The creation of the first two American political parties grew largely out of the debate over the ratification of the Constitution, particularly the question of how powerful the federal government should be. Those who supported a strong federal government and believed in loose interpretations of the Constitution formed the Federalist Party, while those who believed in states' rights and stricter interpretations of the Constitution formed the Democratic-Republican Party. Over time, these two parties would evolve and take on new issues and positions, but the debate over the role and power of the federal government remained a defining issue in American politics.