Jeffersonian Political Idealogy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Jeffersonian Political Idealogy - Essay Example Jefferson’s influence was instrumental from the beginning. Having authored the Declaration of Independence, he objected to the wording of the Constitution on various points, among these that it made no provisions for individual freedoms, that there were no term limits for the chief executive, and that there was no guarantee of state rights. These objections led to the first Ten Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights. The last of these amendments stated specifically that "all powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people," which came to be a focal point for much of Jefferson’s following political career. With the United States so newly founded, there were many matters of governance still to be addressed. One of the first issues to arise involved Alexander Hamilton’s proposed fiscal plans, which involved the creation of a federal currency and banking institute. The creation of this agenda would ultimately give the national government control over the economy, creating a balanced unification throughout the country while at the same time removing the states’ rights of minting their own currency to control inflation. Because this would help centralize the federal government position of authority, Hamilton and his supporters became known as the Federalists. Jefferson fought this plan, fearing that by all power being given to the Capitol, it would negate the system of checks and balances that had been designed. The Bank of the United States was established in 1791 over Jefferson’s objections, but was given a twenty year charter of operation. The charter, when reviewed at that time, was not renewed, primarily for the initial reasons of contention. More important than fiscal matters, however, was the establishing precedent of opposing political parties. Thomas