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The United States was founded without political parties, but differences in the ideologies between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists formed a basis for two new parties, formed around two very important men. Alexander Hamilton, the leader of the Federalist Party, and Thomas Jefferson, the leader of the new Democratic Republicans, shared many different visions for the future of America, stemming back from their days on George Washington's cabinet. As the country flourished, and these two …

…taxes, pay debts and borrow money and a national bank would help perform these functions well. Hamilton wanted to transform America into a powerful, industrious mercantilist nation, where trade would flourish. He proposed tariffs that could help promote the development of competitive national industries, which Jefferson opposed. Jefferson preferred that the nation kept its agricultural economy and society. The differences in the ideologies between the two men created the political party system we use today.