United We Stand America
Encyclopedia
United We Stand America was the name selected by Texas
businessman H. Ross Perot
for his citizen action organization after his 1992 independent political campaign for President of the United States
. Perot's 19% showing in the 1992 election was sufficient to entitle him to federal matching funds for the 1996 campaign. After the campaign, Perot announced, on January 11, 1993, the formation of a non-profit watchdog organization named United We Stand America.
themes. The eventual result of the movement that followed was United We Stand America followed by the Reform Party.
The early history of UWSA revolved around establishment of chapters in all 50 states and citizen activism against the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA). The first state granted a charter by the national leadership of UWSA, Virginia
, was chartered in June 1993. In November 1993 Ross Perot and vice-president Al Gore
conducted a nationally televised debate about NAFTA on CNN
which is still the most widely viewed political program in US history.
UWSA remained active under Perot's leadership until late 1995 when the paid staff was moved to a new organization dubbed "Citizens for the Reform Party" which actively campaigned to petition the Reform Party
on to the ballot in all 50 states for the 1996 presidential election.
, former governor of Colorado
.
Perot's running mate in 1996 was Pat Choate
, a well known author, economist and professor. The future of the Reform Party was somewhat clouded by the 1996 election results when the Perot/Choate ticket received only 9% of the overall vote. Since many states require a minimum of 10% to retain ballot access, the ability of the party to field candidates without the time and expense of petition drives was limited. However, based on the 1996 results, the party retained the ability to earn federal matching funds
in the 2000 Presidential election - a fact that was not lost on Pat Buchanan
. The battle for control of the Reform Party between many of the founding members and Buchanan's weakened the Reform Party to the extent that it has diminished as a factor in U.S. politics in the years since the 2000 election.
United We Stand America exists today as a website
which appears to be re-purposed as a debt-consolidation web site.
Archives of material from the original organization can be found at http://www.uwsa.com/books/Uwsabook.html, but the original group founded by Ross Perot ceased to be active after the Reform Party was founded in 1995.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
businessman H. Ross Perot
Ross Perot
Henry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
for his citizen action organization after his 1992 independent political campaign for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Perot's 19% showing in the 1992 election was sufficient to entitle him to federal matching funds for the 1996 campaign. After the campaign, Perot announced, on January 11, 1993, the formation of a non-profit watchdog organization named United We Stand America.
History
In the early 1990s, many people were talking about forming a new political party. These discussions centered around populistPopulism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
themes. The eventual result of the movement that followed was United We Stand America followed by the Reform Party.
The early history of UWSA revolved around establishment of chapters in all 50 states and citizen activism against the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA). The first state granted a charter by the national leadership of UWSA, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, was chartered in June 1993. In November 1993 Ross Perot and vice-president Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
conducted a nationally televised debate about NAFTA on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
which is still the most widely viewed political program in US history.
UWSA remained active under Perot's leadership until late 1995 when the paid staff was moved to a new organization dubbed "Citizens for the Reform Party" which actively campaigned to petition the Reform Party
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
on to the ballot in all 50 states for the 1996 presidential election.
Founding of the Reform Party
The Reform Party, founded in 1995 with ballot access in all 50 states, nominated Ross Perot for President after a convention battle between Perot and Richard LammRichard Lamm
Richard Douglas "Dick" Lamm is an American politician, Certified Public Accountant, college professor, and lawyer. He served three terms as 38th Governor of Colorado as a Democrat and ran for the Reform Party's nomination for President of the United States in 1996.He is currently the Co-Director...
, former governor of Colorado
Governor of Colorado
The Governor of Colorado is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the...
.
Perot's running mate in 1996 was Pat Choate
Pat Choate
Patrick Choate is an American economist who is perhaps most known for being the 1996 Reform Party Vice President candidate, the running-mate of H. Ross Perot...
, a well known author, economist and professor. The future of the Reform Party was somewhat clouded by the 1996 election results when the Perot/Choate ticket received only 9% of the overall vote. Since many states require a minimum of 10% to retain ballot access, the ability of the party to field candidates without the time and expense of petition drives was limited. However, based on the 1996 results, the party retained the ability to earn federal matching funds
Matching funds
Matching funds, a term used to describe the requirement or condition that a generally minimal amount of money or services-in-kind originate from the beneficiaries of financial amounts, usually for a purpose of charitable or public good.-Charitable causes:...
in the 2000 Presidential election - a fact that was not lost on Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
. The battle for control of the Reform Party between many of the founding members and Buchanan's weakened the Reform Party to the extent that it has diminished as a factor in U.S. politics in the years since the 2000 election.
United We Stand America exists today as a website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
which appears to be re-purposed as a debt-consolidation web site.
Archives of material from the original organization can be found at http://www.uwsa.com/books/Uwsabook.html, but the original group founded by Ross Perot ceased to be active after the Reform Party was founded in 1995.