Democratic Republicans vs. Federalists Essay Example

The first semblance of political parties in the United States formed over the ratification of the Constitution, and two opposing groups were immediately created: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. Even though the Democratic-Republicans would hold office in the White-House for more than half of the United States first thirty-six years as a nation, it is the Federalists that had a significantly greater effect on the formation of the United States. Their ratification of the Constitution and support of a centralized, federal government has resulted in the implementation of political systems that have helped the United States become a self-sufficient, united nation throughout its existence. The Anti-Federalists opposed the transition of power to one single government and the lessening power of the states because they believed that this would increase taxes, almost entirely obliterate the states, cause the government to have uncontrollable power over the people, favor the “well born” over the commoners, and end all forms of civil liberty. If the Anti-Federalists had it their preferred way, then they would not have had the Constitution ratified at all because their beliefs disagreed with it directly. Notable patriots such as Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry supported the assertion that the federal government was allotted too much power, which they thought would inevitably led to dictatorial control and tyrannical power abuse. The Democratic-Republicans believed that this national form of government would act monarch-like, which is exactly what they had just fought to escape. Anti-Federalist supporters thought that Congress should not have the right to tax all Americans and they were concerned that the government would eventually become too distant from its own people they were in charge of governing. The Federalists had disagreed with the Democratic-Republicans, entirely. In the Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, they