American politics in the early part of the 1800’s, housed two political parties; the Jeffersonian Republicans and the Federali

Unlike the issues discussed in Documents A and B, the Embargo Act of Jefferson's presidency somewhat compromised Republican ideals. This measure prohibited American merchant ships from sailing to any foreign port. The United States was Britain's largest trading partner, and Jefferson hoped that the British would stop violating the rights of neutral nations rather than lose U.S. trade. This Act went against the Jeffersonian view of keeping open overseas commerce. Document C illustrates how the Act annoyed the British and stunted overseas trade with them. This gives rise to the idea that Jefferson was not quite as much of a Jeffersonian Republican as most may have thought.

Document G refers to another instance of Jefferson deviating from the strict constructionist view. In this 1816 letter to S. Kercehval, the then-former President explains how he thinks that, along with time and a changing culture, the Constitution needs to be a living body that can change and adapt to different times. "...I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions....But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind." This goes against the bases of the Jeffersonians, since his words say essentially that the Constitution should not be interpreted too narrowly.

During his term in office, Madison faced the decision of whether or not to introduce a draft for the War of 1812 against England. The United States was going to war for the second time with Great Britain and the country would desperately need the support of its people. The President's decision to enact a draft was deeply regarded as a hypocritical action for a true Jeffersonian, since nowhere does the Constitution empower the government to mandate that children and parents leave their regular life to fight for the country. Daniel Webster summarized it quite eloquently when he spoke in front of the House of Representatives about the subject. As indicated in Document D, he said,

"...Where is it written in the Constitution, in what article or section is it contained, that you may take children from their parents, and parents from their children, and compel them to fight the battles of any war in which the folly or the wickedness of the government may engage it?"

Thus, Webster's implication is that in going beyond the written Constitution, Madison had softened his commitment to his party's ironclad beliefs.

While Document D depicts a President perhaps willing to be less than strict in his interpretation of our Constitution, Document H indicates that Madison could also be just as easily completely true to his party's narrow view. Here, the President vetoes a bill that would have the government fund construction of national roads and water transportation. Madison does agree that it is important to build these routes - "I am not unaware of the great importance of roads and canals and the improved navigation of water courses...." However, he even more strongly feels that it is not within the central government's authority (as stated by the Constitution) to undertake the action. "...such a power is not expressly given by the Constitution..." Since Madison stuck to the strict limits of the Constitution, he was surely thinking here as a true Jeffersonian Republican.

Both Presidents Jefferson and Madison were leaders of the Jeffersonian Republicans, a group of politicians that viewed the Constitution as an uncompromising document giving very distinctly defined powers to the government. As indicated above, at times these men did act as true Jeffersonians, while though at other times they behaved a bit more like Federalists. Perhaps they felt that, in the end, no document is perfect and that their sound practical judgments would have to occasionally substitute for a blind belief in an ideal. Perhaps this also helped to make them effective Presidents.