During whashington presidency the first political parties were

Social Studies · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021

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Answer: During George Washington's presidency, the first American political parties began to form. The two primary parties that emerged were the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, also known as the Republicans. The founding of these parties was not due to a single event but was the result of different political and economic philosophies that evolved during Washington's administration.

The Federalists, led by figures like Alexander Hamilton, favored a strong central government, a national banking system, and close relationships with Britain for trading reasons. They believed in a broad interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, which allowed for implied powers of the federal government.

On the other side, the Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, advocated for states' rights, agricultural interests, and a smaller federal government. They were supportive of the French Revolution and preferred a strict interpretation of the Constitution, meaning that the federal government should only do what the Constitution specifically says it can do.

Although Washington himself never joined a party and warned against the divisive nature of political factions in his Farewell Address, his two-term presidency (from 1789 to 1797) saw the rise of these first American party systems as his cabinet members and others in government took sides on various issues.