JEFFERSON RULE AND DEMOCRACY
Jeffersonian Democracy is the ideal form of government as envisioned by Thomas
Jefferson dominated American politics in the years 1800-1820s. It is contrasted with
Jacksonian democracy, which dominated the next political era. The democracy of Jefferson is
a political philosophy, which supported a federal government with greatly constrained
powers. Most of the ideas, which are part of Jeffersonian Democracy, are not Jefferson‟s own;
rather, these were ideas that he borrowed from such philosophers as Montesquieu, Voltaire,
and Plato. However, much of the substance of Jeffersonian Democracy comes from the ideas
of the English Philosopher John Locke, stressed the “natural” rights of men, the role of
government, and the separation of church and state.
The Jefferson era has long presented observers with a series of paradoxes. The
proclamation of Jefferson “we are all Republicans, and we are all Federalists” came to preside
over one of the most bitterly partisan periods in American history”. Some historians play
down the importance of party conflict in this era. Historians like S. Young argue that the
Jefferson era possessed no true party system. Others like Noble E. Cunningham see
Jefferson period as the prototype of the modern American party system. Conceding that the
Federalist and Jeffersonian never became mass based organization like the later Jacksonian
parties.
There was an idea that the party competition was inevitable and potentially beneficial in
a Republican society. This realization paved the way for the evolution of full-blown two party
systems in 1830s. The election of 1800 is sometimes called a revolution but there was not
such general overturn as that expression would imply Adams lost Presidency because of the
weakness of Federalist Party, partly because of Burr‟s successful work in New York.
The Democrats also secured control of the Congress. For the first time since the
ratification of the new constitution political power passed from the men of wealth- merchants,
bankers and manufacturers- to the middle class and farmers. For the defeated Federalists the
beginning of Jefferson administration was a time of deep gloom. The former rulers despise
the new President as a man suspected his method and hated his political principles. Jefferson
was the first president to be installed on the office in Washington DC.
Jefferson himself favored a small, weak central government. To strong a central
government, he believed, would trample the very rights it was meant to protect. He believed in
a more complete democracy based on mutual trust among men. The weak central government
would give more power to the people, thus making a more democratic society and religion
had no place in it. Jeffersonians argued for strong state and local governments. Self-
sufficiency, self-government, and individual responsibility, were, in the Jeffersonian
worldview, among the most important ideals that formed the basis of the American
Revolution. In Jefferson's opinion, nothing that could feasibly be accomplished by individuals
at the local level ought to be accomplished by the federal government. The federal
government would concentrate its efforts solely on national and international projects.
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Jefferson's advocacy limited government led to sharp disagreements with Federalist figures
such as Alexander Hamilton.
Jefferson‟s personal appearance certainly did not justify the federalist fears. They saw
him not a monster but simply a large raw bowed farmer, careless in manner careless in dress.
He was both a doctrinaire as well as practical politician. Evidence of this divergence appeared
all through his life- Jefferson the philosopher and Jefferson the statesman. As the authors of
the Declaration of independence, Jefferson was one of the best-known American of his days.
The document not only told the world the reasons that America was declaring independence,
but also outlined the purpose of government. During the Revolution he strengthened his
reputation as a liberal reformer by bringing about the abolition of the system of entail and by
establishing religious liberty in Virginia. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
maintained that religion and government should remain separate and that taxes collected
would not be given to any one religion or church. So separation of church and state would
become part of Jeffersonian Democracy. In politics, Jefferson favoured the landed interests
as opposed to the financier and industries. He loved to write about virtues of the tillers of the
soil. Jeffersonian agrarians held that the economy of the United States should rely more on
agriculture for strategic commodities than on industry. Jefferson specifically believed, "Those
who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God, if he ever had a chosen people, whose
breast he has made his peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue." Jefferson
considered industrial workers of the towns as the positive danger of the republic. However,
Jeffersonian ideals are not opposed to all manufacturing; rather, he believed that all people
have the right to work to provide for their own subsistence and that an economic system
which undermines that right is unacceptable.
In his inaugural address the new President shows not only excellent temper but
remarkable ability in putting the thoughts of a common man into enduring words. Jefferson
tried to put good relation between the parties i.e. “we are all Republicans, we are all
Federalists”. He put in a plea for „equal and exact justice to all man‟ and for peace and
commerce honest friendship with all nations entangling alliance with none. He would support
state government in all their rights. He appealed for absolute acquiescent in the decision of
majority. To justify this acquiescence, the will of majority was “to be rightful must be
reasonable”. He warned his heavers that the minority possesses their equal right, which equal
laws must protect. He pledged his administration to economy and to wise expenditure of
public money.
