THOMAS JEFFERSON

Thomas Jefferson Quote

Thomas Jefferson Quote

“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education…” This applies, for Jefferson, primarily to the national or central government, whose purpose is foreign relations. But for local and state government, he conceives of people as naturally social, requiring political participation for human fulfillment and maintenance of a just social order. Along the lines of the classical Republican Greek polis, as described by Aristotle, Jefferson wished to divide Virginia into ward districts of four to five square miles (10 to 13 sq km) and a few hundred citizens, which would be self-governing in many local concerns (police, welfare, roads, and so on) (MacLeod,2004, pp.174).

This “small republic,” as he called it, would allow every citizen to participate in some area of rule, encouraging public competence and confidence. From these smallest political communities would be elected representatives at the larger governmental levels (county, state, and nation). This Jeffersonian conception of American federalism with its faith in the average citizen and reasoned democracy contrasts with the cautious Madisonian model based on checks and balances thwarting personal ambition and group tyranny. In this and other areas (notably religion), Jefferson's view provides the archetypical American “optimism,” which sees human beings as basically good (rather than essentially sinful and depraved, as traditional American Calvinism presented human nature) if educated, prosperous, and free to order their affairs as they please. Given public education, fair economic opportunity, and unrestricted democratic involvement, freedom of religion teaching the ethical doctrines of Christianity, and free international trade, the United States could expect, according to Jefferson, a future of peace, progress, and harmony (Sheldon, 2000, p34).

His plan for public education, which he proposed for Virginia in 1779, provided for free, compulsory elementary education for all children regardless of “wealth, birth, or other accidental condition.” His curriculum was decidedly secular for the time, emphasizing science, ancient and modern history and languages, classical literature, and economics. Educational advancement was to be determined by impartial examinations allowing intellectually gifted but poor children to advance through the university at public expense. This would provide equal financial opportunity and public service regardless of class background and forms the continuing American idea that public education breaks down economic class barriers, allowing anyone to succeed regardless of family, ethnic, or religious origin (Sheldon, 2000, p34)..

The Democratic Party has advanced public aid to education largely through this conception of its service to economic opportunity. For his opposition to state support of religion he was criticized by those denominations (Episcopal and Presbyterian) that favored state support but praised by those churches (Baptist, Evangelical) that wanted religious freedom. Consequently many evangelical Christians became active in Jefferson's Democratic Party. Jefferson is considered the father of the American Democratic Party both for its democratic ideals and for ...