Richard Hofstadter and the Founding Fathers

"[the Founders] did not believe in political parties as such, scorned those that they were conscious of as historical models, had a keen terror of party spirit and its evil consequences, and yet, almost as soon as their national government was in operation, found it necessary to establish parties.”

- historian Richard Hofstadter

1. Based on what you learned in class and in the readings, why would the founders, prior to the establishment of their national government, have "scorned" political parties and "had a keen terror of party spirit." What specifically did they believe would happen if parties were established?

2. Provide details of two examples of specific incidents, events, or debates that would explain why Hofstadter would have concluded that in the 1790s, the founders "found it necessary to establish parties."

3.

Provide details of two examples between 1788-1800 that would illustrate the founders’ belief that parties were ‘evil.’