President Jefferson
On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson was sworn in as President of the United States. Early on, Jefferson realized that to keep the nation moving forward, the Republicans and Federalists were going to have to learn to work together. He also came into office with his own agenda—a list of things he wanted to accomplish during his term. Of course, he set about trying to reduce the role of the federal government by cutting the bureaucracy, or the departments and workers that make up the federal government. He also answered the question as to what the president should be called—Mr. President.
The economy was considered a priority in Jefferson’s agenda. Although he kept most of Adams’ economic plans intact, he reduced the amount of taxes paid by American citizens. His goals, however, did not involve destroying the Constitution or the government that had been put in place. Although the public favored Jefferson and his policies, he did have some rivals among his constituents.