Political_Parties

Political Parties Political party is defined as “A group of office holders, candidates, activist, and voters who identify with a group label and seek to elect to public office individuals who run under that label.” (O’Connor 296) When referring to political parties George Washington, the first president of the United States, described it as the “fury of political parties”. In fact, George Washington felt so strongly against political parties that he felt a need to warn Americans stating: “Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.” (George Washington) George Washington was not alone in his fear of political parties, James Madison in Federalist # 10, warned Americans against factions and party politics, describing it as potentially “mortal disease”. (Federalist ) Hamilton claimed it was “an avenue to tyranny”.(Reichley 19) Despite the fear parties, political, party, american, federalist, system, politics, national, government, george, during, democratic, while, washington, two, republican, president, opposition, one, first, federal, country, candidates, whigs, third, states, role, office, madison, competition, against, wilson, tenure, republicans, public