Political Parties in the United States: Definition of Political Parties Definition of Political Parties: United States Political parties are formed by groups or collections of people who share the same ideas, beliefs or views about the way the United States should be governed. The United States Political parties work to influence government policies and to introduce new laws to the Constitution and to make amendments to existing laws. History of Political Parties in the United States - The Independent President The political affiliation of President George Washington was termed as Independent. Although members of the government had very different ideas they wanted to give new Constitution a fair trial and they supported George Washington as an independent and impartial President. History of Political Parties in the United States - The Federalist and Anti-Federalists The differing ideas of the politicians and statesmen resulted in the formation of the Federalist Political Party and their opponents were called the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists believed that the new central government should be in the power of the wealthy, well-educated classes. The Anti-Federalists, who would emerge as the Democratic-Republican Party, believed that the vast majority of ordinary, less educated people, had the life experience, skills and common sense required to run the new government. For detailed facts, history and information refer to the Federalist and Anti-Federalists. History of Political Parties in the United States - The Democratic-Republican Party The Democratic-Republican Party was the political party founded by Thomas Jefferson in opposition to the Federalist Party which had monarchical tendencies. Some refer to the party as the Jeffersonian Republicans. The beliefs and views of the Democratic-Republican Party were based on civic duty encompassing allegiance to the government and the protection of its citizens. The Democratic-Republican Party strictly adhered to the Constitution in order to limit the powers of the federal government. The Democratic-Republican Party strongly opposed to aristocracy, monarchy, corruption and elitism and was supported by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and John Quincy Adams. History of Political Parties in the United States - Demise of the Federalist Party The History of Political Parties in the United States continued to evolve during the history of the American Political parties. The secrecy of the Hartford Convention totally discredited the Federalists and the Federalist party was destroyed. The demise of the Federalist Party was politically significant. The Democratic-Republicans split into the northern-dominated Republicans and the southern-dominated Democrats and established the political alignment of the 19th century. As the Federalist Party had been destroyed there was only one political party during the presidency of James Monroe which led to are more stable government during the presidency of James Monroe and heralded the "Era of Good Feelings". History of Political Parties in the United States - The National Republicans In the Era of Good Feeling there was only one political party - the Democratic-Republican party. Starting in 1824 the Democratic-Republican party split into several factions. The factions took the names of their party leaders: the Adams men (supporting John Quincy Adams), the Jackson men (supporting Andrew Jackson), the Clay men (supporting Henry Clay). Soon the Adams and Clay factions began to act together and to call themselves National Republicans, because they wished to build up the nation's resources, especially the military following the War of 1812. |