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Federalists
Alexander Hamilton and other men came together to form a new government. Merchants and Businessmen took sides with the Federalists and encouraged this particular group. Federalists were the support for most of the country's industry at the time. -
Anti-Federalists
Thomas Jefferson, though he too, thought that parties would only do wrong for the country, formed his own group: the Anti-Federalists. They were also known as the 'Democratic-Republican Party'. Their supporters were arisans and farmers and they encouraged the idea of government staying out of their lives and thought that the government should be more local. -
George Washington
George Washington was not with the idea of all these new political parties. At the time of his retirement, he left the remaining political leaders a warning: 'Factions (parties) will only divide this country.' They didn't heed his advice and formed them anyways. -
Downfall of the parties
By 1800, the Federalists were demolished by the their opponents-the Anti-Federalists. John Adam's was a symphathizer for the Federalists. Until 1820, they were but a small party. -
Changing Parties
By this time, the previous parties had been in much turmoil due to continuing troubles from the South, the North, and the West. Andrew Jackson, from the party Anti-Federalists (a.k.a. Democratic Republicans) was elected as president. He changed his party's name to Democrats. People broke off of their Federalists Party to form the National Republican Party, a.k.a. the Whigs. -
Breaking Off
Slavery had became a major issue by this time. State gov. and National gov. were in debate on who had the superior power in a conflict. Abolishionists left the Whigs party. Democrats split as well and the southern democrats supported slavery. Some so strongly supported it as to suggest leaving the Union, the rest of the U.S. Those against slavery up in the more northern reaches of the country formed their own party, the Republicans. -
Democrats and Republicans
About the time of the 1900's, the Civil War was finally, at long last, over. Democrats and Republicans were the only remaining parties, all others eliminated. Dem. were more vulnerable when the South lost, considering all the support they received from it. However, these two parties were on fairly equal terms until 1930. -
The Great Depression
When Roosevelt was elected, Democrats demanded that the gov. aid those who suffered deeply in the Great Depression. The gov. later introduced a new bill that aided those in need. -
Present Day Politics
Today, the two main political parties-Republicans and Democrats-arent' trying to overpower each other as much in a way that would mean the end of their opponents reign. Though they work together to solve major issues, they still come to disagreements. For instance, one of the Republicans' views are that the gov. shouldn't make gov. mandated programs as a solution point to major issues that affect the entire country. Democrats, though think the gov. should do as much as the they can to help.
