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History


            During the years of 1801-1817, two political parties existed. One of them was called the federalists which was the loose constructionist, giving more power to national government. The second political party was called the Democratic-Republicans. They were the strict constructionist. This party gave more power to states. The Democratic-Republicans were usually characterized as a strict constructionist. However during the presidencies of Jefferson and Madison they had to adapt to some Federalist ideas. Also the Federalists were characterized as broad constructionists even though at the same time, they also had to adapt to some Democratic ideas.
             Democratic-Republicans were strict constructionists. Strict constructionists gave more power to states than to national government. Jefferson himself was a strict constructionist, which says any power that is not given to Federal government of the power is reserved to the states by the 10th amendment. Jefferson showed that he believed in strict constructionist by writing a letter to Gideon Granger in 2800's which said "the states are independent as to everything within themselves, and united as to everything respecting foreign nations," this meant that the states have all the power within their country and the national government has power to deal only when we have something going on with other nation. Jefferson held on to his belief even until the end of his presidency which showed in a letter that he wrote to Samuel Miller in January of 1808, he said that the national government don't have a right to prescribe any religious beliefs and their discipline.
             However Jefferson had to adapt to some of the Federalist ideas in order to help the United States. The best example for that is the Louisiana Purchase. At the beginning Jefferson only wanted to purchase New Orleans and as much of the land in the East. However it came out to be differently, instead he was offered to buy huge part of the land in the west and also the New Orleans, all of this land together almost doubled the size of the United States.


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