<P> An "Anti-Administration" faction met secretly in the national capital (Philadelphia) to oppose Hamilton's financial programs . Jefferson denounced the programs as leading to monarchy and subversive of republicanism . Jefferson needed to have a nationwide party to challenge the Federalists, which Hamilton was building up with allies in major cities . Foreign affairs took a leading role in 1794--95 as the Republicans vigorously opposed the Jay Treaty with Britain, which was then at war with France . Republicans saw France as more democratic after its revolution, while Britain represented the hated monarchy . The party denounced many of Hamilton's measures as unconstitutional, especially the national bank . </P> <P> The party was strongest in the South and weakest in the Northeast . It demanded states' rights as expressed by the "Principles of 1798" articulated in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions that would allow states to nullify a federal law . Above all, the party stood for the primacy of the yeoman farmers . Republicans were deeply committed to the principles of republicanism, which they feared were threatened by the supposed monarchical tendencies of the Hamiltonian Federalists . The party came to power in 1801 with the election of Jefferson in the 1800 presidential election . The Federalists--too elitist to appeal to most people--faded away, and totally collapsed after 1815 . The Republicans dominated the First Party System, despite internal divisions, until partisanship itself withered away during the Era of Good Feelings after 1816 . </P> <P> The party selected its presidential candidates in a caucus of members of Congress . They included Thomas Jefferson (nominated 1796; elected 1800--01, 1804), James Madison (1808, 1812), and James Monroe (1816, 1820). By 1824, the caucus system had practically collapsed . After 1800, the party dominated Congress and most state governments outside New England . By 1824, the party was split four ways and lacked a center, as the First Party System collapsed . The emergence of the Second Party System in the 1830s realigned the old factions . One remnant followed Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren into the new Democratic Party by 1828 . Another remnant led by John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay formed the National Republicans in 1828; it developed into the Whig Party by 1835 . </P> <P> Congressman James Madison started the party among Representatives in Philadelphia (then the national capital) as the "Republican Party"; then he, Jefferson, and others reached out to include state and local leaders around the country, especially New York and the South . The precise date of founding is disputed, but 1791 is a reasonable estimate; some time by 1792 is certain . The new party set up newspapers that made withering critiques of Hamiltonianism, extolled the yeoman farmer, argued for strict construction of the Constitution, favored the French Revolution, strongly opposed Great Britain, and called for stronger state governments than the Federalist Party was proposing . </P>

When were the republican and democratic parties formed