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Jeffersonian Democracy (view source)
Revision as of 11:35, September 24, 2008
, 11:35, September 24, 2008new article
'''Jeffersonian democracy''' is the set of political goals of the followers of American [[Thomas Jefferson]]. It comprises a major interpretation of [[Republicanism, U.S.|republican values]]. It dominated American politics in the period of the [[First Party System]], 1800-1820s, and continued influential into the 1930s. After 1860 it was part of the conservative beliefs of the [[Bourbon Democrats]] such as [[Grover Cleveland]]. In the 1930s the small government theme became a rallying point of the anti-[[New Deal]] Democrats associated with [[Al Smith]] and the [[American Liberty League]].
It is contrasted with [[Jacksonian Democracy]], which dominated the next political era, the [[Second Party System]].
The most prominent spokesmen included [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[James Madison]], [[Albert Gallatin]], [[John Randolph of Roanoke]] and [[Nathaniel Macon]].
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.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 79-90</ref>
* The [[Yeoman]] Farmer best exemplifies republican 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.<ref> Elkins and McKitrick. (1995) ch 5; Wallace Hettle, ''The Peculiar Democracy: Southern Democrats in Peace and Civil War'' (2001) p. 15</ref>
* Americans have a duty to spread what Jefferson called the "Empire of Liberty" to the world, but should avoid "entangling alliances."<ref> Hendrickson and Tucker. (1990)</ref>
* 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.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 105-15</ref>
* [[Republicanism]],also known as [[representative Democracy]], is the best form of government and representative [[democracy]] is needed to prevent the tyranny by the majority, as Madison explained in [[Federalist No. 10]]
* The [[separation of church and state|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.<ref>Philip Hamburger, ''Separation of church and state'' Harvard University Press, 2002. ISBN: 0674007344 OCLC: 48958015 </ref>
* The federal government must not violate the [[individual liberty|rights of individuals]]. The [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]] is a central theme.<ref>Robert Allen Rutland; ''The Birth of the Bill of Rights, 1776-1791'' University of North Carolina Press, (1955)</ref>
* The federal government must not violate the [[States' rights|rights of the states]]. The [[Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions]] of 1798 (written secretly by Jefferson and Madison) proclaim these principles.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 264-66</ref>
* [[Freedom of speech]] and [[freedom of the press|the press]] is the best method to prevent the tyranny of the people by their own government. Their violation by the [[Alien and Sedition Acts]] of 1798 became a major issue.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 255-66-3</ref>
* A standing army and navy are dangerous to liberty and should be avoided; much better was to use economic coercion such as the embargo.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 292-3</ref>
== See also ==
* [[American Liberty League]]
* [[Bourbon Democrats]]
* [[Democratic-Republican Party]]
* [[Era of Good Feelings]]
* [[Thomas Jefferson]]
* [[First Party System]]
* [[Second Party System]]
* [[Jacksonian Democracy]]
* [[Republicanism]]
== Bibliography ==
* Banning, Lance. ''The Jeffersonian Persuasion: Evolution of a Party Ideology'' (1978) [http://www.amazon.com/Jeffersonian-Persuasion-Evolution-Party-Ideology/dp/0801492009/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296196&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Brown, Stuart Gerry. ''The First Republicans: Political Philosophy and Public Policy in the Party of Jefferson and Madison'' [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=11814508 (1954) online]
* Elkins, Stanley M. and Eric L. McKitrick. ''The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788-1800'' (1995), the most advanced history of the 1790s [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=59152800 online edition]; [http://www.amazon.com/Age-Federalism-American-Republic-1788-1800/dp/019509381X/ref=sr_1_3/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296282&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search]
* Hendrickson, David C. and Robert W. Tucker. ''Empire of Liberty: the statecraft of Thomas Jefferson'' (1990), foreign policy [http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Liberty-Statecraft-Thomas-Jefferson/dp/0195074831/ref=sr_1_3/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296319&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search]
* [http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/parrington/vol2/bk01_01_ch02.html Vernon Parrington, ''Main Currents in American Thought'' (1927) v 2 online]
* Onuf, Peter S., ed. ''Jeffersonian Legacies.'' (1993). [http://www.amazon.com/Jeffersonian-Legacies-Peter-S-Onuf/dp/0813914639/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296350&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Onuf, Peter S. "The Revolution of 1803." ''The Wilson Quarterly.'' v. 27#1 (Winter 2003) pp 22+; on meaning of Louisiana Purchase [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000626177 online edition]
* Onuf, Peter S. ''Jefferson's Empire: The Language of American Nationhood'' (2001). [http://www.amazon.com/Jeffersons-Empire-Language-Nationhood-Jeffersonian/dp/0813920906/ref=sr_1_2/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296350&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]
* Peterson, Merrill D. ''The Jefferson Image in the American Mind'' (1960) [http://www.amazon.com/Jefferson-Image-American-Mind/dp/0813918510/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296428&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Taylor, Jeff. ''Where Did the Party Go?: William Jennings Bryan, Hubert Humphrey, and the Jeffersonian Legacy'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Where-Did-Party-Go-Jeffersonian/dp/0826216595/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296482&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Wilentz, Sean. ''The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln'' (2005), major sweeping synthesis [http://www.amazon.com/Rise-American-Democracy-1787-1815-College/dp/0393930068/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296506&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Wiltse, Charles Maurice. ''The Jeffersonian Tradition in American Democracy'' (1935) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=2350128 online edition]
====notes====
<references/>
[[Category: U.S. history]]
It is contrasted with [[Jacksonian Democracy]], which dominated the next political era, the [[Second Party System]].
