Explain the effects of third/minor parties on American politics. What conditions help third/minor parties thrive? Use examples to support your answer

What will be an ideal response?

An ideal response will:
1, Describe how third/minor parties affect the two major political parties by making important contributions to the political process, revealing sectional and political divides, bringing to light new issues and neglected causes, or by altering the outcome of an election.
2, Indicate that minor parties thrive when the two major parties fail to incorporate new ideas or alienated groups or if they nominate weak (unattractive) candidates for office. For example, the Green Party pushes an environmental agenda and counts alienated environmentalists as members.