Question

How successful was Thomas Jefferson as president in achieving his goal of simplifying the government? Think About: • the Louisiana Purchase • military spending • Jefferson’s attitude toward the national bank

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson simplify the federal government by cutting costs whenever possible, by reducing the size of the army, by lowering expenses for government social functions and by eliminating all internal taxes.

Answer 2

Jefferson simplified the government economically but complicated federal power in regard to land-- as a states' rights politician, Jefferson believed economic power should be given to the states only.

Jefferson believed in the explicit execution of the Constitution. If there was no stated power for the federal government, then the federal government should not have that right. Therefore, he reduced the federal military and cut taxes which he believed were rights for the states. He also reduced the power of the National Bank which he argued the federal government did not have the right to open and operate.

In the case of the Louisiana Territory, Jefferson used implicit power and expanded the power of the government. He expanded treaty making power to include purchasing land from other countries. In this case, he complicated the federal power when it came to land acquisition.