Page "Democratic-Republican Party" Paragraph 4

Congressman James Madison started the party among Representatives in Philadelphia ( the national capital ) as the Republican party ; then he, Jefferson, and others reached out to include state and local leaders around the country, especially New York and the South.

The precise date of founding is disputed, but 1791 is a reasonable estimate ; some time by 1792 is certain.

The new party set up newspapers that made withering critiques of Hamiltonianism, extolled the yeomen farmer, argued for strict construction of the Constitution, favored the French Revolution, strongly opposed Great Britain, and called for stronger state governments than the Federalist Party was proposing.