USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -They believed that the Constitution was a “strict” document that clearly limited the powers of the federal government. Unlike the opposition Federalist Party, the Democratic-Republican Party contended that government did not have the right to adopt additional powers to fulfill its duties under the Constitution.

Detailed explanation-2: -Democratic-Republicans had most of their support in the South and West. They believed in states’ rights and a strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and that the government should only do what is stated in it. They were founded on democratic principles and believed in self-government.

Detailed explanation-3: -Ideology. The Democratic-Republican Party saw itself as a champion of republicanism and denounced the Federalists as supporters of monarchy and aristocracy. Ralph Brown writes that the party was marked by a “commitment to broad principles of personal liberty, social mobility, and westward expansion."

Detailed explanation-4: -These two political parties were divided over the issue of the strength of the government. The Federalists argued for a strong central government, while Democratic-Republicans believed that the state governments should be stronger than the central government.