The Weird Beginnings of America’s Party System — Market Mad House

The party system that shaped American politics had some very weird beginnings. Today’s parties mirror the party system’s bizarre origins in uncanny ways.

Strangely, the Founding Fathers hated the whole idea of political parties. In fact, the first president; George Washington (Virginia), refused to join any party.

However, two popular political parties soon developed. For instance, Washington’s followers formed the Federalists. The Federalists wanted a strong centralized federal government with a powerful professional military.

In reaction to the Federalists, followers of Thomas Jefferson (R-Virginia) formed the Republicans or National Republicans. The Republicans; the party your high-school history textbook calls the Jeffersonian Republicans wanted a weak, decentralized federal government, and no organized military.

Unlike our modern political parties, the Federalists and the first Republicans were informal and loosely organized coalitions of people with similar views. There were no formal party organizations, and leaders such as Jefferson and Washington were figureheads.

The Strange Second Party System

The First Party System broke down as more states joined the Union and mass voting began.