Final answer:
The belief that best describes the Democratic-Republicans in the 1820s is that the Constitution should be strictly followed. This aligns with their strict interpretation against a national bank and for limited federal power, as exemplified by President Jackson's Maysville Road veto. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best describes a belief of the Democratic-Republicans in the 1820s is the constitution should be strictly followed. The Democratic-Republicans, led by figures such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, were strong proponents of a strict interpretation of the Constitution. This viewpoint is substantiated by their objections to policies like the creation of a national bank, which they opposed in the 1790s because it was not expressly stated in the Constitution. Their rationale was that if the Constitution did not specifically grant a power to the federal government, then that power was reserved for the states or the people.
During the 1820s, the Maysville Road veto by President Andrew Jackson, a Democrat, further reflects this belief, demonstrating the party's commitment to limiting federal government powers that were not specifically granted by the Constitution. Additionally, the Democratic-Republicans trusted in the wisdom and rights of the general population, favoring the idea that governance should align with the will of the majority while maintaining a degree of restraint on federal support for economic development.