Development of Major Political Parties in America The first two major polititcal parties were the Jeffersonian and the Federalists. The Jeffersonians believed in a decentralized government and foreign policy that supported France rather than England. The Federalists were in existance only a short time because of disagreement of the leaders, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. The United States was a one party nation from 1800 to 1820. In 1828 the Jeffersonain (Democratic Republican) Party split into the Democrats and the Whigs. The Democrats wanted the states to have more power and the Whigs wanted stronger federal government. When Andre