Politics in the United States: The First Two Party System (1801-1824)

After a vicious campaign that ended in a rancorous decision by the House of Representatives, Thomas Jefferson's inauguration was anti-climactic. He chose to take a tone of reconciliation, wishing to tamp down some of the conflict that was bubbling under the surface of the United States. The switchover from the Federalist administration of Adams to the Republican one of Jefferson was peaceful, if not exactly amicable. No matter how dire the situation, or how little each party liked the other, this transition set a precedent which has still endured.

However, that didn't mean partisanship went away. The Federalist party was still a going concern, and it definitely had differences with the Jeffersonians. All through the Jefferson administration they would push back against Jefferson, with limited success. This was in large part due to the lack of power they had, as the Republicans controlled majorities in both the Senate and the House. In addition, the party suffered from a lack of solid leadership, with Adams retired and Hamilton disgraced (and in 1804 killed in the famous duel with Aaron Burr). As it was until the 17th Amendment, the Senate was selected by state legislatures, so the dominance of this chamber by the Republicans showed how the states were also controlled by the followers of Jefferson, at least outside of New England.

Politics in the United States of America: The Birth of Partisanship (1789-1800)

The United States was officially declared independent by the 2nd Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. This independence became a settled fact after the signing of the Treaty of Paris (1783) by the United Kingdom and the United States. However, our current governmental system was not yet in place during either of these times.

For the first 13 years of the United States of America, the government was under the Articles of Confederacy. It created an incredibly weak central government, reserving most powers to the 13 states that were a part of it. The national government had no ability to raise funds directly, and most important matters could be vetoed by a single state. To say it didn't really work is an understatement.