Jefferson and the Democratic-Republican Party opposed manufacturing and trade for several reasons. Firstly, they believed in an agrarian society where farmers and agriculture played a central role, considering it a more self-sufficient and virtuous way of life. They believed that an emphasis on manufacturing and trade would lead to the growth of cities and the rise of a wealthy urban elite, which they saw as a threat to individual liberty and equal opportunity. Additionally, they feared that reliance on foreign manufactured goods would make the United States economically vulnerable and politically subservient to foreign powers. Finally, they believed that an excessive focus on manufacturing and trade would lead to the growth of a strong central government, which they viewed as a threat to states' rights and individual freedoms.
