"The spirit of party serves always to distract public councils, and enfeeble the public administration." -- George Washington, 1796 THE RISE OF PARTIES The nation's founders warned strenuously against the rise of political parties, but they quickly arose anyway. Alexander Hamilton was intellectual leader of the Federalists, who favored a strong federal government, protective tariffs and an environment favorable to business and commerce. Thomas Jefferson led the Republicans (sometimes called Democratic-Republicans, and a predecessor of today's Democrats), who favored states' rights, a small federal government, low tariffs and the interests of farmers and workers. The Jeffersonians accused the Hamiltonians of being anti-democratic; the Hamiltonians warned of the chaos of mob rule. "Your people, sir, is a great beast!" Hamilton, right, is said to have shouted at Jefferson at a Cabinet meeting. [ PREVIOUS | NEXT ]