when did democrats and republicans become the two major parties
Two-party system
There is general agreement that the United States has a two - party system ; historically , there have been few instances in which third party candidates won an election . In the First Party System , only Alexander Hamilton 's Federalist Party and Thomas Jefferson 's Democratic - Republican Party were significant political parties . Toward the end of the First Party System , the Republicans dominated a one - party system ( primarily under the Presidency of James Monroe ) . Under the Second Party System , the Democratic - Republican Party split during the election of 1824 into Adams ' Men and Jackson 's Men . In 1828 , the modern Democratic Party formed in support of Andrew Jackson . The National Republicans were formed in support of John Quincy Adams . After the National Republicans collapsed , the Whig Party and the Free Soil Party quickly formed and collapsed . In 1854 , the modern Republican Party formed from a loose coalition of former Whigs , Free Soilers and other anti-slavery activists . Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican president in 1860 . 
There is general agreement that the United States has a two - party system ; historically , there have been few instances in which third party candidates won an election . In the First Party System , only Alexander Hamilton 's Federalist Party and Thomas Jefferson 's Democratic - Republican Party were significant political parties . Toward the end of the First Party System , the Republicans dominated a one - party system ( primarily under the Presidency of James Monroe ) . Under the Second Party System , the Democratic - Republican Party split during the election of 1824 into Adams ' Men and Jackson 's Men . In 1828 , the modern Democratic Party formed in support of Andrew Jackson . The National Republicans were formed in support of John Quincy Adams . After the National Republicans collapsed , the Whig Party and the Free Soil Party quickly formed and collapsed . In 1854 , the modern Republican Party formed from a loose coalition of former Whigs , Free Soilers and other anti-slavery activists . Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican president in 1860 .
In the First Party System, only Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Party and Thomas Jefferson's Democratic - Republican Party were significant political parties. Under the Second Party System, the Democratic - Republican Party split during the election of 1824.
In the First Party System , only Alexander Hamilton 's Federalist Party and Thomas Jefferson 's Democratic - Republican Party were significant political parties . Under the Second Party System , the Democratic - Republican Party split during the election of 1824 into Adams ' Men and Jackson 's Men .