Between 1789 and 1820 the power of the national government expanded greatly as a result of Hamilton’s economic policies, Marshall Supreme Court decisions, Henry Clay’s American System, and territorial acquisitions. While many of these programs ultimately sowed the seeds of sectionalism, the net result was a more powerful national government by 1820. As a result of Hamilton’s economic policies the government's power was expanded greatly in many different ways. With the creation of the Bank of the United States, the government had received the ability to issue banknotes of stable value and Alexander Hamilton felt a national bank was needed in that it would tie the interests of the wealthy upper class with the government's interests so therefore, to Americans in general. The idea of the national bank was opposed greatly by Thomas Jefferson, who believed it was unconstitutional and would give the government too much power. Hamilton justified the Bank of the United States with the necessary and proper "elastic" clause in the Constitution. …show more content…
Acquiring more land would empower the government more because it would show their ability to make treaties with other countries. Also, westward expansion was wanted by many Americans so it would be pleasing the public. The Louisiana Purchase during the Jeffersonian Republic could be described as a godsend. On April 30, 1803, France ceded Louisiana to the United States for about $15 million. Thomas Jefferson believed it to be unconstitutional, however congress promptly approved the transaction. The Louisiana Purchase added 828,000 square miles to the United States. The Florida Purchase Treaty (Adams/Onis) in 1819, includes Spain giving Florida to the United States for a portion of land in what is now Texas, and Spain gave up any claim to Oregon Territory in exchange for the United States paying $5 million in debt back to the