The first political parties in the United States, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, were formed in the late 18th century and laid the foundation for the modern two-party system. These early parties represented different ideologies, with the Federalists advocating for a strong central government and a strong economic system, while the Democratic-Republicans promoted states' rights and agrarian values. Today, these same basic ideological divisions continue to drive political disagreements between the modern-day equivalent of these parties, the Republicans and the Democrats. Issues such as government size and reach, economic policies, and social values continue to be major points of contention between these two parties and shape the political landscape of the United States. The deep-rooted historical connections between the first political parties and today's political disagreements demonstrate the enduring impact of our nation's early political divisions on contemporary political discourse.