Gordon Wood, Professor Emeritus at Brown University, and the author of Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815, examines the post-Revolutionary generation and the tremendous changes that occurred during that period....

BackStory Radio episode on the history of political factions in America and the influence they have had on politics. Audio and transcripts are provided.

In this episode, we discuss political parties and their role in American politics. When most people think about political parties, they associate them with the common ideologies of the voters and representatives within that party, but...

A discussion of some arguments in favor of political parties.

Looks at the formation of the first political parties in the United States.

Discusses how political parties helped bridge the great physical distances between Americans.

Was James Madison a flip-flopper? Well, he changed his mind about the value of political parties. [1 min. 2 secs.]

Elections are a legitimate way of avoiding bad governance, said James Madison, and so he eventually came around to supporting political parties. Why did he change his mind? [1 min. 10 secs.]

James Madison to America: Overcome your partisan animosities and emulate the Framers' spirit of compromise. [1 min.]

The Framers of the Constitution knew the danger of factions.

James Madison and Alexander Hamilton differed on whether factions and political parties were good for the country.

Is there any value in having factions in a representative system?

Americans were no strangers to factionalism, even in colonial America.

An examination of Anglo-American political thought about political parties.

A look at the attitudes of some Framers to political parties.

The ideas and events that led to the development of political parties in the 1790s are discussed.

Discusses the divisive nature of party politics in the early American republic.

Looks at the formation of the first political parties in the United States in reaction to the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Discusses Martin Van Buren's views on political parties.

Continues the discussion of Van Buren's view of political parties.

Martin Van Buren's believed that two parties could function very well in government and would serve as an additional check on any abuse of power.

Examines the role of political parties in today's political system.

Continues the discussion of the purposes of political parties.

Discusses the benefits of political parties in America's government today.