Question

One of the Federalist concerns before Jefferson was elected President was that he would bring about a “reign of terror” to the United States. Did Jefferson bring a “reign of terror”? Why or Why not?

Answer 1

Answer:

Strictly speaking, Jefferson did not enact a reign of terror as happened in the French Revolution against the noble class.  There were many controversies during the period that Jefferson was president and there were many who held different views than his.

Explanation:

The "reign of terror" is in reference to Jefferson's very public and vocal support of the French Revolution. The term "reign of terror" refers to the violence that was waged against elites and even the king and queen during the French Revolution.  Jefferson was inspired by the principles of the revolution because he felt radical change was necessary to change the old monarchical regimes of Europe. The Federalists did not like this prospect because they wanted some continuity to the past -- they were in favor of a stronger central government and central bank and maintaining strong ties to England because of trade. Jefferson believed that the national government’s authority should be limited to just the powers expressly granted by the U.S. Constitution. More power should go to the states in the Democratic-Republican view.

Jefferson did not bring a reign of terror in the strict sense as America's revolution had already been won. But he was successful in championing the power of the individual states rather than a strong central government and the Federalists lost influence. Jefferson was also controversial in his persecution of his former vice president Aaron Burr and tensions with Chief Justice John Marshall who ruled there was no evidence of treason on the part of Burr despite the efforts Jefferson made to have him apprehended.