Why did political parties come into existense and what function did they preform in the early US republic?

Answer 1

As early as George Washington and his vice-president and successor John Adams, the Federalist party formed around them. John Adams was defeated for re-election by Thomas Jefferson, who was forming the so-called Republican Democrats around him and his followers. Earliest differences of the Federalists was that they, particularly Hamilton, wanted a strong central bank to put the currency on a sound footing and resolve the country's debts from the war of independence. Jefferson's party thought that bankers, factory owners, and importers-exporters would corrupt the country by taking power away from farmers and craftsmen, who Jefferson thought were the true strength of the U.S.

Eventually, parties caused the electoral process to line up as we have it now. Then, the person who got the most votes became President. The one who got the second most votes became vice president (Aaron Burr!) Now we have "running mates."

Answer 2

United we stand divided we fall. If you have an interest that you think should be heard, your voice isn't going to mean much to a crowd. Now if you have a bunch of people that share similar interests then your voice in politics will be heard.

Politcal parties have been around long before the US was colonized. I'm sure someone will say its not always good to follow the masses. True, but they tend to get it right more often.