The Idea of a Party System by Richard Hofstadter
John Adams, the second president of the United States and Founding Father of the Constitution once said, "a division of the republic into two great parties...[sic] is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution" (2). He and other Founding Fathers, both Republican and Federalist, believed that political parties would breakdown the system of this new country. However, this notion did not remain. In The Idea of a Party System, Richard Hofstadter analyzes how and why leaders of America realized the importance of the political party after years of rejection. . In addition, the book describes how the two-party system had subsequently gained popularity among the second-generation political leaders. This paper examines how the creators of the Constitution, who were also rejecters of the political party, had unknowingly initiated its establishment. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington were all Founding Fathers and famous Americans who believed that parties and sanctions could breakdown the new American system of government. Throughout the construction of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers never intended on making political parties a part of Americ
Hofstadter, Richard. The Idea of a Party System. Los Angeles: University of California Fredrick Grimke said, "Popular parties are not only the natural result of elective government, [sic] but what is of much more consequence, they are absolutely necessary to uphold and preserve it" (265). In other words, popular parties give way to conflict in opinions, but at the same time help to train the minds reasoning and endorse peace. Grimke believed that party conflict was much safer than revolutions that occur in other countries over differences in opinion (266). Even though Grimke believed that rotation of power helped induce what he called prudence and moderation, he also believed that politicians learned new responsibilities, including defeat. After John Adams's presidency, the Federalist Party broke down and ultimately became non-existent. As a Federalist, Adams entered office with Jefferson, the leader of the Republican Party, as Vice President, obviously stirring up party opposition. Since Adams entered office with the burden of bad relations with France, he took heavy criticism from the pro-French Republican newspapers. Adams, taking abuse from the newspapers signed the Sedition Act, which made it illegal to criticize high government officials, either by newspaper or verbal exchange. Republicans, as strict interpreters of the Constitution, despised Adams because they believed he was stripping the people of their constitutional rights, which weakened the Federalist Party. In addition, Adams made a proposal to enlarge the armies in the country, increasing national debt, and aggravating Republican beliefs. Adams never had total authority over the Federalist Party since Hamilton was the true leader. Adams left office on a political low, especially after Hamilton had taken Jefferson's side during the Election of 1800. Further weakening the Federalist Party was Jefferson's partisanship in appointing those who supported only his ideas. The last breath of the Federalist Party came after Aaron Burr murdered Hamilton at Weehawken, New Jersey. Not only was Jefferson partisan in his beliefs, but James Monroe was an
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Approximate Word count = 1433
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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