Why Did Political Parties Spring Up in the United States in the 1790s?
Why did political parties spring up in the United States in the 1790s?
Why did political parties spring up in the United States in the 1790s?
On the 30th April 1789 America’s first President, George Washington was elected into office and was to stay in power until 1797. Within this time the political scope of the United States of America expanded hugely, giving birth to the politics in which we see in America even to this present day. This essay will tackle the many aspects of the development of political parties; from the economic plans adopted by Alexander Hamilton, which forged America’s first bank in 1791, to the ways in which Americans viewed the Constitution put in place in 1789 causing the birth of Federalist and Republican attitudes throughout the United States of America.
A major factor in the creation of political parties came through the influence of Alexander Hamilton. During his time as Secretary of the Treasury to George Washington, Hamilton devised five economic programs as a result of his Nation Government ideology. Eric Foner argues that: ‘Political divisions first surfaced over the financial plan developed... in 1790 and 1791’[1]. Hamilton’s financial models won strong support from the American financiers and manufacturers, and the models would only work if America created close links with Great Britain. This ideology sparked resistance from Jefferson and Madison, as they both believed that ‘the future lay in Westward expansion’[2] and thus, the foundations for political divisions were in place due to the ideological differences between Jefferson and Hamilton. Therefore, it can be argued that Hamilton was the main initial influence to instigate political thought in America.
However, although political divisions began to emerge over Hamilton's financial plans, it was the events that occurred in Europe that acted as a catalyst for creating two coherent political parties. At first, the French Revolution didn’t stir any conflict between
Why did political parties spring up in the United States in the 1790s?
On the 30th April 1789 America’s first President, George Washington was elected into office and was to stay in power until 1797. Within this time the political scope of the United States of America expanded hugely, giving birth to the politics in which we see in America even to this present day. This essay will tackle the many aspects of the development of political parties; from the economic plans adopted by Alexander Hamilton, which forged America’s first bank in 1791, to the ways in which Americans viewed the Constitution put in place in 1789 causing the birth of Federalist and Republican attitudes throughout the United States of America.
A major factor in the creation of political parties came through the influence of Alexander Hamilton. During his time as Secretary of the Treasury to George Washington, Hamilton devised five economic programs as a result of his Nation Government ideology. Eric Foner argues that: ‘Political divisions first surfaced over the financial plan developed... in 1790 and 1791’[1]. Hamilton’s financial models won strong support from the American financiers and manufacturers, and the models would only work if America created close links with Great Britain. This ideology sparked resistance from Jefferson and Madison, as they both believed that ‘the future lay in Westward expansion’[2] and thus, the foundations for political divisions were in place due to the ideological differences between Jefferson and Hamilton. Therefore, it can be argued that Hamilton was the main initial influence to instigate political thought in America.
However, although political divisions began to emerge over Hamilton's financial plans, it was the events that occurred in Europe that acted as a catalyst for creating two coherent political parties. At first, the French Revolution didn’t stir any conflict between
Bibliography: Sketches of Debate in the First Senate – William Maclay et al, Lane S. Hart, Printer, 1880, Page 212 Thomas Jefferson: Philosopher and Politician - John P A History of the United States: Inventing America - P. Maier et al, W.W. Norton & Company Ltd., 2002 Alexander Hamilton 's Economic Plan: Solving Problems in America 's New Economy - Ryan P [7] A History of the United States: Inventing America - P. Maier et al, W.W. Norton & Company Ltd., 2002 [8] Page 6 - Why Parties?: The Origin and Transformation of Political Parties in America - John H [11] Bear, James, A. Jr. - Jefferson at Monticello, Charlottesville - University Press of Virginia, 1967.