The most prominent spokesmen included [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[James Madison]], [[Albert Gallatin]], [[John Randolph of Roanoke]] and [[Nathaniel Macon]].
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.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 79-90</ref>
* The [[Yeoman]] Farmer best exemplifies republican 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.<ref> Elkins and McKitrick. (1995) ch 5; Wallace Hettle, ''The Peculiar Democracy: Southern Democrats in Peace and Civil War'' (2001) p. 15</ref>
* Americans have a duty to spread what Jefferson called the "Empire of Liberty" to the world, but should avoid "entangling alliances."<ref> Hendrickson and Tucker. (1990)</ref>
* 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.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 105-15</ref>
* [[Republicanism]],also known as [[representative Democracy]], is the best form of government and representative [[democracy]] is needed to prevent the tyranny by the majority, as Madison explained in [[Federalist No. 10]]
* The [[separation of church and state|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.<ref>Philip Hamburger, ''Separation of church and state'' Harvard University Press, 2002. ISBN: 0674007344 OCLC: 48958015 </ref>
* The federal government must not violate the [[individual liberty|rights of individuals]]. The [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]] is a central theme.<ref>Robert Allen Rutland; ''The Birth of the Bill of Rights, 1776-1791'' University of North Carolina Press, (1955)</ref>
* The federal government must not violate the [[States' rights|rights of the states]]. The [[Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions]] of 1798 (written secretly by Jefferson and Madison) proclaim these principles.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 264-66</ref>
* [[Freedom of speech]] and [[freedom of the press|the press]] is the best method to prevent the tyranny of the people by their own government. Their violation by the [[Alien and Sedition Acts]] of 1798 became a major issue.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 255-66-3</ref>
* A standing army and navy are dangerous to liberty and should be avoided; much better was to use economic coercion such as the embargo.<ref> Banning (1978) pp 292-3</ref>
== See also ==
* [[American Liberty League]]
* [[Bourbon Democrats]]
* [[Democratic-Republican Party]]
* [[Era of Good Feelings]]
* [[Thomas Jefferson]]
* [[First Party System]]
* [[Second Party System]]
* [[Jacksonian Democracy]]
* [[Republicanism]]
== Bibliography ==
* Banning, Lance. ''The Jeffersonian Persuasion: Evolution of a Party Ideology'' (1978) [http://www.amazon.com/Jeffersonian-Persuasion-Evolution-Party-Ideology/dp/0801492009/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296196&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Brown, Stuart Gerry. ''The First Republicans: Political Philosophy and Public Policy in the Party of Jefferson and Madison'' [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=11814508 (1954) online]
* Elkins, Stanley M. and Eric L. McKitrick. ''The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788-1800'' (1995), the most advanced history of the 1790s [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=59152800 online edition]; [http://www.amazon.com/Age-Federalism-American-Republic-1788-1800/dp/019509381X/ref=sr_1_3/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296282&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search]
* Hendrickson, David C. and Robert W. Tucker. ''Empire of Liberty: the statecraft of Thomas Jefferson'' (1990), foreign policy [http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Liberty-Statecraft-Thomas-Jefferson/dp/0195074831/ref=sr_1_3/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296319&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search]
* [http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/parrington/vol2/bk01_01_ch02.html Vernon Parrington, ''Main Currents in American Thought'' (1927) v 2 online]
* Onuf, Peter S., ed. ''Jeffersonian Legacies.'' (1993). [http://www.amazon.com/Jeffersonian-Legacies-Peter-S-Onuf/dp/0813914639/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296350&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Onuf, Peter S. "The Revolution of 1803." ''The Wilson Quarterly.'' v. 27#1 (Winter 2003) pp 22+; on meaning of Louisiana Purchase [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000626177 online edition]
* Onuf, Peter S. ''Jefferson's Empire: The Language of American Nationhood'' (2001). [http://www.amazon.com/Jeffersons-Empire-Language-Nationhood-Jeffersonian/dp/0813920906/ref=sr_1_2/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296350&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]
* Peterson, Merrill D. ''The Jefferson Image in the American Mind'' (1960) [http://www.amazon.com/Jefferson-Image-American-Mind/dp/0813918510/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296428&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Taylor, Jeff. ''Where Did the Party Go?: William Jennings Bryan, Hubert Humphrey, and the Jeffersonian Legacy'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Where-Did-Party-Go-Jeffersonian/dp/0826216595/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296482&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Wilentz, Sean. ''The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln'' (2005), major sweeping synthesis [http://www.amazon.com/Rise-American-Democracy-1787-1815-College/dp/0393930068/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194296506&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Wiltse, Charles Maurice. ''The Jeffersonian Tradition in American Democracy'' (1935) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=2350128 online edition]
====notes====
<references/>
[[Category: U.S. history]]