DBQ Jeffersonian vs. Federalists
DBQ During the time period of 1801 to 1817, there were multiple issues in the United States ranging from wars to political boundaries. This time period saw the termination of the Federalist party. The conflicts were between two parties called the Jeffersonian Republicans and the Federalists. The Federalist party was officially started by John Adams. John Adams was also a loose constructionist just like all the other Federalists. Federalists were in favor of a strong central government. On the other side, was Thomas Jefferson who was in office from 1801 to 1809. Jefferson started the Jeffersonian Republican party. The Jeffersonians were strict constructionists who believed in states rights. They said that anything that is not stated in the Constitution, is reserved for the states to decide. However, this was not always the case. The statement that the Jeffersonian Republicans are usually characterized as strict constructionists who were opposed to the broad constructionism of the Federalists is partly accurate during the presidencies of Jefferson and Madison. While any party is in office, that party will almost always be loose constructionists because each party in office wants more power. The Jeffersonians started out as strict constructionists but slowly turned into loose constructionists because they were in office for twenty years. The Jeffersonians were actually strict constructionists before Jefferson was elected in 1801. For example, the Jeffersonians did not like the idea of a national bank. They thought that banks are reserved for the states because there is nothing in the Constitution that states that the federal government can create a national bank. Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist who proposed the First Bank of the United States, was appointed as the first Secretary of Treasury. He thought that a national bank would help to improve the nation’s credit. Jefferson and Madison were opposed due to that a national bank mainly benefited merchants and