History and Political Science - Essay Example

These two parties rose from the national politics before expanding to gain the support of the Americans and voters in the states. These political factions had different beliefs. The Federalist Party views the executive branch of the US government as the arm that requires more support while the democratic republican faction saw the executive as already a very strong arm of government and were therefore in support of the legislative power. The federalists appealed majorly to the business segment whereas the republicans solicited for the support of the planters and the farmers (Brands et al 278-281).

The federalists rose to support the treasury financial system that concentrated on the federal assumption of debts, their payments, and a central national bank, which was to encourage the banking industry. For the republicans, their aim was to oppose the strong executive and was therefore formed to oppose the excesses of the executive. They criticized the treasury based financial system and were also against the hostile army. Consequently, the republicans were in favor of limited reading of the constitution that favored the executive branch of government.

The two parties were also formed because of the diverse foreign policies. The federalists supported Britain because of its political stability whereas the republicans favored French revolution because Jefferson feared that British aristocratic sway would undermine them. The second party system came after the first party system between1828 to 1854 to champion for voter interest (Foner 52). A rising voter interests as exhibited by the high voters turn over, attendance in rallies and increasing party loyalty marked this period.

The Democratic Party and Whig party were the major parties. The period can be described as a nationalization period as it intended to bring pluralism in the political history. The party system also aimed at creating democracy by championing for the interest of the common person especially in the Democratic Party (Brands et al 281-283). The vision of the leaders of ensuring democratization and pluralism was met by innumerable challenges. Resistance from various opponents was great, the resources required in mobilizing, and attracting the voters was enormous.

Since the citizens were still not very politically agitated, it required greater efforts to have them participate in the nationalization process. Moreover, the splitting of parties challenged the vision of the leaders. For instance, the Democratic Party spilt leading to the rise of the Whig party. The leader’s divergent opinions and thoughts was a hindrance to the fight for democratization. The Whig party increased its command but later failed to take position on the issue of slavery. The leaders of the first party therefore lacked the ability to make choices on rising issues.

The Whig party could therefore conduct successful campaign only if the issue of slavery was not put into consideration. Other factors that posted a challenge to the leaders were religion, slavery and nativism had to be reckoned with (Brands et al 282-284). Was the United States defined more by national or regional identities in the early nineteenth century (from the War of 1812 to the Age of Jackson)? How did that sense of identity shape the political landscape? In the early ninetieth century, America was knit together by certain national fundamental