Thomas Jefferson

During the time period of 1801 to 1817, the United States contained two parties: the Jeffersonian/Democratic Republicans, who commonly favored a strict, unwavering interpretation of the Constitution and it’s values, and the Federalists, who viewed the Constitution on a broad, more flexible spectrum. Democratic Republican presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were passionate people, but at times their passions got the better of them, and their choices contradicted the views of the Democratic Republican party. Though at times they showed infidelity to strict constructionist views for the betterment of the country, these two men mirrored their Republican values for majority of their presidencies.

When Thomas Jefferson was elected as president in the year 1800, his initial intentions were to instill strict constructionist values into the country through his policies and presidential actions. Jefferson wrote to a future member of his cabinet (Doc A) in August of 1800 and explained that as a Democratic Republican he believed that “...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...”.

I dont know what else to write about the Embargo Act, was it strict or loose? I dont know During the time period of 1801 to 1817, the United States contained two parties: the Jeffersonian/Democratic Republicans, who commonly favored a strict, unwavering interpretation of the Constitution and it’s values, and the Federalists, who viewed the Constitution on a broad, more flexible spectrum. Democratic Republican presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were passionate people, but at times their passions got the better of them, and their choices contradicted the views of the Democratic Republican party. Though at times they showed infidelity to strict constructionist views for the betterment of the country, these two men mirrored their