The American Two Party System
By:Radhika Patel and Manu Garikipati
1789
The ratification of the constitution was supported by the federalists. In the same year George Washington was elected president and he leaned more towards federalism by allowing Alexander Hamilton to enforce his federalist viewpoint in the government.
1793
Foreign policy during the French Revolution caused democratic republicans to favor the French. They agreed with France's advancement in democracy and supported Jefferson. However Jefferson resigned from Washington's cabinet in 1793.
1796
The election of 1796 was the first election in which two parties ran against each other. John Adams a federalist defeated Jefferson , democratic republican 71-68.
1798
During the XYZ affair federalists passed the alien and sedition acts which the democratic republicans thought was too repressive. This increased the divide between the two parties.
1800
The election of 1800s was important because it was the first peaceful election. The democratic republicans won.
1812
The war of 1812 eliminated the Federalist Party because the Hartford convention was not popular.
1824
Reforms in state laws by 1824 allowed voters in most states to choose the presidential electors.