Thomas Jefferson was a man of many ideals. He had a strong belief in the separate rights of states and in the development of the agricultural industry as the sole economic source for the United States. However, his military action, his purchase of the Louisiana Territory, and the forced removal of thousands of Native Americans, made him less of a follower of his own political party, and more in line with those of the Federalist Party.
Thomas Jefferson Politics
Decisions and Actions
Democratic-Republican Party's Beliefs and Ideals
Federalist Party's Beliefs and Ideals
Initiated the first Barbary War -- Aligned most with the Federalists party because it was a display of national power.
They were terrified of a strong national government.
They were strong believers of a central government
Bought the Louisiana Purchase -- Aligned most with the Federalist party because they believed in expanding national power by expanding their territory and property.
They understood the Constitution as being an essential document to limit the powers of the federal government.
They believed that listening to the citizens would make for a weak government system.
Initiated the Lewis and Clark Expedition -- Aligned most with the Democratic-Republican party because it was in the best interest of the people who would be settling there. It also provided insight into the agricultural possibilities in that part of the nation.
They believed that the United States economy should have been based on agriculture.
They thought that the government's main purpose was to provide order.
Signed the Military Peace Establishment Act -- Aligned more with the Federalist party because it established a military presence in the United States, which is what their party believed in.
The party believed in the right to vote for all White men, even if they were not property owners.
They thought that the elite would be the best qualified to run the government.
Established West Point -- Aligned more with the Democratic-Republican who saw the military as a science and believed in educating rather than solely combat training.
They believed that everyone should have the right to own land and use it to feed their own families.
They believed in the protection of the American industry.
Initiated the removal of the Native Americans from the West -- Aligned most with the Federalists who did not believe fully in the rights of the people, just in national rights. These were the policies enforced that led to the acquiring of the lands in the West from the Native Americans.
They believed that individual states should have power over their own citizens.
They supported trade with Great Britain a.
Established a deal with Georgia to create a bigger agricultural economy there -- aligned most with the Democratic-Republicans who believed that the nation's economy should be based on agriculture.
They thought that creating debt for the nation was detrimental to their ideals.
They believed that trading with the French would encompass their downfall.
Enacted the Embargo Act of 1807 -- Aligned most with the Democratic-Republican party who did not believe in an established trading relationship with Great Britain.
They did not support trading with just one country, at the time Great Britain, because it would undermine their newly gained independence.
They believed in the creation of the nation's first national bank.
Signed the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves -- Aligned most with the Democratic-Republican party because they believed in civil rights and opposed any sort of international trade.
They supported more equally distributing wealth among the different social classes.
They believed that the national economy should be the priority of the government.
Founded the University of Virginia -- Aligned most the Democratic-Republican party who strongly believed in education in order for the growth of a structured society.
They believed that aristocracy and monarchy needed to be diminished in order to have a successful government.
They supported the concept of tariffs to maintain a stable economic government.
As president, Thomas Jefferson held some idealistic views on how a government should function. He thought that if everyone worked together and if the powers were balanced enough, there should be no problems in coming up with solutions to the growing issues in the newly established nation. His ideals were supported by the establishment of the Democratic - Republican Party. Although the party was an already rising entity, it was Jefferson's election into office that allowed for this party to become widely known. They believed that states should have more rights; they greatly feared the gain of control by the national government. They also believed in military support and funding only when absolutely necessary. Followers of this party became known as Jeffersonians. However, despite all of their idealistic views and beliefs, Thomas Jefferson was not as Jeffersonian as he claimed to be.
Many of the political moves that he made aligned quite in sync with those ideals and beliefs held by the Federalist party; a party that they were supposed to completely oppose. The first Barbary War was the initial example of how much he went against his own beliefs very shortly after his election. The Democratic -- Republicans believed that using the military should not be one of their priorities and neither should the focus on international trade. However, it was Jefferson that sent the American Navy to the Barbary state in order to prove the national strength of the United States. Jefferson also initiated the Louisiana Purchase which was an expansion of the United States. Although the idea was to expand the agricultural economy, it was also to expand national territory, an ideal held strongly by the Federalist Party.
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