Primarily, the Jeffersonian Republicans had a traditional way of viewing things. This meant the Jeffersonian Republicans stuck to the strict non-lenient interpretation of the Constitution. On August 13, 1800, Thomas Jefferson wrote to Gideon Granger, a future member of Jefferson’s cabinet, stating “…it(our country) can never be harmonious and solid while so respectable a portion of its citizens support principles which go directly to a change of the federal constitution..” (Document A) Jefferson believed that the Constitution should remain unchanged and affairs that are not given the power to be regulated by the Congress should be regulated by individual states. “Our country is too large to have its affairs directed by a single government” (Document A) He believed that majority of the legislature of the U.S. must preserve the federal Constitution and states must preserve the rights they are granted. In a letter to Samuel Miller eight years later, he states “Certainly no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in religious discipline”(Document B) Jefferson show his support for the Bill of Rights by making it clear that the federal government has no power to change a…
Thomas Jefferson's presidency started with the Revolution of 1800, the first time political parties sent candidates and campaigned. He managed to stabilize and empower the people of the United States during his two terms as president. One of his major accomplishments was cleared the Revolutionary debt the US incurred. He did this by putting his frugal/simple economic plan into effect, reducing the navy to several ships and the army down to small militias. This was one of his 3 main goals at the start of his presidency that he accomplished. He also spent $15 million in acquiring the Louisiana Territory from a war-weary Napoleon Bonaparte. This doubled the size of the US Overnight and he went to work by sending expeditions westward and incorporating the people. This was important because previously, people had simply pushed past the boundary illegally or squatted, thus stabilizing the nation. Jefferson also nixed Adam's and Washington's monarchial lives by not using a horse-drawn carriage or being called "Majesty" and gave more power to the states. As a strict-constructionist, he believed all powers not given to the federal government belonged to the states. This was important because…
Jefferson also makes sure to emphasis his belief that the citizens of North America are supporters of French Revolution, the few that are not are in positions of high office, or wealthy. He rationalizes that it would make sense that these people would stand on the side of the nobles and monarchs of France. Jefferson finishes off the document explaining that although he disagrees with much of the activity that is occurring, he believes that the French republicanism is “pure,” and is the correct path for the country.…
Jefferson, for example, could not immediately abolish Adams' national bank because it would be too drastic a move for someone with his popularity, despite the fact that it was established without the Constitution granting that power to the federal government (Blum). Jefferson's most grand defiance of his strict interpretation of the Constitution was his purchase of the Louisiana Territory. Even though he was not given the power to purchase land in the Constitution, Jefferson couldn't pass up the opportunity to double the nation's size at a time of such large-scale westward movement. After his presidency (1816), Jefferson wrote a letter to Samuel Kercheval (document G) that gave his support for change to the Constitution with change to the times, which is a very far leap from claiming that nothing could be done in the national government without the Constitution granting them the power to do it. Madison is guilty of the same deviations from typical Republican strict constructionist policy. He was attacked by John Randolph (document F) for being too much like a Federalist, particularly when using the national government's power to set tariffs like the one proposed in 1816. This was not the first time Madison was attacked for his pseudo-Federalist policies. He received abundant criticisms…
Jefferson was one of the first and most influential people after the French and Indian War, motivating people to move towards American independence by publishing "A Summary View of the Rights of British America.”…
When Thomas Jefferson became president, he began to change his view on economics drastically. Jefferson and Madison, both republicans, talked about limited government. However when they served as President, both men excersized powers not granted in the constitution. Jefferson originially believed that the country would never exist in harmony as long as the Federalists supported ideas not stated in the Constitution. (A) Despite this, Jefferson purchased large amounts of western land from France in the Lousiana Purchase without senates approval. The Federalists believed this…
Thomas Jefferson was the principle leader in the American Revolution, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and a great third president of the United States of America. If one was to acknowledge and characterize a great president as an individual who defends the true and original principles of the federal constitution, and the economic and civil liberties for which Americans had fought in the revolution, then Thomas Jefferson should be regarded as one of the best presidents this nation has seen. Jefferson had a goal once in office, which “was to restore the republican experiment, to check the growth of government power, and to halt the decay of virtue that had set in under Federalist rule” and this mission was accomplished successfully, and in combination with his perspicacious decisions regarding domestic affairs, foreign policy, and our economy, Jefferson was able to embody one of the greatest presidents of our great nation.…
Many historians regard Thomas Jefferson as one of the most influential men of the post-revolutionary period. Jefferson is perhaps most well known for his ideas regarding the new American governmental system. Many supporters backed Jefferson in his ideals and opinions regarding the central government during his delegate years, and even into his presidency. In 1796, Jefferson became the President of the U.S. Some believe that Thomas Jefferson was a hypocrite in that his ideals changed after being elected President. After being elected to the White House in 1796, Thomas Jefferson was able to maintain his earlier philosophy on government by upholding his beliefs on taxation power, states’ rights and, on the contrary, foreign affairs.…
Throughout 1798, Jefferson conferred with James Madison about a strategy to oppose the Alien and Sedition Acts. Knowing that all branches of the national government were in Federalist hands, they turned to the states. Jefferson, secretly, wrote up a set of resolutions to be introduced into the next session of the Anti-Federalist Kentucky legislature, and Madison did the same for the Virginia legislature. One reason they kept…
Politically, Jefferson believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution unlike his predecessors. He bought the Louisiana Purchase which the Constitution did not fully allow him to do. Under Federalist views, the economy of the United States was looking to be increasingly more urban with a shift from agricultural ways. With Thomas Jefferson being elected into office, he hoped that America would maintain a strict agrarian economy with crops being the top export to foreign countries. He wanted Americans to stay a primarily rural-living nation with farming the main aspect of the economy.…
Early in Jefferson’s first term, he had a vision for what the government should look like. He wanted a government without Federalists and Federalists Acts. Through these new plans he gave the factions more influence and raised taxes, which goes against his…
Thomas Jefferson through his life, his experiences have changed his view to suit what he believes is best for America. Jefferson grew up in a wealthy family and grew with a positive view of the people. He served as a Virginia delegate and as a Virginia state legislature member. Then, he was an author of the Declaration of Independence to create the new nation of America. Later, he became part of Washington’s cabinet as Secretary of State and served as a U.S. Minister to France. Through his political background, he grew skills to help hone his vision on how…
Although Jefferson often showed a strong dislike for the Federalist laws and programs, when he took office he left many of the Federalist programs intact, and except for revoking the excise tax, the Hamiltonian system was mostly left as it was. However, this act of Jefferson’s went against many of the political beliefs held by his party and himself. Jefferson and Hamilton’s philosophies differed greatly in that Jefferson adhered to a weak central government, with most of the power in the hands of the states. He believed that the federal government’s power should be restrained and limited, so that it would not be able to become tyrannical or try and undermine the power of the states and the people.…
Both leaders/groups contributed in the ratification of the Constitution, but interpreted the foundations and articles differently. For example, Jefferson believed that the proposed central government was unconstitutional because it was not written in the Constitution. In Doc. A, Jefferson stated "that all powers not delegated to the U.S. by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it by the states, remain with the people." Hamilton and the Federalists believed in loose interpretation of the Constitution, so that the central…
Thomas Jefferson was full of enlightening ideas, he wanted to use those ideas to reform our country politically economically and socially. He stood out most with his political reform, he encouraged distribution of land in order to gain human liberty. He also reformed their respective state systems of education. He believed that their citizens had the right and should be educated no matter their circumstances or their status in…