In the 1790's, America was a young, inexperienced nation easily affected by the events occurring in the world around it. During this time, there was a great amount of indecision over how to construct this new government to provide a stable structure on which to build the United States of America. This indecision emanated into two distinct viewpoints or groups, creating the "Federalists" and the "Anti-federalists" of the time. The differences between these Federalists and Anti-federalists were made more apparent during the French Revolution, which widened the gap between them and, perpetuated the formation of the Federalist and Republican parties in time for the election of 1792. .
The Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson, favored a democratic government run by the "common" people with little power granted to centralized government. They believed to ensure this, the economy should be based on agriculture and small amounts of commerce. They were against the principals of an aristocratic society and supported an open vote with equal rights for all people. These views were evident in the Republicans" views on the French Revolution. After Thomas Jefferson had witnessed the uprising of the French people against their government, he compared their cause to that of the cause for the recent American Revolution, which prompted his sympathy for the French situation. Republicans felt the French were right to revolt against their oppressors and try to establish a democratic government. In finding that not everyone felt the same way, he came to think that those who did oppose the French were in favor of a monarchial government and were trying to take down the principles of democracy being established. In response, he gathered supporters who expressed the same views as him on government, the French Revolution, etc. and together they formed what was known as the Republican party. .
Led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, the Federalists based their views in the belief that a government should be run by a central power.
