Not an American here. Watching the election through the years (and the strife rise particularly in this year), I was wondering: when did the Two-part system become such a staple of the way Americans choose their leaders? Is it really rare for Americans to choose a third party, not necessarily aligned to the left or the right-wing?
Not criticizing here, just wondering and looking for a historical, serious and unbiased answers please.
It dates all the way back to the first election, or rather, the first federal election. George Washington was elected unanimously without a party, but his vice president, (who was elected independent from the president) was from the Federalist party. The Federalists were supported in that administration by Alexander Hamilton, the secretary of treasury and the handsome fellow on the $10 bill. Hamilton butted heads with, and eventually caused the two party split along ideology, Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of state from the Democratic Republican party. The two party system has had a few changes over the years, the Federalists died out, the Democratic Republicans split into the Democratic and Republican parties we see today during Andrew Jacksons presidency.
Tl:dr Two party system has been around since the Constitution.