Democratic Republicans and Federalists' Interpretation of the Constitution
Throughout the period of 1801-1817 there were a couple ways the two parties of Democratic Republican and Federalists extended both strict and loose characterizations of the constitution, that shows the presidencies of Jefferson and Madison were not as much of a stereotype. The Democratic Republicans had many ways of being strict through the constitution and a couple ways of being loose. Along with the Democratic Republicans the Federalists were more strict than loose when it came to the constitution and together both the Democratic Republicans and Federalists shows hoe Jefferson and Madison were not much of a stereotype of other presidents.
To begin, the first document was from Jefferson to Gideon Granger in 1800. Jefferson explains that the states should not be granted the given powers to the Federal government in the constitution and that states should govern themselves. Jefferson wrote this document because he believed that the Federal governments power should be limited. This showed a strict interpretation of the Democratic Republicans interpretation of the constitution because Jefferson's opinion of how much power the Federal government had was very strict. The next document, Jefferson wrote to Samuel Miller in 1808 showing his support for religious freedom and how the Federal government should not be able to tell the people which religion to be a part of. This was an example of the strict Democratic Republicans interpretation of the constitution because Jefferson again was strict on what decisions the Federal government can make and what they can't make the people do. The message Madison wrote to congress to veto an Internal Improvement Bill in 1817 which explains how Madison is against the internal improvements. His veto of the bill supports a strict interpretation of the constitution since Madison was strict on how he was against the bill. These documents showed how the Democratic Republicans were strict with the interpretation of the constitution.
To begin, the first document was from Jefferson to Gideon Granger in 1800. Jefferson explains that the states should not be granted the given powers to the Federal government in the constitution and that states should govern themselves. Jefferson wrote this document because he believed that the Federal governments power should be limited. This showed a strict interpretation of the Democratic Republicans interpretation of the constitution because Jefferson's opinion of how much power the Federal government had was very strict. The next document, Jefferson wrote to Samuel Miller in 1808 showing his support for religious freedom and how the Federal government should not be able to tell the people which religion to be a part of. This was an example of the strict Democratic Republicans interpretation of the constitution because Jefferson again was strict on what decisions the Federal government can make and what they can't make the people do. The message Madison wrote to congress to veto an Internal Improvement Bill in 1817 which explains how Madison is against the internal improvements. His veto of the bill supports a strict interpretation of the constitution since Madison was strict on how he was against the bill. These documents showed how the Democratic Republicans were strict with the interpretation of the constitution.