Political Parties and Power Dynamics in Early America

Very Hard Period 3: 1754–1800 Development Of Political Parties

By the end of the 18th century, two distinct political parties had emerged in the United States largely due to their differing views on the role and scope of the federal government. The Federalists, led by figures such as Alexander Hamilton, advocated for a strong central government and supported policies such as a national bank. Conversely, the Democratic-Republicans, spearheaded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, championed states’ rights and a more decentralized government. As the political landscape continued to evolve, tensions between these two factions grew, manifesting in various national issues and foreign policy debates. In light of this context, which of the following statements most accurately (and critically) reflects the underlying cause of party development during this period?

Federalists promoted the idea of a broad interpretation of the Constitution.

Democratic-Republicans favored strong ties to Britain over France.

Both parties agreed on issues of foreign policy and economics.

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans sharply disagreed on the balance of power between state and federal governments.

Hint

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