The Orchestra Tunes Up

So, yesterday I mentioned that we’re dancing to an all too familiar tune. How familiar? Well, let’s go back a bit, to the first time our country was almost ripped apart by politicians. Back to the beginning of American Politics, when the orchestra was first tuning up. Way back when we were a fledgling nation, there was a major divide between the Federalists of John Adams and the Democratic-Republicans of Thomas Jefferson. The Federalists believed that a strong national government was required, and established the first National Bank under Alexander Hamilton. They believed this new nation was best served by the federal government, and that states be subservient to the Federal Law. John Adams, educated at Harvard, and a lawyer by trade,  was the face of the Federalists. He served two terms as George Washington’s vice-president, and parlayed his connections and federal systems he helped build while serving as vice-president to be elected as our second president, drawing his support mostly from the Northeast and especially the heavily populated New York.

The Federalists were opposed by the Democratic-Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson. They believed in states rights and a weak central government. They thought freedom was best guaranteed by an individual’s liberty, with as little government as possible. In those days, the man getting the most votes became president, the man who came in second served as vice-president. Thomas Jefferson was vice-president during John Adams’  presidency.

Drawing his support from the South and the more rural parts of the country, Jefferson was elected as our third president. The debate between these two men would shape the fledgling government and shape our politics for the next fifty years. Tune in tomorrow when we pick up the story from there.

This is just a brief (very brief) explanation, the true devil is really in the details. If you want a better understanding of the politics of today, nothing beats starting from the beginning. For more information; check these out;

Federalist Party  Democratic-Republican Party

 Thomas Jefferson  John Adams

Start at the beginning; Same Old Story, Same Old Song And Dance

And just to leave you laughing;

Think about it.

Next; The Band Begins To Play