1. The Rise of Political Parties Bane or Blessing

2. n The Founding Fathers never envisioned the rise of political parties n Parties seen as sinister n There was never a plan for a two- party system n Washington opposed parties but ultimately came to be identified as a Federalist

3. Why Did it Happen? n Hamilton’s financial plans were successful but came with a price n Assumption, the whiskey excise tax, the Bank of the U.S., & suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion viewed by some as encroaching on states’ rights n The personal feud between Hamilton and Jefferson blew up into a political rivalry

4. Federalists vs. Republicans n Those who favored Hamilton’s policies formed the Federalist Party –Backed by well-to-do merchants, bankers, and manufacturers –Strong in New England n Led by Hamilton & John Adams n Ancestor of today’s Republican Party

5. Federalists vs. Republicans n Those who opposed Hamilton united under Jefferson to form the Democratic- Republican (or Republican) party –Forerunner to today’s Democratic party –Supported by small farmers, frontiersmen, tradesmen & laborers –Strong in South & West n Led by Jefferson & Madison (once a Federalist himself)

6. FederalistsRepublicans

7. Another Precedent Set n Opposing sides of this first political split soon viciously attacked each other n Partisan newspapers were used to take their arguments to the people n The Two-Party system has existed in the U.S. since that time