Monroe stated that his drive to eliminate the Federalists was part of his campaign to eliminate party associations altogether from national politics, including his own Republican party. All political parties, wrote Monroe, were, by their very nature, incompatible with free government. Monroe worked to deflate the Federalist Party through neglect, Federalists were denied political patronage, administrative appointments and federal support. Monroe indicated that he wished to eradicate Federalists from positions of political power, both Federal and State, especially in its New England strongholds. Monroe believed that any expression of official approval would only encourage hope for a Federalist revival, and this he could not abide.