Jeffersonian democracy

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A Jeffersonian democracy is a form of government named for American statesman Thomas Jefferson. It dominated American politics in the era of the First Party System after 1800. It is often contrasted with the characteristics of Jacksonian democracy, or Second Party System which dominated the next political era. In its core ideals it is characterized by the following key elements:

  • The core political value of America is republicanism; citizens have a civic duty to aid the state and resist corruption, especially monarchism and aristocracy.
  • The Yeoman Farmer best exemplifies republican virtue; government policy should be for his benefit. Financiers, bankers and industrialists make cities the cesspools of corruption, and should be avoided.
  • Americans have a duty to spread the "Empire of Liberty" to the world, but should avoid "entangling alliances."
  • The national government is a necessary evil to be instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation or community.
  • Representative democracy (i.e. "democratic republicanism") is the best form of government and representative government is the best form of democracy to prevent the tyranny by the majority.
  • Checks and balances between the separate branches of government are the best way to prevent political tyranny by the executive or the representatives in a legislature.
  • A wall of separation between church and state is the best method to keep religion free from intervention by the federal government.
  • The federal government must not violate the freedoms of individuals.
  • The federal government must not violate the rights of the states.
  • Freedom of speech and the press is the best method to prevent the tyranny of the people by their own government.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Banning, Lance. The Jeffersonian persuasion: Evolution of a Party Ideology(1978)
  • Brown; Stuart Gerry. The First Republicans: Political Philosophy and Public Policy in the Party of Jefferson and Madison (1954)
  • Vernon Parrington, Main Currents in American Thought (1927) v 2 online
  • Onuf, Peter S., ed. Jeffersonian Legacies. (1993).
  • Merrill D. Peterson. The Jefferson Image in the American Mind (1960)
  • Taylor, Jeff. Where Did the Party Go?: William Jennings Bryan, Hubert Humphrey, and the Jeffersonian Legacy (2006)
  • Wiltse, Charles Maurice. The Jeffersonian Tradition in American Democracy (1935) == == == == == == == == ==
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