Throughout the period 1801-1817, the government was ruled by the Jeffersonian Republican party, whereas the Federalist Party began to slowly fade away from public view. The Jeffersonian Republican party, led by Thomas Jefferson, professed to favor a weak central government through the support of more states' rights, "...that the states are independent... to...themselves...and united as to everything respecting foreign nations." (Document A). On the other hand, the Federalist Party, previously led by Alexander …showed first 75 words of 1327 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1327 total…the Federalist ideas on several government issues. Thus, Jefferson's and Madison's term as president was a melting pot of both Jeffersonian Republican and Federalist ideas. None of the two presidents were able to continually uphold the Jeffersonian Republican idea through their presidency. However, the War of 1812 - known as the Second War for Independence - would cause an upsurge of nationalism in the upcoming years during James Madison's term as president and bringing America closer.