Thomas Jefferson wanted America to be a bottom-up multi-layered republic.
In other words, he wanted citizen decision-making power at all levels. That is to say, true sovereignty would exist in local communities, counties, states, and the nation. That should be the definition of the phrase “Jeffersonian democracy”. But what America has is a top-down system controlled by the national government. We say that our state governments are sovereign, but they’re in fact subordinate. And then our counties, cities, and local communities have no sovereignty at all, except whatever the nation and states choose to bestow upon them.
Jefferson wanted the local communities, which he called “wards”, to have authority equal to that of the states and the nation. Furthermore, he wanted all authority to ultimately rest on each individual citizen, with the power to work together with other citizens to limit all governments. He wrote:
The elementary republics of the wards, the county republics, the state republics, and the republic of the Union, would form a graduation of authorities…. … Where every man is a sharer in the direction of his ward-republic, or of some of the higher ones, and feels that he is a participator in the government of affairs, not merely at an election one day in the year, but every day; when there shall not be a man in the state who will not be a member of some one of its councils, great or small, he will let the heart be torn out of his body sooner than his power be wrested from him by a Caesar or a [Napoleon] Bonaparte. (Jefferson 1816a)
If Jefferson had been in the Constitutional Convention, he would have pushed for a Jeffersonian democracy. That is, he would have wanted more control by the people at large.
For example, he wrote:
[W]herever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government; that when things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights. (Jefferson 1789)
[W]hat country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. (Jefferson 1787)
Hannah Arendt, a modern political scientist, wrote that Jefferson, more than any other founder, understood that the freedom Americans gained in their revolution really only gave total freedom to their representatives. She wrote further that this understanding caused him to feel “antagonism against the Constitution”. (Arendt [2000] 2003, 509)
Jefferson believed that true democracy meant every generation had the right to create its own constitution:
Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence and deem them, like the Ark of the Covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment. … Let us [not] weakly believe that one generation is not as capable as another of taking care of itself and of ordering its own affairs. (Jefferson 1816b)
Do you think Jefferson’s views of democracy and the U.S. Constiution were dangerous? Or do you think they were wise? What Would a True Jeffersonian Democracy Look Like?
You can add a comment at the bottom of the page about how to improve modern political systems. Non-relevant comments will be deleted. Also, all URL links will be stripped from comments, until WordPress fixes their hacking problem.
Next Post
Sources:
Arendt, Hannah [2000] 2003. On Revolution. London: Penguin Books.
Jefferson, Thomas. 1787. Letter to William Smith on Nov. 13. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/105.html (Accessed Nov. 25, 2018)
Jefferson, Thomas. 1789. Letter to David Price on Jan. 8. National Archives. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-14-02-0196 (Accessed Nov. 25, 2018)
Jefferson, Thomas. 1816a. Letter to Joseph C. Cabell on Feb. 2. American History. http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/presidents/thomas-jefferson/letters-of-thomas-jefferson/jefl241.php (Accessed Aug. 11, 2017)
Jefferson, Thomas. 1816b. Letter to Samuel Kercheval on July 12.” Founders Online, National Archives, version of January 18, 2019, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-10-02-0309. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, vol. 10, May 1816 to 18 January 1817, ed. J. Jefferson Looney. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013, pp. 435–436.]
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Needed to put you the tiny observation so as to give many thanks yet again over the superb knowledge you’ve featured above. It has been so generous of you in giving unreservedly what exactly most people would have advertised for an ebook to generate some profit for themselves, mostly since you might have done it in the event you considered necessary. These suggestions also worked to become a great way to comprehend other people online have similar dreams just as my own to find out a lot more with regards to this matter. I’m certain there are thousands of more pleasant sessions ahead for those who scan through your website.
I intended to put you that very little remark just to thank you so much yet again on the exceptional thoughts you have shown in this article. This is certainly incredibly generous with people like you in giving unreservedly all numerous people could have made available for an ebook to generate some profit on their own, specifically considering that you could possibly have tried it in case you wanted. Those points additionally worked to be a easy way to fully grasp that some people have the same zeal similar to my own to grasp a whole lot more with reference to this issue. I know there are several more pleasurable instances up front for those who go through your blog post.
