Thomas Jefferson · Politics

The People as Rulers: Jefferson’s Democracy

Jefferson trusted ordinary people to govern themselves more than any founder - through an educated citizenry, small self-governing wards, and a vision of a republic of independent farmers.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Jefferson grounded democracy in the virtue and independence of ordinary citizens. In your own words, why did he think small farmers made the best republicans, and why education was essential?

Leads to Alexis de Tocqueville.

Begin this lesson →
← All lessons on Thomas Jefferson

epoché — a humanities education that remembers you.