How Did The Two Party System Start

Chaewon Lee (Stella) 11.09.17 Period 1 The political parties started in America, by Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, who had different viewpoints on how to run a country, and through the newspapers that had great influence on public opinion. Hamilton and Jefferson had different views on how they should run the country. They couldn’t agree on what was the best for the country.

In the twenty-first century, the United States is predominately a two-party political system. In George Washington’s Farwell Address (1796) he said, “The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism” (para. 22). In this speech, Washington cautioned his fellow Americans about the risks of political parties; he claimed the partisanship would lead to inter-political discord, divide the nation, and give rise to instances of tyranny. Although a two-party system has the potential to not be detrimental to the country, with people following the examples of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson Americans have a tendency to put their personal political associations ahead of what may be best for the country.

Why has American political history been dominated by the two-party system? When and how have third (or fourth) parties challenged this status quo? The elections of 1796 changed the course of American politics forever. The 1796 elections were the first elections where the presidential candidates represented opposing organized political parties for a place in office. Political parties are alliances, “of like-minded people who work together to win elections and control of the government [...] for the ability to put their philosophies and policies into effect” (“Political Parties”).

Political parties, Democratic Republicans and Federalists, started in the U.S. because of differing views of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the influence of newspapers. Jefferson’s and Hamilton’s different ways of thinking(mostly on issues that was beneficial for the country) played a huge part in the start of political parties. They fought about economy. Jefferson liked farming while Hamilton preferred manufacturing and trade. Interpretation of the Constitution was another thing they fought upon.

Not long after the United States constitution was created, the country witnessed a growing debate over how to explain and apply the presentation of the new constitution. During the 1790s the United States federal government took charge in a series of threats to the country such as international tensions. Most importantly the formation of competing political parties which were the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. Today the United States is predominately a two party system although more political parties exist, American voters usually side with one of the main two which are the Democrats or the Republicans. These two parties represent different visions for America.

The Democratic and the Republican Parties are often thought to be one and the same. Although the two parties might seem to share the same common ground, both political parties take a different approach on many of the important issues and is one of the reasons why having a two-party system is a good thing. Second, it provides a stable balance between the two parties because of the differences of interests and opinions. Third, having a two-party system encourages political participation by allowing U.S. citizens to express a difference of opinions and take part in their own governing, by casting their votes at the polls. Unlike a one-party system or Communist Party where there is just a dictator that is appointed and not chosen.

As the foundations of a successful government system, political parties help keep balance of power and uphold the Democratic ideals of the United States. These parties have origins that can trace back to the early sectional tensions in America. These sectional tensions were the primary reasons for the development and progression of political parties in the United States. As early as 1800, signs of deviation would appear.

I believe that political parties were developed in the United States because they allow people to make decisions based on their beliefs. Both Hamilton and Jefferson were very great men but they wanted something different with the government. There are many reasons why political parties developed in our country. Hamilton and Jefferson have many differences between themselves.

Thomas Jefferson once said. “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties”. The reason he said this was because he feared a strong central government. Then for some Americans, fears of a strong central government taking advantage came true. This is when the two political parties split.

“Political parties” did not begin until the late 1600s, yet It all really began in 1787, when the so called “political parties” started calling themselves Federalists. This was when the first political party started in the United States. In 1796, everything got bigger and more productive. That’s when everyone gathered around Jefferson, those members called themselves Democratic-Republicans. A political party is a gathering of individuals who meet up to contest elections and hold control in the government.

This pattern however, works to discourage minor and non-major parties. Republicans and Democrats usually find common ground and work together, also known as bipartisan. It seems that the electoral process shape election laws to preserve, protect, and defend the two-party system; furthermore, not giving the minor party a fair

Party system refers to the way parties are organized, the balance of powers between and within the parties, and the issues or ideas which the parties are organized around. The Federalist and Jeffersonian Republicans were the first party system to immerge in the seventeen nineties. The federalist focused on the concerns of New England merchants. The wanted to rebuild a relationship with Britain, assumption of debt from the revolutionary war, and programs with encouraged manufacturing. The Jeffersonian republics were run with southern agriculture in mind.

Republicans vs. Democrats When the United States of America was founded, George Washington warned against the formation of political parties. By the time the second election came around there were already two political parties, the Federalist and Democratic-Republicans. These parties eventually turned into the Republican and Democratic parties we have today. While these parties have shifted to become almost polar opposites politically, they still share some common goals.

INTRODUCTION The United States political structure is one of the most conducive and great political system in the world. One of the most popular aspects of it is the two party system, and the well-known Democratic and Republican parties. There are three major party systems in the world and they are one-party system, two-party system and multi-party system. This essay will analyse the two party system in the United States (U.S.), their structure and the benefits of a two party system in a states.

There are (more than two, but not a lot of) disadvantages of a two-party system including the strict and organized party values politicians must follow, the inability to agree (after everyone gives something up), this way the inability to make effective change and the extreme (dividing of people into two groups with very different opinions) of parties. The two-party system also keeps independents and moderates from being able to act on any worthwhile ideas they share that do not fall squarely within one