Final answer:
The U.S. party system formed and changed throughout the early 19th century, as the Democratic Party emerged to support Andrew Jackson's presidential bid and policies favoring the majority's will, while the Whig Party arose to endorse a stronger federal role in national growth. The parties' differing interpretations of the Constitution's 'necessary and proper' clause and responses to economic crises and social issues, such as slavery, guided their evolution and eventual transformation by the early 1850s.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emergence and Evolution of the Two-Party System
The birth and transformation of the United States' party system closely align with changes in the country's political, economic, and social landscapes. Initially reluctant to form permanent political factions, early American leaders eventually embraced them as an integral part of the electoral process. The Democratic Party formed in 1828 to back Andrew Jackson's presidential run, championing the majority's will and placing faith in the common people to guide government action with minimal interference. In response, The Whig Party materialized in 1834, countering Jackson with a stronger role for the federal government to foster economic growth and judicial nationalism, interpreting the Constitution's 'necessary and proper' clause more expansively.
The two-party system, which replaced the first party system, arose from these foundational views as American society and economy advanced post-Revolution. By the early 1840s, both Democrats and Whigs had established their positions, with the Panic of 1837 and subsequent issues, such as territorial expansion and slavery, affecting the parties' longevity and influence. The Whigs would eventually face demise in the early 1850s as the question of slavery and its expansion became a central national issue. Therefore, the major U.S. party systems and political alignments changed significantly through the end of the Jackson era due to evolving interpretations of the Constitution, economic priorities, and social issues.
Although the two-party system remains a fundamental characteristic of U.S. politics, coalitions and ideologies within the parties have undergone major shifts over time, with the Democratic and Republican parties adjusting to the nation's demographic, social, and geographic changes.