In the end they perished as a party, but not because of the assaults of their opponents, but because of their impotence in the face of a grave national crisis.

Nevertheless, they were on all essential issues beaten by the Democrats; and on the few occasions on which they were victorious, their victories were both meaningless and fruitless.
The years between 1800 and 1825 were distinguished, so far as our domestic development was concerned, by the growth of the Western pioneer Democracy in power and self-consciousness.

It was one of the gravest errors of Hamilton and the Federalists that they misunderstood and suspected the pioneer Democracy, just as it was one of the greatest merits of Jefferson that he early appreciated its importance and used his influence and power to advance its interests.

The consequence was that the pioneers became enthusiastic and radical supporters of the Republican party.

They repeated and celebrated the Jeffersonian catchwords with the utmost conviction.