Thomas Jefferson: Pragmatics over Doctrine :: Cheathouse Essays

Thomas Jefferson Pragmatics over Doctrine During the period 1800-1817, the Jeffersonians to a great limit compromised their political principles and essentially out Federalized the Federalists. trance traditionalistic Jeffersonian Republicanism advocated a strict interpretation of the Constitution and an emphasis on an agrarian economic system, the actual policies of presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were markedly incompatible from their theoretical principles. This obvious compromise of Jeffersonian principles is evident in the Federal governments assumption of broad-based political powers and institution of capitalistic Hamiltonian economic reforms, twain of which stemmed from Jefferson and Madisons adoption of broad constructionist policies. Despite his many compromises however, Thomas Jeffersons intent to dissolve the national debt was to a great extent unvarying. Jefferson and his Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin honestly feared a large federal deficit as a threat to Republicanism. To avoid this threat, the President sought to diminish the habit of the federal government, and decreased the national budget. These budget cuts substantially diminished the size and resources of the American army and navy. When criticized, Jefferson defended these military cuts as being consistent with Republican policies in that a smaller U.S. Army would be seen as less of a threat to other nations and reduce the risk of provocation, resulting in the ultimate promotion of peace.Unfortunately, the Presidents consistency with Republican principles in matters of political power was not nearly as strong as his resolve to reduce the national debt. nether Jefferson and Madison, the federal government lift outd political powers that the Constitution did not allot for. While prior to his presidency, Jefferson, then a strict constructionist had argued that the government should not assume any power unless specifically provided for in the Constitution, the Louisia na Purchase where America purchased a vast tract of land for $15 million, compromised these lofty ideals. In equipment casualty of the military, Thomas Jefferson had come to power vowing to reduce military size and power. Contrary to those principles, the Barbary War, where for nearly three years the American military exercised a naval obstruct of the North African coast wasted millions of dollars of the peoples money and unconstitutionally violated states rights and strict constructionist principles, in their place asserting an alien un-Republican nationalism.While the evidence found in Jeffersons political and military dealings helps us understand how Madison and him out Federalized the Federalists, an examination of Jeffersons economic policies rightfully proves that in the words on one historian he was the American Sphinx.