Jefferson's first inaugural address was meant to smooth over the social and political polarization in the country caused by the election. Everyone had picked sides--Federalist or Republican. Federalists had wanted more power in the federal government, and Republicans wanted to limit the power of the government and give power to the common man. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson's predecessor and a Federalist, even went as far as to make it illegal for people to write anything bad about the president or the country. In his speech, Jefferson reminded people why they had chosen a republican government, and why they should not trust the government with too much power, stating
"Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question". He claimed their nation was a chosen country to model liberty, order, and justice to other nations, and to stand in bold contrast against the "havoc" in Europe. Jefferson encouraged Americans to recognize each other as neighbors and to unite as a nation. He also told people, "
We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it". Jefferson reasoned that they needed to protect the right to voice one's opinion by respecting people's wrong opinions. He went on to say, " And let us reflect that, having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions". Jefferson closed by giving the power to the people and asking them to call him out on any mistakes he makes. He asked them to realize that any mistakes he made would be unintentional and he would always have the heart of the people in mind when making decisions.
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| American politics repeated history during the 2016 presidential election. Similarly to 1800, parties became extremely polarized and hostile. |
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