Two Party System

By grayben1234

  • Independent Party

    George Washington becomes the first president of the United States, and is not affiliated with a political party so he is considered independent.

  • Federalist Party

    John Adams becomes president of the federal party. The party believed in a strong central government, and that wealthy educated people should hold power in government.

  • Anti-Federalist Party

    Citizens affiliated with this party believed in a less centralized government, and that ordinary people had the common sense to run the government.

  • Republican Party

    Belief in states' rights, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

  • The Democratic-Republican Party

    Believed strongly in the Constitution in order to limit the power of the federal government.

  • Jacksonian Democrats

    Believed in greater freedoms for the common man.

  • The Party of Lincoln

    During this period many in the south were Democratic. Lincoln was Republican and believed in the unification of the nation.