Final answer:
Republican thinkers were preoccupied with supporting the interests of ordinary citizens, primarily those involved in agriculture. They distrusted bankers and believed in limited government.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to historian Forest McDonald, Republican thinkers were preoccupied with several key ideas. They believed that any attempt to cater to minority interests would undermine the people's liberty, and that government should work to support the interests of ordinary citizens.
Republicans also spoke primarily for agricultural interests and values, distrusting bankers and caring little for commerce or manufacturing. They believed that freedom and democracy flourished best in a rural society composed of yeoman farmers, and felt little need for a strong central government.