Political parties in the United States are mostly dominated by a two-party system. However, the United States Constitution has always been silent on the issue of political parties; at the time it was signed in 1787, there were no parties in the nation. Indeed, no nation in the world had voter-based political parties. The need to win popular support in a republic led to the American invention of voter-based political parties in the 1790s. Americans were especially innovative in devising new campaign techniques that linked public opinion with public policy through the party. 

Political scientists and historians have divided the development of America's two-party system into five eras. The first two-party system consisted of the Federalist Party, who supported the ratification of the Constitution, and the Democratic-Republican Party or the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the powerful central government, among others, that the Constitution established when it took effect in 1789. 

The modern two-party system consists of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Several third parties also operate in the U.S., and from time to time elect someone to local office. The largest third party since the 1980s is the Libertarian Party. 

The United States Constitution Is silent on the subject of political parties. The Founding Fathers did not originally intend for American politics to be partisan. In Federalist Papers No. 9 and No. 10, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, respectively, wrote specifically about the dangers of domestic political factions. In addition, the first President of the United States, George Washington, was not a member of any political party at the time of his election or throughout his tenure as president. Furthermore, he hoped that political parties would not be formed, fearing conflict and stagnation, as outlined in his Farewell Address.
Is the US Constitution quiet about political parties?
What was it that the Founding Fathers didn't intend to happen?
Who wrote about the dangers of these factions?
Which president was not affiliated with any party?
What did he hope?
What was he scared of?
When did he speak of this to an audience?
Were there any parties when the Constitution was signed?
When was that?
Did any nation in the world have voter based parties at that time?
What led the US to create such a thing?
Did Americans also create new campaign tactics?
What did those tactics connect through the party?
How many eras did creating the two party system take to complete?
Which party was against the central government?
Which party supported changing the Constitution?
What are today's two main parties?
And the biggest third party?
Do the third parties sometimes elect someone to local positions?
When did the Constitution take effect?
yes
silent
merican politics to be partisan
merican politics to be partisan
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison
George Washington
George Washington
political parties would not be formed
political parties would not be formed
conflict and stagnation
conflict and stagnation
in his Farewell Address
in his Farewell Address
no
no parties
1787
1787
no
no
win popular support
popular support
yes
new campaign techniques
public opinion with public policy
public opinion with public policy
five
 five
Democratic-Republican Party
Democratic-Republican Party
Federalist Party
Federalist Party
Democratic Party and the Republican Party
Democratic Party and the Republican Party
Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party
yes
someone to local office
1789
1789