Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States(1801–1809) and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776). Jefferson was one of the most influential Founding Fathers, known for his promotion of the ideals ofrepublicanism in the United States. Jefferson envisioned America as the force behind a great "Empire of Liberty"[ that would promote republicanism and counter the imperialism of theBritish Empire.

Jeffersonian democracy

Jeffersonian democracy, so named after Thomas Jefferson, is a political philosophy supporting a federal government with greatly constrained powers and advocating a strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. Jeffersonian philosophy also called for state and local governments to safeguard the rights and property of citizens. Jeffersonians recognized both private and common property. This philosophy dominated American politics in the years 1800-1820s. It is contrasted with Jacksonian democracy, which dominated the next political era, and Federalism, a contemporary political theory advocating a strong federal government. The most prominent spokesmen of this political philosophy included Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Albert Gallatin, John Randolph of Roanoke, andNathaniel Bacon.

In its core ideals it is characterized by the following elements, which the Jeffersonians expressed in their speeches and legislation:

The core political value of America is representative democracy; citizens have a civic duty to aid the state and resist corruption, especially monarchism and aristocracy.[1]

The yeoman farmer best exemplifies civic virtue and independence from corrupting city influences; government policy should be for his benefit. Financiers, bankers and industrialists make cities the cesspools of corruption, and should be avoided.[2]

Americans had a duty to spread what Jefferson called the "Empire of Liberty" to the world, but should avoid "entangling alliances."[3]

The national government is a dangerous necessity to be instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation or community; it should be watched closely and circumscribed in its powers. Most Anti-Federalists from 1787-88 joined the Jeffersonians.[4]

The wall of separation between church and state is the best method to keep religion free from intervention by the federal government, government free of religious disputes, and religion free from corruption by government.[5]

The federal government must not violate the rights of individuals. The Bill of Rights is a central theme.[6]

The federal government must not violate the rights of the states. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798 (written secretly by Jefferson and James Madison) proclaim these principles.[7]

Freedom of speech and the press is the best method to prevent the tyranny of the people by their own government. The Federalists' violation of this idea through the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 became a major issue.[8]

A standing army and navy are dangerous to liberty and should be avoided; much better was to use economic coercion such as theembargo.[9]

The United States Constitution was written in order to ensure the freedom of the people. A strict view of how the constitution was written is kept. However, "no society can make a perpetual constitution or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation."[10]

All men had the right to be informed, and thus, to have a say in the government. The protection and expansion of human liberty was one of the chief goals of the Jeffersonians. They also reformed their respective state systems of education. They believed that their citizens had the right and should be educated no matter their circumstance or status in life.

Jefferson and Jeffersonian democracy

Jefferson, the historical orthodoxy holds, repeatedly violated these principles, from the Louisiana Purchase, of which he conceded "the less we say about constitutional difficulties respecting Louisiana the better,"[15] through the unpopular and intrusively-enforced Embargo Act of 1807, to the continued holding of slaves despite his years of condemnation of the practice, and more. The disparity between Jefferson's philosophy and practice have been noted by numerous historians: Staaloff proposed that it was due to his being a proto-Romantic;[16] John Quincy Adams claimed that it was a manifestation of pure hypocrisy, or 'pliability of principle;'[17] and Bailyn asserts it simply represented a contradiction with Jefferson, that he was “simultaneously a radical utopian idealist and a hardheaded, adroit, at times cunning politician.”[18] However, Jenkinson argued that Jefferson's personal failings ought not to influence present day thinkers to disregard Jeffersonian ideals.[19]

Kuehnelt-Leddihn argues that "Jeffersonian democracy" is a misnomer, because Jefferson was not a democrat but in fact believed in rule by an elite: "Jefferson actually was an Agrarian Romantic who dreamt of a republic governed by an elite of character and intellect... the expressions 'democrat' and 'democracy' hardly occur in the Monticello edition of Jefferson's works".[20] He quotes Jefferson: "The natural aristocracy I consider as the most precious gift of nature... Every one, by his property, or by his satisfactory situation, is interested in the support of law and order. And such men may safely and advantageously reserve to themselves a wholesome control over their public affairs, and a degree of freedom, which, in the hands of the canaille of the cities of Europe, would be instantly perverted to the demolition and destruction of everything public and private."[21]