Thomas Jefferson believed that all men possess certain “natural” or fundamental
rights; rights which all men are born with; rights that cannot be taken away. These are the
“self-evident” truths referred to in the Declaration of Independence: “all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. Jefferson did not mention the right of
Property in the Declaration. Each of the natural rights emphasized a facet of what makes
humans human. The right to Life is the most basic. Liberty and equality are two sides of the
same coin. The right of the pursuit of Happiness is the right to a meaningful, purposeful
existence. The right of Property is linked to both the right of Life and that of the pursuit of
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Happiness. These fundamental rights helped to define human existence. Jeffersonian
Democracy also established what the purpose and role of governments are. Governments are
established to protect the people‟s rights using the power they get from the people. Ideally,
then, under Jeffersonian Democracy, the government is the people, and people are the
government. Therefore, if a particular government ceases to work for the good of the people,
the people may and ought to change that government or replace it.
Jefferson found it desirable till some of the civil services position with loyal
Republicans. When he became the President all the appointive offices were in the hands of
Federalists. Actually he made few removals but these were loudly criticised by the
Federalists. But there was no clean sweep on the federal services and members of federalists
were not disturbed in their jobs. Gallatin (Treasury or Finance Minister) planned to pay off
national debt as rapidly as possible. He hoped at the same time to reduce taxes. These plan in
turn demanded economy, which Gallatin affected by cutting in half at the expenditure for the
army and the navy. Coast defence was necessary so Jefferson urged the construction of a
fleet of little gunboats, built for speed carrying a small crew and an armament of single gun.
Another part of Jefferson attack upon the Federal judiciary. In February 1801, a few
days before the end of Adam‟s term, the Congress had passed a law to create additional
district courts and six circuit courts appeal and to authorize the appointment of new judges. A
year later Jefferson‟s Congress repealed the law thus taking away places from judges whom
the President Adams had appointed. The Congress also decreed that the Supreme Court
should not meet again until February 1803. In 1808, the Congress began impeachment
proceeding against Associate Justice Chase of Supreme Court. This extremely Federalist had
offended the Republican. Although Chase was put on trial before the senate, his opponents
could submit no proof he had been guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors so he was not
convicted. Then the Jeffersonians received a jolt from John Marshall justice handled down his
in the case of Marbury vs. Madison. Here he developed the doctrine that the court declared an
act of the Congress unconstitutional.
The Barbary state‟s (Tanis, Tripoli, Algiers and Morocco) rulers were always demanding
presents by seizing American ships and holding the crew for ransom. Jefferson declared war
on Tripoli when she dissatisfied with $ 830000 a year from United States. Jefferson sent a fleet
to the Mediterranean and the contest lasted until 1803.
The greatest of all accomplishment of the Jefferson administration was the purchase of
Louisiana. This territory included approximately one third of the present United States.
Jefferson sent Monroe to France as a special agent to buy New Orleans and a part of West
Florida. He was instructed to offer as high as $ 10000000 for New Orleans and the two
Floridas. Jefferson hinted that he would probably be sent to England to negotiate a treaty of
alliance. Now the situation had changed and France was agreed to give the whole Louisiana at
the expanse of $15000000. When the news of purchase reached, Jefferson the strict
constructionist President was embarrassed. The possession of new territory raised the
problem of government. Evidently the purchase of Louisiana stimulated Jefferson‟s desire for
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expansion and he turned his attention towards the expansion. In 1805 Jefferson tried to seize
the whole province of latest Florida.
Federalist opposition
The federalist in New England disapproved the most of Jefferson‟s measures and they
found particular fault with the purchase of Louisiana. In 1804, senate ratified the Louisiana
Purchase Treaty and thus intensified federalist opposition.
In the president election itself Jefferson almost swept the country wining 162 out of the
total 176 electoral. Twelve amendments in constitution were in effect. This provides each
elector should vote separately for president and vice president.
Jefferson first term was a triumph for the president and his party. The administration
kept its promises of reforms and it gave the country the unexpected advantages of Louisiana
Purchase. During much of this time president was free from the burdens imposed upon
United States by warfare in Europe.
Conclusion
The rule of Jefferson reflected the ideals of his democracy. The core of Jefferson
democracy is representative democracy. The state had duty to take care of the rights of
people and also citizens have a civic duty to aid the state. The government policy should be
for the benefit of minorities. The protection and expansion of human liberty was one of the
chief goals of the Jeffersonians. Americans had a duty to spread what Jefferson called the
"Empire of Liberty" to the world, but should avoid "entangling alliances." The separation of
religion and state is also advocated and practiced by Jefferson, which is essential to make
government free from corruption. Bailyn claimed that it was a manifestation of pure
hypocrisy, or „pliability of principle; and it simply represented a contradiction with Jefferson,
that he was “simultaneously a radical utopian idealist and a hardheaded, adroit, at times
cunning politician (pp.38-45).
