Question

what were the major political parties in colonial america? there were no major political parties in colonial america tories and whigs whigs and republicans commonwealthmen and royalists

Answer 1

The major political parties in colonial America were the Tories and the Whigs. Tories were colonists who were loyal to the British monarchy, while the Whigs were colonists who supported the American Revolution and independence from British rule. The two parties were deeply divided over issues such as taxation and representation, with the Tories generally supporting the British government's authority and the Whigs advocating for greater colonial self-government. The Republican and Democratic parties did not emerge until after the American Revolution and the formation of the United States as a nation. The Commonwealthmen and Royalists were also important political groups during the colonial period, but they were not major political parties in the same sense as the Tories and the Whigs.

Answer 2

Colonial America did not have major political parties; instead, factions such as Loyalists and Patriots were prominent, with political discussions focused on ideas of self-government and natural rights influenced by Enlightenment thinkers.

Step-by-step explanation:

There were no major political parties in Colonial America as we understand them today. Political life in the colonies was mostly centered around local and elite politics, which were influenced by property ownership and limited suffrage. However, there were political divisions and ideologies that did contribute to the shaping of American political thought. Loyalists and Patriots represented the major factions, with Loyalists favoring ties with the British Crown, and Patriots pushing for independence. Ideologically, discussions surrounding republicanism, influenced by the beliefs of thinkers such as John Locke and the radical pamphleteer Thomas Paine, centered on the ideas of self-government and natural rights, contrasting with the European monarchist system. Different colonial assemblies also sought to expand their power, which created political tensions within the colonies and shaped the early political landscape leading to the development of America's first political parties in the post-independence era.