<P> There is no provision for the role of political parties in the United States Constitution, since 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 . Thus in the first two presidential elections, the Electoral College handled the nominations and elections in 1789 and 1792 that selected George Washington . The beginnings of the American two - party system then emerged from Washington's immediate circle of advisors. Hamilton and Madison, who wrote the aforementioned Federalist Papers against political factions, ended up being the core leaders in this partisanship: Hamilton became the leader of Federalist Party while Madison co-helmed the Democratic - Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson . </P> <P> Starting with the 1796 election, Congressional party or a state legislature party caucus selected the party's presidential candidates . Before 1820, Democratic - Republican members of Congress would nominate a single candidate from their party . That system collapsed in 1824, and since 1832 the preferred mechanism for nomination has been a national convention . </P> <P> The first national convention was called by the Anti-Masonic Party in 1831, as they could not use the caucus system because they had no Congressmen . The party leaders instead called for a national meeting of supporters to select the party's candidate . This convention was held in Baltimore, Maryland on September 26, 1831 which selected William Wirt as their Presidential candidate . </P> <P> Delegates to the national convention were usually selected at state conventions whose own delegates were chosen by district conventions . Sometimes they were dominated by intrigue between political bosses who controlled delegates; the national convention was far from democratic or transparent . Progressive Era reformers looked to the primary election as a way to measure popular opinion of candidates, as opposed to the opinion of the bosses . Florida enacted the first presidential primary in 1901 . The Wisconsin direct open primary of 1905 was the first to eliminate the caucus and mandate direct selection of national convention delegates . In 1910, Oregon became the first state to establish a presidential preference primary, which requires delegates to the National Convention to support the winner of the primary at the convention . By 1912, twelve states either selected delegates in primaries, used a preferential primary, or both . By 1920 there were 20 states with primaries, but some went back, and from 1936 to 1968, 12 states used them . </P>

What are the first five official caucuses and primaries for the democrats and republicans