This essay asks you to trace the historical origins and evolution of the two-party political system in the United States.
The U.S. Constitution does not specify political parties; in fact, in his Farewell Address, President George Washington warned against political factions in the early republic. How did the twoparty system come into existence?
1) Read The American Yawp (Chapters 5-7)
2) Learn more about Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson and their distinct political philosophies-Federalism and Republicanism, respectively.
3) Watch this clip and this clip from HBO's John Adams.
4) Then, respond to this prompt:
The two-party political system of the United States was unintended. And yet, the ideological and political differences that divided two very distinct camps between 1789-1800 were unavoidable.
How did the Federalist and Republican parties develop in the 1790s?
In what ways did the French Revolution, Whiskey Rebellion, 1796 election, XYZ Affair, and the Alien and Sedition Acts polarize the two?
Do you see any relationships between the current Democratic and Republican parties and the nation's earliest political parties?