Angela Jong

APUSH

October 28, 2008

DBQ: The Federalist & Jeffersonian-Democratic Essay

Conflict over foreign and domestic policies between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas

Jefferson led to the development of two political parties. Although the Jeffersonian-Democratics

were strict constructionist and the Federalists were loose constructionists, both failed to be consistent

and chose whichever interpretation that better served their interests at the time.

Jefferson originally began as a strict state’s rights advocate. He only accepted the

Constitution with a guarantee of the Bill of Rights that reversed many Federalists policies (Doc A).

Jefferson supported the separation of government and religion that can be seen in the Bill of Rights

that promised freedom of religion. However as President he did not make major changes in the

government. With strict constructionist justifications, he chose to keep the central back, a major

federalist creation, while repealing the excise tax. (Doc B) An example of strict constructionist

policies by the Federalists was the case of Marbury vs. Madison, in which a strict interpretation of

the Constitution was used to increase the power of the Supreme Court.

However the Jeffersonian-Democratic strict policies were forced to moderation because of

foreign affairs. First, the attack by Barbary Pirates on American merchant ships led to the expansion

of the American navy to protect them, but Jefferson in turn lowered funding for the army. Second,

the French and British conflict caused Napoleon to offer the Louisiana Territory for money used to

fund his battles in Europe. Jefferson was torn between his strict interpretation of the Constitution and

his democratic ideals, but lucrative idea of doubling the size of America for only 3 cents per acre

could not be passed up. Thirdly, as British and French conflict continued, Jefferson enacted the

Embargo Act in 1808 in order to secure American rights on the sea while remaining neutral.
However this loose constructionist act came back to hurt America more than it did any other

country. (Doc C)

Following George Washington’s two-term policy, Jefferson handed down the presidency to a

fellow, Democratic- Jeffersonian, James Madison. Because of the problems inherited from

Jefferson’s term, the majority of Madison’s decisions consisted of loose constructionist decisions.

First was the Non-Intercourse Act. This watered-down version of the Embargo Act served to

instigate the War of 1812. Because of the New Englanders dislike for restrictive trade laws, the

Federalists party regained a little of their lost popularity. Federalists responded by joining together to

propose amendments to the Constitution in the Hartford Convention in 1815 that favored strict

constructionists. (Doc E) Also Daniel Webster, a Federalist, argued against expansion of the

governmental powers by opposing military conscription. (Doc D)

Another loose constructionists act was the Protectionists Tariff of 1816 aimed to promote

American manufacturing. It placed a tariff not specified in the constitution and was advocated by the

supposedly strict constructionist Thomas Jefferson. (Doc G) However South Democratic-

Republicans argued against due to the unfavorable nature to the South and chose a strict

interpretation of the Constitution for justification. (Doc F) Overall, Madison enacted only one

significant strict constructionist decision in vetoing governmental funding for infrastructure. (Doc G)

Although the Federalists were supposed to be nationalists, Marbury vs. Madison, the

Hartford Convention and opposition for military conscription showed their willingness to switch

advocacies when it conflicted with their personal interests. The same went applied for the

Jeffersonian- Democratic displayed through the actions of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Thomas Jefferson served to expand governmental powers and Madison enacted only one strict

constructionist act throughout his presidency. Obviously the political views in the political party did

not align well with the decisions followed through by the party members.