Why did Jefferson and his party oppose manufacturing and trade
Thomas Jefferson and his party, the Democratic-Republicans, held a vision for an agrarian society and economy. They believed that agriculture was the foundation of a thriving nation and that it was essential to the success and well-being of the American people.
There were several reasons why Jefferson and his party opposed manufacturing and trade:
1. Economic Independence: Jefferson believed that the United States should be economically self-sufficient and independent from foreign nations. He argued that relying on manufacturing and trade would make the country vulnerable to the economic policies and fluctuations of other nations, particularly Britain, which held substantial control over global trade at the time.
2. Agrarian Ideal: The Democratic-Republicans believed in the agrarian ideal, which believed that an agricultural economy was an essential part of a democratic society. They celebrated the values of self-sufficiency, hard work, and independence that they associated with an agrarian lifestyle. They saw manufacturing and trade as leading to urbanization, dependence on banks and multinational corporations, and thereby corrupting the virtuous character of the American people.
3. Wealth Inequality: The Democratic-Republicans feared that the development of manufacturing and trade would lead to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few elite individuals. They believed that an agrarian economy provided more equal opportunities for all citizens to prosper, rather than a system that favored the wealthy merchants and industrialists.
4. Yeoman Farmers: Jefferson and his party idealized the yeoman farmers, who they saw as the backbone of the nation. They believed that small family farms, working the land themselves, represented the essence of American democracy. They feared that the rise of manufacturing would lead to the decline of the yeoman farmers and the dissolution of their agrarian way of life.
It is important to note that while Jefferson and his party held these beliefs, they did not entirely oppose manufacturing and trade. Their main concern was the potential negative impact of unrestricted industrialization and trade on their vision of an agrarian republic.