With respect to the federal Constitution, the Jeffersonian Republicans are usually characterized as strict constructionists who were opposed to the broad constructionism of the Federalists. As history dictates, this is found to be substantially accurate. Federalists were firm believers in the production of a strong central government and a broad interpretation of the Constitution. However, the Democratic Republicans believed that the government should follow a strict interpretation of the Constitution and held the idea that this would allow honest representation of the people and prevent government corruption. Thomas Jefferson was the driving force behind the Democratic Republicans, who were the main opposition of the Federalists. Virtually disagreeing with the Federalists on every issue, he planned to make considerable amount of changes to the system once he came into power. That he did when he was inaugurated March 4, 1801. In his speech, he stressed the need for a government of limited powers, economy in the national administration, support of state governments in all their rights, acquiescence in majority decisions, the preservation of civil liberties, and peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, and entangling alliances with none. Once in office, the Alien and Sedition Acts which were set by the federalists to control public negativity towards the party and to set limitations to foreigners in the US were not renewed and those imprisoned by them were pardoned. Naval expansion was halted and cuts were made beyond those authorized by the previous Federalist congress, although the navy was not completely dismantled. In document A, prior to his presidency, he writes about his confidence in the ideas of the preserving the constitution in a conservative manner and he states that the Federalists have failed to follow the Constitution accurately and the way it should have been followed. He signifies fact that th...
