The government system that the United States operates under today has its origin back to the formation of the government more than 200 years ago. The two-party system, economic plans, and strict and loose interpretation of the Constitution have their origin with Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.
The two-party system originated by a conflict between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson felt that Hamilton's financial successes as Secretary of Treasury was taking the power away from the states and people. Jefferson and Hamilton's personal rivalry formed into a political rivalry. Each formed their own party, Hamilton's Federalists and Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans.
Hamilton and his Federalists party believed in a strong central government at the expense of state rights. That strong central government was to be operated by the "best people". Hamilton wanted the power in the hands of the rich because he feared the swaying votes of the common, uneducated people. The belief was to support the wealthy so the wealthy would in turn support the government; the common people would benefit because the wealth of the wealthy would trickle down and help everyone. The Federalist tended to be Pro-British when it came to foreign affairs. This was left over Loyalist thought from the Revolution days.
Jefferson and his Democratic-Republicans believe in a rule by informed masses. The Democratic Republicans did not believe that all people should vote, or all white males should; they favored only literate informed people should have the right to vote, because an illiterate is incapable of self-government. The belief of a weak central government, to ensure states rights, was essential for the country to succeed according to Democratic-Republicans. The Democratic-Republicans tended to be Pro-French when it came to foreign affairs. It was the Democratic-Republican masses that supported a bloody French Revolution against a powerful monarchy.