The two leaders of the parties were Thomas Jefferson, Republican, and Alexander Hamilton, Federalist. ... When they finally agreed to it, they wanted a strict interpretation of the law, or followed as closely as possible. ... The Republicans all believed in a strict interpretation, whereas Hamilton and his Federalist followers wanted a loose interpretation. As stated in the federalist papers they wanted to give all citizens the same options. ... Jefferson and the other Republicans viewed his election as the Federalists defeat. ...

• Word Count: 643
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Hamilton expressed his belief in a very centralized authority by saying, "The idea of a council to the Executive, which has so generally obtained in the State Constitutions, has been derived from that maxim of Republican jealousy which considers power safer in the hands of a number of men than of a single man the executive power is more easily confined when it is one; that it is far more safe there should be a single object for the jealousy and watchfulness of a people; and in a word, that all multiplication of the Executive is rather dangerous than friendly to liberty [Hamilton, The Federali...

• Word Count: 2366
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Jefferson distrusted the federal government, which he saw invading individual liberty, while Hamilton distrusted the people; Jefferson saw American as agrarian, while Hamilton saw it as industrious, and while Jefferson fought for strict interpretation of the constitution, Hamilton favored loose implied powers. ... Cunningham includes an excerpt from papers written by Jefferson to demonstrate his opinions against the Bank. ... After the ratification of the Constitution, the anti-federalists and the federalists had not evolved into political parties and there were no clear party divisions. ... ...

• Word Count: 1635
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate