Why does the US only have 2 major parties?

Answer 1

There isn't a single definitive answer to this question. Certainly the founding fathers foresaw that there would be political factions. James Madison wrote about the problem of political factions in the Federalist Papers, see Federalist 10. He believed that the large population and geographic size of the country would prevent national factions from forming, and that instead the government would be ruled by smaller, regional factions.

This turned out not to be the case however. From very early on, the United States has divided itself into two parties, although these parties have not remained constant over time. The first political parties were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Anti-Federalists later became the basis for what was briefly called the "Republican party," but quickly became known as the Democratic party. The federalists were succeeded by the Whig party. The Whig party eventually fell apart, and was replaced by the Republican party.

Other parties have been attempted - the Bull Moose party, the Green party, the Libertarian party. None of these, however, has garnered long term, major support.

Answer 2

There isn't a single definitive answer to this question. Certainly the founding fathers foresaw that there would be political factions. James Madison wrote about the problem of political factions in the Federalist Papers, see Federalist 10. He believed that the large population and geographic size of the country would prevent national factions from forming, and that instead the government would be ruled by smaller, regional factions.

This turned out not to be the case however. From very early on, the United States has divided itself into two parties, although these parties have not remained constant over time. The first political parties were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Anti-Federalists later became the basis for what was briefly called the "Republican party," but quickly became known as the Democratic party. The federalists were succeeded by the Whig party. The Whig party eventually fell apart, and was replaced by the Republican party.

Other parties have been attempted - the Bull Moose party, the Green party, the Libertarian party. None of these, however, has garnered long term, major support.