At the beginning of the Constitutional period, the Anti-Federalist Party, then the Democratic-Republican Party and the Federalist Party had controversies and opposing plans for the new and young nation. The Federalist represented a strong, centralized federal government; especially one focused on commercial interest. The Democratic-Republicans wanted a weak central government that was under the sovereignty of the states and focused on the agrarian life of the United States. As time passed, each party evolved after the Constitutional period from 1800 to 1824. Democratic Republicans and Federalists remained true to their principles during the early parts of the period, but after the War of 1812, the transformation of the parties' principles became clearly obvious. . Jefferson passed the Embargo Act, in an attempt to practice peaceful coercion; however, the embargo failed and forced the Democratic-Republican Congress to fight a war with England. After the war broke out, Democratic-Republicans began pushing for an army, a federal bank with tariffs, and a loosely interpreted amendable constitution. Federalists wished to limit the now predominantly Democratic-Republican, but still central, government, as they called for limiting changes to congressional legislation and openly and strictly interpreting the Constitution. The beliefs of both sides have evolved; however, they sacrificed their beliefs to preserve each party's core tenet, westward and inland agrarian expansion for the Democratic-Republicans and trade for the Federalists. President Thomas Jefferson considered his election of 1800 a revolution focused on restoring the original spirit of the United States' revolutionary period, to reverse the "damage" that the Federalist government had created... middle of paper... taking too long . Not only did laws and institutions have to change with the passage of time and the human mind, but parties did too. The Democratic-Republicans and Federalists underwent a tremendous evolution between 1800 and 1824. The Democratic-Republicans began pushing for a , tariffs, and regulated trade. They also began to loosely interpret the constitution; but their changes were all sacrifices to their greatest principles, westward and inland expansion, the promotion of agriculture, and the spread of freedom. Federalists began to strictly interpret the Constitution and limit the powers of the government; however, they did so to preserve and protect trade and commerce, as well as to keep their party alive. Both parties have had a distinct evolution, giving up many of their beliefs and principles, but both have remained true to their broader principles.