From the beginning of the rivalry between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republican Party, the Hamiltonian and the Jeffersonian political leaders were split between their beliefs about the political and economic matters within the nation. Generally, the Federalists based their interpretation upon a "loose construction" of the constitution, where the federal government could obtain power over the right of the individual states. On the contrary, the Jeffersonian politicians dismissed the idea of federal power over the state legislature and incorporated the notion of a "strict construction" of the constitution. This consistent conflict between the two parties gradually subsided with the election of Jefferson, also known as the "Revolution of 1800." The Federalists quietly faded away from the public but still had a tremendous influence over the government for several decades. From 1815-1824, the Jeffersonian Republicans still integrated certain principles, concerned with political and economic issues, once held by the Federalists into their own execution of political methods. However, despite the potential of a strong federal government, the Democratic-Republicans were still afraid to employ a number of the more radical ideals upheld by the Federalists.
After the War of 1812, there was a definite sense of nationalism that continued to grow throughout the nation. Although the Americans were not able to gain major territories or objective from the War of 1812, there was still a renewed sense of patriotism. The United States learned to develop their own domestic manufactories because of the blockade from the British, as well as, develop a suitable navy and army to defend the country. Certain aspects that were achieved during the War of 1812 were never intact before the war. This novel feeling of nationalism brought union as well as more federal power to the Jeffersonian Republicans; the Americans wanted to be united and power through the execution of a fervent national government.