I intended to compose you one tiny note just to say thanks again about the marvelous things you’ve discussed in this case. It’s surprisingly open-handed of people like you in giving unreservedly what exactly many individuals could have offered for sale for an electronic book to get some bucks on their own, particularly considering the fact that you might well have done it if you ever decided. The things also acted as a easy way to know that other individuals have the same keenness much like mine to grasp a great deal more in terms of this condition. Certainly there are a lot more pleasurable instances in the future for those who check out your blog post.
I needed to write you the tiny observation to say thank you yet again for those lovely tricks you’ve shown on this page. It was so seriously generous with people like you to provide extensively precisely what many of us would have made available as an ebook in order to make some cash for themselves, certainly considering the fact that you could possibly have done it if you ever considered necessary. These principles as well served as a great way to fully grasp that someone else have similar keenness similar to my own to find out way more with respect to this issue. I’m sure there are numerous more pleasurable situations in the future for individuals who examine your blog.
I wanted to draft you a little bit of observation to give many thanks once again regarding the remarkable opinions you have featured here. This is really generous with people like you to supply unhampered all that many individuals could have advertised for an ebook in making some profit on their own, most notably considering that you might well have tried it in the event you considered necessary. These basics in addition served as the great way to fully grasp that other people online have similar dream really like my own to figure out significantly more on the subject of this matter. I am certain there are thousands of more pleasurable situations in the future for individuals that read carefully your blog.
constantly i used to read smaller posts that also clear their motive, and
that is also happening with this paragraph which I am reading at this place.
I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this
kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this
site. Studying this information So i am glad to
exhibit that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly
what I needed. I such a lot no doubt will make certain to don?t omit this website
and provides it a look regularly.
Hi! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Great article. I’m going through some of these issues as well..
This piece of writing gives clear idea in support of the new
people of blogging, that genuinely how to do blogging and site-building.
I think this is one of the so much vital information for me.
And i am happy studying your article. However want to statement on some basic things, The web site taste is wonderful,
the articles is in reality great : D. Good process, cheers
Hi there friends, nice paragraph and good urging commented at this place, I am
in fact enjoying by these.
Hi there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give
a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading through your
articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums
that cover the same topics? Thank you so much!
Article writing is also a fun, if you be acquainted
with after that you can write otherwise it is complex to write.
I always used to read post in news papers but now
as I am a user of net therefore from now I am using net for articles, thanks to web.
Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s
new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it
and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!
Keep on writing, great job!
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I encounter a blog
that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the
nail on the head. The issue is something which too few people are speaking intelligently about.
Now i’m very happy that I came across this in my hunt for something relating to this.
I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of area .
Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this website.
Reading this info So i am satisfied to express that I’ve a very excellent uncanny
feeling I found out just what I needed. I most unquestionably will make sure to do
not forget this site and give it a glance regularly.
Hello, I check your blog regularly. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the
good work!
My partner and I stumbled over here by a different page and thought I might check things out.
I like what I see so now i’m following you.
Look forward to checking out your web page again.
Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I to
find It really helpful & it helped me out much. I’m hoping to provide something again and help others like
you helped me.
Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a weblog website?
The account helped me a applicable deal. I have been a little bit familiar
of this your broadcast provided vivid clear idea
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your website in internet explorer, might test this?
IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a large component of people will leave out your great writing due to
this problem.
Hi, I want to subscribe for this web site to get latest updates, so
where can i do it please help.
You could definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write.
The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to mention how they believe.
At all times go after your heart.
I just like the valuable info you provide to your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at again here regularly.
I’m fairly sure I will learn many new stuff proper right
here! Best of luck for the following!
Highly energetic article, I loved that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Hello there I am so grateful I found your site, I really found you
by accident, while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else,
Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks
a lot for a remarkable post and a all round entertaining blog (I
also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through
it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great
deal more, Please do keep up the superb b.
You made some really good points there. I checked on the
net for more information about the issue and found most people will go along with
your views on this website.
Greetings! Quick question that’s entirely off topic.
Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when browsing from
my iphone. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might
be able to correct this problem. If you have any recommendations, please share.
Appreciate it!
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this
I have discovered It positively useful and it
has aided me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & aid
other users like its aided me. Great job.
We absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your
post’s to be just what I’m looking for.
can you offer guest writers to write content in your case?
I wouldn’t mind composing a post or elaborating on a
number of the subjects you write with regards to here.
Again, awesome web site!
Wonderful, what a blog it is! This blog gives
valuable facts to us, keep it up.
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add
to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have
some experience with something like this. Please
let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog
and I look forward to your new updates.
My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on various websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform.
I have heard great things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into it?
Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!