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 mor