By the 1796 presidential election, just eight years after the signing of the Constitution, two political parties had formed and were actively seeking candidates to represent them in the elections. What were these first two political parties?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first two political parties in the United States were the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans (also known as the Jeffersonian Republicans). The Federalists were led by Alexander Hamilton and favored a strong central government, while the Democratic-Republicans were led by Thomas Jefferson and favored a more decentralized government with greater power given to the states. The other answer choices, such as Democrats and Republicans, did not exist as political parties at the time of the 1796 presidential election.

By the 1796 Presidential Election, Just Eight Years After the Signing