; a Twitter account and Facebook page were also created. The American Party is now formally known as the "American Party of the United States", and disclaims any association with the "American Party of South Carolina", the "Independent American Party", or the "American Party of America".^{[citation needed]}

Electoral History of the American Party

Sources for table:

• Ohio Elects the President (2000), pp. 143–174.
• American Party history at OurCampaigns.com
• James T. Havel, U.S. Presidential Candidates and the Elections, vol. 2