Which group was primarily associated with the democratic republicans
Wealthy merchants
Enslaved African Americans
Manufacturing leaders
Small farmers
The group primarily associated with the Democratic-Republicans, also known as the Jeffersonian Republicans or simply Republicans during that period, were small farmers. This political faction was formed in the 1790s under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, partly in opposition to the policies of the Federalist Party, which tended to favor wealthy merchants, manufacturing leaders, and a strong central government.
The Democratic-Republicans advocated for states' rights, a strict interpretation of the Constitution, and a smaller federal government. They believed in an agrarian-based, decentralized democratic government where the common man, especially the yeoman farmer, was considered the ideal citizen.
While wealthy merchants and manufacturing leaders tended to align more with the Federalists, and enslaved African Americans were largely disenfranchised and did not have political power, it was the small farmers and the rural population that became the backbone of the Democratic-Republican Party's support.