It is perhaps more accurate to say that Jefferson accepted the necessity of a strong federal government while President than to say that he adopted or accepted Federalist ideas. He had long been an opponent of key Federalist initiatives, particularly the economic program of Alexander Hamilton, which was enacted over Jefferson's protests during the Washington administration. When he became President, however, he did not get rid of the Bank of the United States, which had...
It is perhaps more accurate to say that Jefferson accepted the necessity of a strong federal government while President than to say that he adopted or accepted Federalist ideas. He had long been an opponent of key Federalist initiatives, particularly the economic program of Alexander Hamilton, which was enacted over Jefferson's protests during the Washington administration. When he became President, however, he did not get rid of the Bank of the United States, which had been the cornerstone of this program. He did, however, reduce the size of government by sacking some Federalist appointees, shrink the US military, and eliminate the hated Federalist excise tax on whiskey. But he generally recognized the economic and political expediency of the national bank, and kept it intact. Another incident where Jefferson is often seen as accepting Federalist ideals is the Louisiana Purchase. With a remarkably cheap land purchase deal on the table, Jefferson was troubled. To accept the deal meant accepting the Federalist idea that the US government could carry out policies based on implied powers (since the Constitution did not specifically enumerate the power to purchase land). But Jefferson could not turn his back on the Louisiana Purchase, and he thus compromised on what had been his political principles. He strengthened the power of the Presidency and Congress in so doing.
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