Which one would you choose?
Among the Very Earliest Political Parties

Democratic-Republicans (1794-1826)

Proponents: Thomas Jefferson (became US president)
            James Madison (became US president)
·Believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
·Wanted a small federal government doing very little.
·Wanted very low taxes.
·Wanted the state governments to have more powers than the federal government.
·Wanted to help farmers.
·Wanted to help the common man.
·Wanted banks to be in no more than one state.
·Wanted good relations with France.
·Wanted a nation of family farmers, living free of the government, and only for themselves, enjoying liberty in pure and honest farm work.
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Federalist Party 1780s-1801

Proponents: John Adams (became US president)
Alexander Hamilton (not president. Killed Aaron Burr in duel)

·Believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution.
·Wanted a strong federal government to do many things.
·Wanted the federal government to build roads, build canals, set up a strong banking system, and more even if it means higher taxes.
·Wanted to help business and industry.
·Wanted to help wealthy people.
·Wanted good relations with England.
·Wanted a national bank to control the money system.
·Wanted a strong United States doing lots of business and industry, trading with other countries, with people getting richer building a strong and wealthy United States.