Final answer:
The First Party System (1796-1824) in the United States was a political contest between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. After the decline of the Federalists, the Second Party System emerged in the 1820s with the rise of the Democratic and Whig Parties. The First Party System shaped American politics and set the stage for the Second Party System.
Step-by-step explanation:
The First Party System refers to the political contest between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans in the United States from 1796 to 1824. The Federalists, led by Washington, Hamilton, and Adams, dominated American politics in the 1790s, but after the election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800, the Democratic-Republicans gained ascendance. The decline of the Federalists is evident in their losses in presidential contests between 1800 and 1820, and they never ran another presidential candidate after 1816.
In the 1820s, the expansion of democracy and changes in voting rights led to the emergence of the Second Party System, replacing the First Party System. The rise of the second party system was influenced by the expansion of democratic sentiment, social and economic developments, and the debates over Andrew Jackson's policies. Jackson's supporters formed the Democratic Party, while the opposition, favoring national government intervention, became the Whig Party.
Overall, the First Party System played a significant role in shaping American politics in the late 18th century and early 19th century, with the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans competing for power and setting the stage for the emergence of the Second Party System.