The republicans-claim to want less government, supervised by the party leaders democrats---claim to want to take care of everybody because no-one is capable of caring for themselves except the party leaders libertarians--3rd major political party, but very loosely organized, just basically wants everybody to be left alone. Wants federal government to handle the military, state government to build roads, and all the politicians to quit bothering people the Dixiecrat's were quite powerful following ww2, and ran their own presidential candidates. This affected national elections, as did the party of ross perot.
Some states have major political parties. The liberal party in new york is probably more powerful than the democratic party, the conservative party in new york was at one time more powerful than the republicans, and even got a senator (buckley) elected. Wisconsin also has some major parties, being the Farmers party and the populist party.
They had a lot of power from about 1900 until about 1990, when the democrats and republicans started stealing their ideas, and nominating the same candidates for office. (that was what happened to the conservatives in new york, the republicans nominated the same person, and stole the ideas.) of course you know from history of the whigs and the federalists. There is also a communist party of the usa, which nominates somebody for president every election, as does the socialist party.
The American nazi party has nominated people in the past. The american labor party was powerful after the first world war (the liberals in new york formed from it because of accusations of communism) this should give you a start on thinks to look for. You seem smart enough to know not to go to wikedpedia.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.