Thomas Jefferson Strict Constructionists

By the time John Adam’s presidency came to an end in 1800, two political parties surfaced with contradicting interpretations of the United States Constitution. The Democratic-Republicans had a strict interpretation of the Constitution, while Federalists had a loose interpretation. However, there beliefs were not always completely enforced by either party. In the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican came to office. Although Democratic-Republicans presented themselves as “the guardians of agrarian purity, liberty, and states rights,” the occasionally shifted their beliefs if they thought it would benefit the United States. Thomas Jefferson advocated for a strict constitutional interpretation, but strayed to a loose interpretation …show more content…
For example, in 1800 Jefferson was faced with the decision on purchasing Louisiana. This would be considered loose interpretation of the Constitution because the Constitution doesn't state whether or not the national government is authorized to purchase territory for the United States. However, Jefferson and his administration felt that it was implied that the national government was permitted to buy land. Jefferson completely ignored his strict constitutional constructionist view when it came to the Louisiana purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. The “democratic visionary” in Jefferson used to this acquired territory to create his agrarian republic. In the long term, the Louisiana Purchase expanded the fortunes of the United States and the power of the federal government immensely, but in the short term, the expanse of territory and the feeble reach of the government obliged to control it raised fears of secession and foreign interest. Although the Louisiana purchase contradicted Jefferson's constitutional view, the purchase initially benefited the United States as Jefferson fulfilled is vision of an agrarian