Final answer:
The fifth party system began in 1932 and transitioned to the sixth party system during the 1960s or 1970s, marked by several major historical events and shifts in party allegiances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fifth party system in United States history lasted from 1932 until the beginning of the sixth party system, which remains a point of scholarly debate. Most historians mark the beginning of the sixth party system at various points in the 1960s or 1970s, influenced by major events such as the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the Watergate scandal. During the fifth party system, Democrats controlled the presidency with the exception of Dwight Eisenhower, who was elected in 1952 and 1956. This era was characterized by a significant party realignment with African Americans joining the Democratic coalition, and the Democratic Party built a political machine that dominated Congress into the 1990s.