The American Vote
2024 result

1789
1819

Era

First Party System

Federalists vs Democratic-Republicans.

Reading the First Party System

The First Party System era spans 8 presidential elections, 1789–1816. The atlas frames it this way — Federalists vs Democratic-Republicans.

The Democratic-Republican party won 5 of the 8 contests, more than any other party in the era. It opens with the 1789 election (George Washington) and closes with 1816 (James Monroe). A pivotal cycle was 1789 — The presidency begins.

8 cycles in this era

First Party System
1789
George Washington
Independent · 69 EV
Only unanimous Electoral College vote in US history
First Party System
1792
George Washington
Independent · 132 EV
Last election where Washington ran; political parties were forming in the background
First Party System
1796
John Adams
Federalist · 71 EV
First contested election; resulted in president and VP from opposing parties
First Party System
1800
Thomas Jefferson
Democratic-Republican · 73 EV
Tie between Jefferson and Burr sent election to the House; led to the 12th Amendment
First Party System
1804
Thomas Jefferson
Democratic-Republican · 162 EV
First election under the 12th Amendment; Jefferson won 92% of electoral votes
First Party System
1808
James Madison
Democratic-Republican · 122 EV
Madison won despite the unpopular Embargo Act; Federalists made modest gains in New England
First Party System
1812
James Madison
Democratic-Republican · 128 EV
First election held during wartime; closest race of the era
First Party System
1816
James Monroe
Democratic-Republican · 183 EV
Last election in which the Federalist Party ran a presidential candidate

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Classroom

All 300 packets, free

60 cycles · K-2 through AP · open download.

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Poster

Wall-worthy print · coming soon

Every-election grid and single-state series in the works.

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Read further

Curated picks

Founding Brothers

Joseph J. Ellis

Pulitzer-winning portrait of the early republic.

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Hamilton

Ron Chernow

The biography that became the musical.

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John Adams

David McCullough

McCullough on Adams and the early presidency.

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