Political parties helped bridge these distances. A president would have allies in Congress, the members of his own party who shared a political vision. Through the patronage system of appointing members of his own party to political offices, including local postmaster jobs, the president could build connections between national and local levels of government. Local and state party committees staged elaborate entertainments, such as parades and rallies, to boost support for their candidates and to give citizens a sense of belonging to the party.
Just as revolutionary was Van Buren's idea of a party system in which two parties regularly vied for citizens' allegiance. Unlike Jefferson or Hamilton, who believed that opposition should evaporate
Just as revolutionary was Van Buren's idea of a party system in which two parties regularly vied for citizens' allegiance. Unlike Jefferson or Hamilton, who believed that opposition should evaporate