Political+Parties+Emerge

Political Parties Emerge

Federalists Democratic-Republicans

Major decisions faced the new government,the key officials had many different ideas. One stood Alexander Hamilton,the secretary of the treasury. His belief in a strong national government should be active in encouraging the growth of cities, trade,and factories. On the other side stood Thomas Jefferson,the secretary of state. He did not belive in a strong national government. He wanted the nation to remain a land of small farmers and skilled craft workers. He belived that such a country would not need a strong national government that Hamilton wanted. Hamilton and Jefferson each had a large following among Americans. Eventually, two sides organized themselves into two political parties. A political party is an organized group of people who share a view of what government should be and do. Hamilton's party continued under the name of Federalists. Federalists were generally in favor of a strong, active federal government. Jefferson's party came to be known as the Democratic-Republicans. This political party favored a weaker, less active federal government.