Final answer:
Between 1790 and 1848, political parties in the United States evolved from local concerns to become central to national politics, helping to foster national unity. The initial concern that political parties might lead to disunion gave way to acceptance as they provided a means for public debate and protection of democratic values. The second party system, with the rise of the Democrats and Whigs, showed increased political engagement, though the contentious issue of slavery remained unresolved.
Step-by-step explanation:
To What Extent Did Political Parties Contribute to National Unity
The period between 1790 and 1848 in the United States was a transformative era for political development and national unity. Initially, politics were local and national issues relatively limited. National issues mainly concerned external threats or internal conflicts like those with Native Americans. The first party system developed from these local concerns and involved the Federalists, who supported Hamilton's vision, and the Democratic-Republicans, representing Jefferson's and Madison's ideals. Meanwhile, partisan politics caused concern that they would not lead to unity but to disunion. However, the French Revolution and domestic issues such as the Whiskey Rebellion contributed to the acceptance of a party system.
By the 1820s, the democratic spirit led to the rise of political parties closely aligned with the people's will. The decline of Federalism and the ascendancy of the Democratic-Republicans characterized the political changes during the early 19th century. The second party system emerged, spearheaded by the Democrats and the Whigs. This period saw increased voter turnout and participation, indicative of growing political engagement. By 1840, the market revolution and subsequent societal changes made political parties instrumental in shaping public debate on political and economic issues and in protecting democratic principles and personal liberties. The issue of slavery, however, remained a divisive and unresolved issue.