What were the major points or characteristic of the positions between the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties?
akannan Teacher Middle School eNotes Editor The emergence of political parties was a critical element that arises in the administrations which follow Washington’s. In his farewell address, Washington warned against the factionalization which might emerge through political parties, but his points were not followed as two major parties grew out of the political scene at the time. The Federalists were a party that believed in the strength of a federal government and believed that power should rest in this body. They were the individuals who, at the Constitutional Convention, stressed that the notion of being able to exercise law and order and a level of centralized control was more important than sovereignty of the states. Federalists were pro- business and industrial growth, and were favored by most of the wealthy at the time. This side was placed in stark contrast to the Republicans, who believed in smaller forms of government on a more local level and also argued that agricultural expr
