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Porshnique Wade Mr. Fredrick Hickmon American History I October 27, 2011 “Difference between Jeffersonian Democracy and Jeffersonian Republicanism” Jeffersonian Democracy, named after its leading advocate Thomas Jefferson, is a term used to describe one of two dominant political outlooks and movements in the United States from the 1790’s to the 1820s. The term was commonly used to refer to the Democratic-Republican Party which Jefferson founded in opposition to the Federalist Party of Alexander Hamilton.
Thomas Jefferson, an Anti-Federalist, won the presidency; the peaceful transition of power effectively capped the demise of the Federalists, but not before the Federalists has established a strong, working central government structured and principled as described in the Constitution, instituted a sound financial system, and began diversifying the economy. An indirect legacy of the Federalists, via the Judiciary Act of 1801 and ensuring Marbury v.
Madison was the doctrine of judicial review or the power of the Federalists in that he saw government as a threat to individual freedom. The only protection against that threat was democracy and strong protections of personal liberties. He did not, however, reject wholesale the accomplishments of the Federalist administrations that preceded him, and his combination of them with his own beliefs came to be known as “Jeffersonian Democracy”.
The Jefferson presidency saw increasing factionalism and a couple of controversies (involving Aaron Burr and John Randolph), but was most notable for its deeds outside of America. Jefferson attempted to face down the Barbary pirates, purchased Louisiana from the French and British, who were at war at the time. Americans prospered by supplying both sides in the war, but retaliatory actions by the combatants against each other endangered the Americans’ racket, while the British practice of impressing American sailors threatened America’s neutral rights. Jefferson and Congress