<Tr> <Th> 1804 </Th> <Td> 73% </Td> <Td> 74% </Td> </Tr> <P> Realizing the need for broad political support for his programs, Hamilton formed connections with like - minded nationalists throughout the country . He used his network of treasury agents to link together friends of the government, especially merchants and bankers, in the new nation's major cities . What had begun as a faction in Congress supportive of Hamilton's economic policies emerged into a national faction and then, finally, as the Federalist Party . The Federalist Party supported Hamilton's vision of a strong centralized government, and agreed with his proposals for a national bank and government subsidies for industries . In foreign affairs, they supported neutrality in the war between France and Great Britain . </P> <P> The Democratic - Republican Party was founded in 1792 by Jefferson and James Madison . The party was created in order to oppose the policies of Hamilton and his Federalist Party . It also opposed the Jay Treaty of 1794 with Britain and supported good relations with France . The Democratic - Republicans espoused a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution, and denounced many of Hamilton's proposals, especially the national bank, as unconstitutional . The party promoted states' rights and the primacy of the yeoman farmer over bankers, industrialists, merchants, and other monied interests . The party supported states' rights as a measure against the tyrannical nature of a large centralized government that they feared the Federal government could have easily become . </P> <P> The state networks of both parties began to operate in 1794 or 1795 and patronage became a major factor in party - building . The winner - takes - all election system opened a wide gap between winners, who got all the patronage, and losers, who got none . Hamilton had many lucrative Treasury jobs to dispense--there were 1,700 of them by 1801 . Jefferson had one part - time job in the State Department, which he gave to journalist Philip Freneau to attack the Federalists . In New York, however, George Clinton won the election for governor and used the vast state patronage fund to help the Republican cause . </P>

To what extent did the federalist era leave the united states a stronger nation