Which political perspective emphasized a laissez-faire economic policy in the early 19th century?

The early 19th century was marked by a belief in limited government intervention in the economy, which aligns closely with the principles of the Democratic Party during that time. The Democrats, especially under the influence of leaders like Thomas Jefferson and later Andrew Jackson, promoted the idea of individual rights and self-governance, which extended to economic practices. They advocated for a laissez-faire approach, supporting minimal government interference in business and allowing free-market dynamics to dictate economic outcomes.

While the Whigs later championed some government initiatives for economic development, such as infrastructure projects, they did not prioritize a strictly laissez-faire ideology in the same way. The Progressives, emerging later in the 19th and early 20th centuries, focused on addressing inequalities created by unregulated capitalism, advocating for more government regulation, as did modern libertarians, who emphasize personal freedom but were not a prominent political force until the late 20th century. Thus, the perspective that most strongly emphasized a laissez-faire economic policy in the early 19th century is indeed associated with the Democrats.