1998 Ap Ushistory Dbq free essay sample

On the contrary, the Democratic-Republicans favored the protection of states’ rights and the strict containment of federal power. The Democratic-Republicans were strict constructionists and they believed only in the enumerated powers of the Constitution. Up until 1800, these descriptions of the two political parties were very accurate. However during the period of 1801-1817, the Jefferson and Madison’s presidencies reveal that these characterizations were accurate only to a certain extent. These characterizations became inaccurate when Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe stepped up in power as president and were forced to compromise their political views for the benefit of the country in the face of war, economic pressure, and threats to the Union. In the beginning of Jefferson ‘s first term as president, Jefferson made it clear that he would do anything to uphold the Republican principles he held dear in his heart. Jefferson believed that the preservation of the Constitution was essential if Americans wanted to live in a â€Å"harmonious and solid country† (Doc. A). He believed that part of the preservation of the Constitution included keeping the power within the states, making sure they were independent. This meant that the government had no business meddling with state issues such as religious institutions, doctrines, discipline or exercises (Doc. B). The one of the very few things the federal government was allowed to regulate in states was commerce with foreign nations and the power of taxation. However there was a very distinct line that was drawn between regulating commerce and completely cutting off commerce with foreign nations when Jefferson passed the Embargo Act of 1807 (Doc. C). This Act completely cut off commerce with foreign nations until the British and the French repealed their trading restrictions on neutral shippers. As a result the American export trade and its profits dried up. Many people deemed this Act unconstitutional; the constitution only grants congress the power to regulate commerce, it does not however state that they have the power to completely cut it off. This by itself contradicts everything Jefferson stood up for. Albert Gallatin, one of the best financial minds in the Republican Party, convinced Jefferson that the Bank of the U. S. was essential for financial stability. Although the creation of the Bank of the U. S. reduced the nation’s debt from 83 million in 1800 to 57 million by 1809 , the creation in its self shows a great deal of broad constructionism. Although the bank was a reasonable means of carrying out powers related to taxation and the borrowing of funds, nowhere in the constitution does it state that congress has the power to charter a bank. John Randolph, a Republican congressman from Virginia, claimed that â€Å"this government (Jeffersonian) created and gave power to congress to regulate commerce and equalize duties in the whole of the U. S, and not to lay a duty but with a steady eye to revenue†. What John Randolph was trying to say was that the Jeffersonian Republicans lost their view on strict constructionism, that they were interpreting the law in whichever way pleased them the most. Towards the end of Jefferson’s presidency and especially after, he and the Jeffersonian Republicans came to realize that although they were â€Å"not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions† (Doc. G) there came a point when change is needed, a constitution that defined a nation many years ago cannot define a nation that has advanced in so many aspects, it would only hold the nation back. When Jefferson left office, James Madison was left with a divided party, a revived Federalism and an unresolved crisis in foreign affairs. For the most part, the Federalists during Madison’s time only used their view on broad constructionism when it was accommodating them. For example when the Hamilton institution tried to pass a conscription bill during America’s first great war, Daniel Webster, a federalist from New Hampshire claimed that it was unconstitutional and that nowhere in the constitution does it state that Congress had the right to enact a law enforcing a draft of men out of the militia and into the regular army (Doc. D). The constitution stated that men are entitled to aid the militia of the states. The aid of the militia were stated as the right – â€Å"to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, or execute the laws† however Federalists believed that Congress had the right to interpret the Constitution based on connotation; making Madison’s bill not unconstitutional, based on Federalist belief. When the Internal Improvement Bill was vetoed by Madison in 1817, everyone was in utter shock. Although he agreed with the bill’s objectives; he was convinced that the Constitution did not permit federal financing of primarily local projects. He also believed that â€Å"such a power is not expressly given by the Constitution† which shows that he also followed strict constructionist beliefs, when necessary. However, John Marshall, the chief justice of the court, also a Federalist used broad constructionism in almost all his cases. In one of the more famous trials, Marbury vs. Madison (1803), he declared that the first Congress, in 1789, had behaved unconstitutionally in attempting, in Section 13 of the First Judiciary Act, to enlarge the Supreme Court’s powers beyond constitutional limits by authorizing the Court, as a trial court, to entertain suits for mandamus against public officials. He used his broad constructionist view to be able to deem Marbury’s appointment as an officer of the court unconstitutional. During the period of 1801-1817, the Jefferson and Madison’s presidencies reveal that the Federalists and Jefferson Republicans could not be characterized by one belief. The Jefferson republicans were characterized as strict constructionists and the Federalists were considered to be broad constructionists, these characterizations only hold true to a certain extent because throughout history neither party stuck to their beliefs the whole way through.