Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk has announced the establishment of a new political party called the "American Party," aiming to participate in the upcoming midterm elections in the U.S. and secure minority seats in both the House and Senate [1] Historical Context of Third Parties in the U.S. - The U.S. has a long history of third parties, starting with the Anti-Masonic Party in 1831, which was the first third party in American politics [1][3] - The Anti-Masonic Party held its first national presidential candidate nomination convention in 1831, where William Wirt was nominated for the 1832 presidential election, receiving 8% of the popular vote in Vermont [3][4] - The Anti-Masonic Party lasted about ten years and influenced American politics by promoting anti-Masonic sentiments and establishing the practice of national conventions for presidential nominations [4] Emergence and Decline of Other Third Parties - Following the Anti-Masonic Party, other third parties emerged, such as the Know Nothing Party and the People's Party, with the Know Nothing Party gaining significant traction in the 1854 elections [5][6] - The People's Party, founded in 1891, opposed monopolies in banking and railroads and garnered over 1 million votes in the 1892 elections, but eventually declined after aligning with the Democratic Party in 1896 [6][7] Modern Third Parties - Contemporary third parties include the Independent Party, Reform Party, and Green Party, with the Reform Party being established by billionaire Ross Perot in 1995 after his independent presidential run in 1992 [8][9] - The Reform Party's influence has diminished in the 21st century, similar to other third parties that have historically struggled to maintain a lasting presence in U.S. politics [9]

Core Viewpoint - Harvard University has agreed to transfer a collection of photographs, considered among the earliest images of enslaved individuals, to the International African American Museum in South Carolina as part of a settlement with Tamara Lanier, who claims these images depict her ancestors [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Battle and Settlement - The settlement marks the end of a 15-year legal struggle between Lanier and Harvard, where Lanier sought the release of the "daguerreotype photographs" [2]. - Lanier's attorney described the resolution as an "unprecedented victory" for the descendants of enslaved individuals, highlighting the unique nature of the case involving images from 175 years ago [2][5]. - The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lanier, stating that Harvard was complicit in the wrongful creation of the photographs and should not separate its current obligations from past misdeeds [5]. Group 2: Historical Context - The photographs were commissioned by Harvard biologist Louis Agassiz, who used racial theories to support slavery, and were taken under exploitative circumstances [3][4]. - The lawsuit accused Harvard of profiting from the images by charging high fees for their reproduction [3]. Group 3: Future Implications - The International African American Museum has committed to collaborating with Lanier to narrate the stories behind the photographs, emphasizing the importance of allowing families to tell their own histories [6]. - The settlement includes undisclosed financial compensation, but Harvard has not publicly acknowledged Lanier's relationship to the individuals in the photographs or its historical ties to slavery [6][7].