Essay on 1998 U.S History Dbq

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The Jeffersonian Republican stance was characterized from the acceptance of the constitution up until the beginning of Jefferson’s presidency as very strict interpretation of the constitution, but during Jefferson and Madison’s time in office, this characterization changed dramatically; in terms of the republican view of constitutional interpretation, the republicans during Jefferson’s and Madison’s presidencies were completely different than they were before, however, they only loosened their interpretation of the constitution when they needed to do something potentially outside of what the federal government had the power to do, but they did retain their constitutional beliefs to a minimal extent, and the federalistic beliefs were changed in terms of their interpretation as well. Jefferson’s first term in office was the beginning of the large change in republican ideology. He starts out his term as a Jeffersonian Republican, as he states “the preservation of the federal Constitution, according to its obvious principles and those which it was known to received (…) the preservation to the states of those rights unquestionably remaining with them.” Here he shows how he believes that the Constitution is to be taken literally, and the Federal Government is not to encroach upon the states’ rights. The large change begins with the Louisiana Purchase, where Jefferson says that the Constitution grants him the power to purchase a huge amount of land because he has the power to regulate treaties, even though it is a purchase, not a treaty. This is when he begins to realize that in many cases, the Constitution does not give him the power that he needs to help his country, so he loosens his interpretation of it. Another time that he does it is when he passes the embargo on trade. Once again, the constitution says nothing about the Government being able to do this, but the republicans interpret prohibiting trade as regulating trade, which he has the power to do. In 1816, Jefferson defends this loose interpretation by saying that “the laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind (…) institutions must advance also and keep pace with the times.” He defends it by saying that people’s minds are evolving/ progressing and that the laws must be changed with the people’s new beliefs. He says that he is “not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions” but he does believe they should be changed sometimes. However, Jefferson still shows signs of the old Republican beliefs. He states that he considers “the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. . . . Certainly no power to prescribe any religious exercise.” He goes back to his old beliefs here by saying that the constitution does not give the Government power to do something instead of trying to find a way that it does. This shift in Republican and Federalistic ideology is largely reflected during Madison’s presidency. Like Jefferson, he creates an embargo on trade with either Britain or France (Whichever loosens trade restrictions will not be affected by the embargo) and he also justifies it by saying that it falls under his ability to regulate trade. After the War of 1812, he realizes also that a standing national army is important, that the
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