Early America's Politcal Parties

Shortly after the Constitution was ratified, two major political parties arose, the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. These two very opinionated groups were always fighting with each other because of their different interpretations of the Constitution. This tore the nation apart and created turmoil in America's early years. Because of the Federalists' and Democratic Republicans' different interpretations of the Constitution, their views differed on the subjects of assumes Constitutional powers and a Bill of Rights.

The Democratic Republicans held strong to a strict letter of the law way of interpreting the Constitution, whereas the Federalists lived by the spirit of the law. This differing way of reading the Constitution was prominent when the thought of assumed powers came up. Alexander Hamilton, who was the first Secertary of the Treasury and a Federalist, established a National Bank to restore the nation's credit. Thomas Jefferson was strongly opposed to theis action. Jefferson believed that, "all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States are reserrved to the States or to the people." When the federal governemtn steps out of its boundaries, "... it is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible of any definition." In the opinion of Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic Republican, the National Bank steps out of the boundaries of the federal government. This event during Washington's presidency, along with others during Adams' presidency caused contention within the government which affected the way that the entire country was run.

Many Federalists thought that a Bill of Rights was not at all needed, since the rights outlined in a Bill of Rights would be automatically assumed by the people. Alexander Hamilton said in Federalist Paper No. 84, "The 'we the People' clause in the Preamble to the Constitution 'is a better recognition of popular rights than volumes of these aphorisms...'". Hamilton at the other Federalists of the early American Republic thought that a Bill of Rights would only be repeating what was already being stated in the Constitution. Because they believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution, the Democratic Republicans wanted the Bill of Rights becaise the Constitution did not explicitly give those rights to anyone.

The issues of assumed Federal powers and a Bill of Rights were the result of two different parties with two different ways of interpreting the Constitution. In his Farewell Address given in 1796, George Washington warned against the contention that comes with political parties when he said, "... political parties... are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enables to subvert the power of he people and to usurp for themselved the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." Although the Federalists and Democratic Republicand differed greatly in their ideals, a sense of patriotism stitched the young country together with thin threads. Thomas Jefferspm said in his first Inaugural Address, "We have called by different names bretheren of the same principle. We are all Republicans." Although the two political parties caused contention, they both wanted the same principles and the same end result, a Republic that can be kept forever.


Laine McKay Norton is a 16 year old junior in high school at Heritage Academy in Mesa, Arizona. Laine is a company member with the prestigious youth ballet, Ballet Etudes. She participates in her school's debate club and newspaper, and has owned a small business since she was 12 years old. She is a student at the Center for Self Governance and enjoys studying human nature and social contracts. Laine has traveled with her father speaking at various conferences. Laine currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona.