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The formative decades of the United States provide a unique case study into the relationship between the Constitution and the rise of political parties

James Hrdlicka
Course

Constitutional History/US to 1865 (HST 321)

14 Documents
Students shared 14 documents in this course
Academic year: 2022/2023
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Arizona State University

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The formative decades of the United States provide a unique case study into the relationship between the Constitution and the rise of political parties. The United States was the first modern country to utilize a written constitution and saw the subsequent coalescence of distinct political factions with different aims and perspectives, which further shaped the nation's politics. This essay will explore the nature of the US Constitution and how this encouraged the emergence of the two major political parties in the early United States--the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists.

The formation of political parties in early America can be largely attributed to the US Constitution's introduction of federalism and separation of powers. The Constitution, ratified in 1788, established a strong central government but left some governing power to the states, causing tensions between Federalists who supported a stronger central government and Anti-Federalists who argued for stronger state governments (Cunliffe). This created the groundwork for the established two-party system of the time, one being the Federalist party and the other being the Democratic-Republican party. The structure of the Constitution, and its amendments, such as the 10th Amendment, completed in 1791, established the framework for civic life, policy formation, and the continued development of a two-party system. (Gullo). As a result, the US Constitution was and continues to be an important influence on the formation of political parties in the United States.

Works Cited

Cunliffe, Marcus. "The Origins of Political Parties in the United States." EH. Economic History Association, 01 Jan. 2000. Web. 06 Aug. 2020.

Gullo, John. "The U. Constitution: What It Says and What It Means." ThoughtCo. Dotdash, 22 Oct. 2018. Web. 06 Aug. 2020.

The United States Constitution has had a lasting impact on the formation of political parties in Early America. The Constitution formally established the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, which provided the structure in which political parties functioned and competed with one another (Favorito and Montagner par. 3). These three branches would also come to represent various aspects of political philosophy, such as liberty, limited government, and majority rule (Favorito and Montagner par. 5). It was within this structure that the first two major parties, the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties, developed (Haig p. 2). The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, advocated for a stronger federal government, while the Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson, sided with the view of greater state autonomy. Due to their differences in opinion, the two sides would begin to adopt different ideological stances, further leading to the development of political parties in the United States (Haig p. 3). Through the Constitution, then, America was able to form

adoption of a two-party system. This system would become an integral part of American life until well into the twentieth century. The influence of the electorate in the emergence of political parties in early America under the Constitution is an essential factor in understanding the evolution of the American political system.

Ward, Paula and Ngwarsungu Chiwengo. “Political Parties: Their Emergence and Growth in Early American (1790-1840).” Journal of American & Comparative Cultures, vol. 26, no. 4, 2003, p. 359–381.

The economic state of the United States at the time of its formation had a great influence on the formation of political parties. During the period between 1776 and 1791, the Continental Congress placed tariffs and taxes on imports and exports as a means of revenue; however, this angered various states who relied heavily on trading between each other (Kurtz110). In result, the economic inequalities between states were highlighted and caused the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans to form in reaction. Founding fathers Alexander Hamilton (Federalist) and Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) emerged as primary rivals, debating whether the federal government should assume state debts and give the federal government more power (Kurtz113). The formation of these parties thusly allowed for advocates of dissimilar

economic philosophies to come together and organize a new system of government that would have a lasting effect on the nation and the economy (Kurtz120).

Kurtz, Stephen G. The Presidency of George Washington. Lawrence, Kan.: University Press of Kansas, 1989.

The Constitution of the United States proved to be an important factor in the rise of political parties in the early United States, as it provided a framework of laws that allowed for a certain level of representation and order in the forming of these parties. Not only did the Constitution provide a basis for the establishment of parties and their beliefs, but it also outlined their rights to different forms of political engagement, inspiring citizens to become involved in the political system and take part in the growth of the various political factions. These political parties ended up playing a major role in the development of the United States, helping shape both its legal and political values, while simultaneously depicting the nation's potential on the global stage.

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The formative decades of the United States provide a unique case study into the relationship between the Constitution and the rise of political parties

Course: Constitutional History/US to 1865 (HST 321)

14 Documents
Students shared 14 documents in this course

University: Arizona State University

Was this document helpful?
The formative decades of the United States provide a unique case study into
the relationship between the Constitution and the rise of political parties. The United
States was the first modern country to utilize a written constitution and saw the
subsequent coalescence of distinct political factions with different aims and
perspectives, which further shaped the nation's politics. This essay will explore the
nature of the US Constitution and how this encouraged the emergence of the two
major political parties in the early United States--the Democratic-Republicans and
the Federalists.
The formation of political parties in early America can be largely attributed to the
US Constitution's introduction of federalism and separation of powers. The Constitution,
ratified in 1788, established a strong central government but left some governing power
to the states, causing tensions between Federalists who supported a stronger central
government and Anti-Federalists who argued for stronger state governments (Cunliffe).
This created the groundwork for the established two-party system of the time, one being
the Federalist party and the other being the Democratic-Republican party. The structure
of the Constitution, and its amendments, such as the 10th Amendment, completed in
1791, established the framework for civic life, policy formation, and the continued
development of a two-party system. (Gullo). As a result, the US Constitution was and
continues to be an important influence on the formation of political parties in the United
States.

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