THE AGE OF JEFFERSON
In 1819, Thomas Jefferson recalled his own election as president nearly two decades earlier as a
"revolution" in American politics. The Democratic-Republican Party that Jefferson led into power in 1801
was dramatically different from the Federalist Party that had governed since 1789. Jefferson's use of the
word “revolution” signified more than simple transition from one party to another. Jefferson believed
that the Federalists he defeated represented not just a different political vision, but a dangerously one that
threatened to restore the tyranny of the British government which Americans had rejected in 1776.
We often link Jefferson with the principle of equality. While Jefferson's Federalist opponents were called
social and political elitists—people who declared that the views of common people must be filtered
through the wisdom of the best-bred and educated—Jefferson has been celebrated as the champion of
popular wisdom. The central element of Jefferson's republican philosophy was his confidence in the
moral judgments of the common man. He believed that all people possessed an insightful sense of right
and wrong, a natural ability to resolve fundamental questions of morality. Jefferson even argued that on
basic moral questions, a common farmer's moral instincts were the most reliable. "State a moral case to a
ploughman and a professor," he wrote, and "the former will decide it as well, and often better than the
latter, because he has not been led astray by artificial rules."9
It was Jefferson's faith in the moral judgments of the common man that gave him confidence in political
democracy. For just as all people could resolve basic moral questions, they could be trusted to make basic
political decisions, as well. But Jefferson, in many ways, was just as much an elitist as his Federalist
enemies. While he believed everyone possessed basic moral and political abilities, he argued that more
complex questions should be left to those of superior virtue and talents, members of what he labeled
the "natural aristocracy." He drew a sharp distinction between this group and the "artificial aristocracy," a
class elevated not by talent but through inheritance, a group Jefferson labeled a "mischievous ingredient"
in history. By contrast, the people Jefferson called the "natural aristocracy" were "the most precious gift
of nature." And the responsibilities of government should be left to them.
Jefferson's opposing democratic and elitist values were reconciled by his confidence in the electoral
process. It was necessary, Jefferson believed, that the artificial aristocracy be excluded from government
and equally essential that the natural aristocrats be identified and elevated. Jefferson believed the people
were capable of sorting all this out. Through free elections, the talented and virtuous would be selected to
govern. In free elections, common people would draw upon their intuitive moral and political wisdom to
choose the natural aristocrats.
Jefferson's celebration of intellectual freedom has become a critical part of our nation’s thought. Jefferson
believed that all conversation could be tolerated because ultimately "truth will prevail." He encouraged a
free pursuit of questioning because he was confident that it would end in the identification of "Truth." He
did not believe in the equal authority of all ideas; he believed that intellectual diversity could be tolerated
because ultimately there would be intellectual agreement. Intellectual freedom was necessary because it
was the only way we could approach the absolute truths lying within the universe.
For Jefferson, there was little need for government. As humans were inherently moral and reasonable,
they could be trusted to manage their own relationships. People tried to construct governments that would
protect their freedoms, but these governments abused their powers and threatened the liberties they were
designed to protect. For Americans of the Revolutionary era, this history lesson was British colonial
policies. In Britain's move for more and more authority over the colonies—in the introduction of new
taxes, new court procedures, and more troops—Americans saw evidence of yet another government
abusing its powers, until eventually they were forced to declare independence to escape tyranny.
The lessons of history and recent experience for many Americans taught a vital point: government was
naturally dangerous. But while some, like James Madison emphasized that the solution to this problem
lay in the careful balancing of governmental powers, Jefferson suggested something simpler: the powers
of government should be reduced and the people should be left to manage their own affairs. Jefferson
placed his confidence in the radical reduction of government power and in granting freedom to common
people to pursue their virtuous and self-chosen paths.
READING QUESTIONS
1) Who did Jefferson defeat in 1800? Why did he consider that party dangerous?
FEDERALISTS---threat to bring back British Tyranny
2) What did Jefferson believe that every individual possessed?
Insightful sense of right & wrong; ability to resolve questions of morality
3) To Jefferson, whose moral instincts were the most reliable?
A common Farmers
4) What is the difference between a natural and artificial aristocracy?
Natural Aristocracy—class of superior virtues & talents
Artificial Aristocracy—class elevated by inheritance not talent; mischievous ingredient
5) Why did Jefferson believe that all conversation should be tolerated?
Because ultimately “truth will prevail”
6) What did Jefferson consider a threat to liberty and naturally dangerous?
Governments
7) What was the difference between Madison & Jefferson’s views on how to solve tyranny?
Madison said powers of government could be balanced
Jefferson said government powers reduced & people manage own affairs
BOOK QUESTIONS
8) Pg. 322—Reading Check
The equality of all believers before God & promise of salvation for all who believed
9) Pg. 325—Reading Check
Strong, brave, resourceful, and honorable
10) Pg. 327—Reading Check
Wealthy land owners
11) Pg. 329—Reading Check
There was rich soil/cheap land, & wanted to escape restricting laws & population growth in the East
12) Pg. 329--#3
North—Urban—growth of industries, growing gap between rich & poor Rural—small family farms
South—Urban—ports used for shipping crops; Rural—many small farms and some large plantations