Jeffersonians in Power: The Rhetoric of Opposition Meets the Realities of Governing (Jeffersonian America)

In the 1790s, the Jeffersonian Republicans were the party of "no." They opposed attempts to expand the government’s role in society, criticized the Washington administration’s national bank, railed against a standing army, and bemoaned the spirit of the Federalist regime, which, they claimed, favored elite over ordinary Americans. Accordingly, Thomas Jefferson asserted that his election as President in 1801 was a "revolution": with Jeffersonians in power, the government could be stripped down in size and strength. But there was a paradox at the heart of this image. Maintaining the security, stability, and prosperity of the republic required aggressive statecraft, and as a result, Jeffersonians deployed state power to reduce taxes and the debt, enforce a shipping embargo, go to war, and ultimately to support a national bank during Madison’s administration. This book explores the logic and logistics of Jeffersonian statesmanship. Focusing on Jeffersonian Republican statecraft in action, Jeffersonians in Power maps the meeting place of ideology and policy as Jeffersonians shifted from being an oppositional party to exercising power as the ruling coalition. Contributors: Andrew Burstein, Louisiana State University \* Benjamin L. Carp, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York \* Christa Dierksheide, University of Missouri \* Kevin R. C. Gutzman, Western Connecticut State University \* James E. Lewis Jr., Kalamazoo College \* Martin Öhman, Gothenburg University \* Robert G. Parkinson, Binghamton University \* John A. Ragosta, Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello \* Leonard J. Sadosky III \* Richard Samuelson, California State University, San Bernardino \* Brian Schoen, Ohio University \* Mark Smith, John Burroughs School, St. Louis \* Andrew Trees, Roosevelt University In The 1790s, The Jeffersonian Republicans Were The Party Of 'no.' They Opposed Attempts To Expand The Government's Role In Society. They Criticized The Washington Administration's National Bank And Railed Against A Standing Army. They Bemoaned The Spirit Of The Federalist Regime, Which, They Claimed, Favored The Wealthy Over Ordinary Americans. Thus Thomas Jefferson's Conviction That His Election As President In 1801 Was A 'revolution.' With Jeffersonians In Power, The Nation Could Be Set Right. The Government Could Be Stripped Down In Size And Strength. But There Was A Paradox At The Heart Of This Image. Maintaining The Security, Stability, And Prosperity Of The Republic Required Aggressive Statecraft--to Open Trade Channels And Create Freer Markets And To Expand Westward Onto Land Claimed By Native Americans And European Empires. Jeffersonians Deployed State Power To Reduce Taxes And The Debt, Enforcing A Shipping Embargo, Going To War, And Ultimately Supporting A National Bank During Madison's Administration. This Book Explores This Paradox To Understand The Logic And Logistics Of Jeffersonian Statecraft. 'jeffersonians In Power' Aims At A Middle Ground. Focusing On Statecraft In Action, It Explores The Meeting Place Of Ideology And Policy As Jeffersonians Shifted From Being An Oppositional Party To Exercising Power As The Ruling Coalition-- Friends And Enemies In The Declaration Of Independence / Robert G. Parkinson -- The Mississippi Question In Jeffersonian Political Economy / Martin Ohman -- A Religious Republican And A Republican Religion / John A. Ragosta -- Beyond Strict Construction : Jeffersonians In The 1790s / Mark Smith -- Thomas Jefferson's Virginian Revolution / Kevin R. C. Gutzman -- Jefferson's Embargo : National Intent And Sectional Effects / Benjamin L. Carp -- How The Jeffersonians Learned To Love The State : Consumption, Finance, And Empire In The Madison Administration / Leonard J. Sadosky -- Lower South Jeffersonians : States And The Federal Imagination / Brian Schoen -- Apocalypse Now : Thomas Jefferson's Radical Enlightenment / Andrew Trees -- The Strongest Government On Earth Proves Its Strength : The Jefferson Administration And The Burr Conspiracy / James E. Lewis Jr -- Taking Root Deeper Than Ever : Jeffersonians And Slavery / Christa Dierksheide -- The Constitutional Statesmanship Of James Madison / Richard Samuelson -- Afterword / Andrew Burstein. Edited By Joanne B. Freeman And Johann N. Neem. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In the 1790s, the Jeffersonian Republicans were the party of 'no.' They opposed attempts to expand the government's role in society. They criticized the Washington Administration's national bank and railed against a standing army. They bemoaned the spirit of the Federalist regime, which, they claimed, favored the wealthy over ordinary Americans. Thus Thomas Jefferson's conviction that his election as President in 1801 was a 'revolution.' With Jeffersonians in power, the nation could be set right. The government could be stripped down in size and strength. But there was a paradox at the heart of this image. Maintaining the security, stability, and prosperity of the republic required aggressive statecraft--to open trade channels and create freer markets and to expand westward onto land claimed by Native Americans and European empires. Jeffersonians deployed state power to reduce taxes and the debt, enforcing a shipping embargo, going to war, and ultimately supporting a national bank during Madison's administration. This book explores this paradox to understand the logic and logistics of Jeffersonian statecraft. 'Jeffersonians in Power' aims at a middle ground. Focusing on statecraft in action, it explores the meeting place of ideology and policy as Jeffersonians shifted from being an oppositional party to exercising power as the ruling coalition"-- Provided by publisher