Final answer:
Political parties in early America, like the Federalists and Republicans (Democratic-Republicans), became legitimate through varied visions for America, institutional support, and public debate mechanisms like partisan newspapers. Their legitimacy was founded upon their capacity to articulate and address key issues, which by the 1840s, included the right balance of power between federal and state governments, economic growth, and issues like the unresolved debate on slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
To make political parties like the Federalists and the Republicans (Democratic-Republicans) legitimate during the time of the Jeffersonians and Hamiltonians, several factors were necessary. These included the development of differing visions for America's future, institutional support, and mechanisms to promote their policies and ideals. The two-party system, with its roots in the conflicting visions of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, developed due to differing opinions on economic growth, the balance of power between the federal government and states, and issues raised by events like the French Revolution and the Whiskey Rebellion.
Hamilton desired a strong central government and a focus on manufacturing and commerce, as seen through his financial program that aimed to make the new nation creditworthy and to create a foundation for American capitalism. Jefferson, on the other hand, sought an agrarian republic with more power vested in the states. Over time, the need for organized channels to express these ideologies became apparent, leading to the growth of the Democratic-Republican Party and the Federalist Party. Partisan newspapers played a significant role in forming political identities, engaging in public debate, and establishing the ideological cornerstones of these parties.
By the 1840s, the acceptance of permanent political parties marked a transformation in American politics. Parties were seen as essential in defining political and economic issues, safeguarding democratic principles, and promoting personal liberties. Hence, legitimacy stemmed from the parties' abilities to articulate and address the key issues of the times, including the contentious debate on slavery, which remained unresolved.