8. The emergence of parties deviated from the separation of powers in the Constitution
The checks and balances between the three branches of government defined by the Constitution (legislative, executive, and judicial) were threatened by the development of political parties when one party achieved control of two of the branches. The Whig Party, which developed in the early 19th century, was the first American political party to firmly ally itself with what was at the time big business and commercial finance. As such it used its alliance to control voting in the large cities and the growing industrial centers.
The Whigs enacted laws which protected American industry through tariffs and trade restrictions, in return for cooperation from the protected in the form of voter support. In the days when ballots were openly displayed rather than cast in secret, employees were often threatened with the loss of their jobs if they failed to vote as their employer directed. Often employees were not released to vote at all, as political appointees manipulated the polling hours. In return, government contracts were awarded to cooperative businesses. Political parties also moved to control the media of the day – the newspapers and magazines.