Final answer:
Jefferson and the Republicans supported a small government with limited powers, emphasizing state and individual control, particularly regarding agricultural interests and yeoman farmers, to safeguard the people's liberty and prevent the rise of centralized power.
Step-by-step explanation:
Because Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans supported a small government with limited powers, they favored a system that placed more control in the hands of states and the people. They advocated for strict constructionism in interpreting the Constitution, which they believed would protect the rights of citizens from potential government overreach. Jefferson, along with James Madison, believed that a government geared towards the majority's interests, specifically the agricultural interests and yeoman farmers, would prevent a return to monarchical rule. They distrusted centralized power and favored a limited federal government, responsible only for foreign policy and foreign trade, with most other powers residing at the state level.