Chapter 08 Outline.docVIP

Jeffersonianism and the Era of Good Feelings Introduction Thomas Jefferson, third president of the U.S., had a distaste for pomp and ceremony Conciliated the bitterness of the 1800 election, blaming it on the now-passed French Revolution; stated that “we are all republicans, we are all federalists” Jefferson played active role as president; believed that government strength lied in the content of the people The Age of Jefferson Jefferson and Jeffersonianism Jefferson was held in high regard for his extensive education, serving for twenty years as the president of the American Philosophical Society; also extensive public career: principal author of the Declaration of Independence, governor of Virginia, ambassador to France, secretary of state under Washington, and vice-president under John Adams. However, Jefferson was controversial, as he was the father of his house slave’s child, doubted some Christian doctrines, and earnestly supported the French Revolution;also condemned “race-mixing”, believed blacks and whites could not live side by side. Jeffersonianism’s (Jefferson’s philosophy in government) key beliefs: high taxes, standing armies, and public corruption will destroy American liberty state governments should retain considerable authority to safeguard against tyranny popular liberty needs popular virtue: virtue meant putting public good before private interests and keeping government power under control cities = menace to liberty; those who rely on bosses can have their political opinions influenced, while farmers reflect the most independent, therefore, most virtuous group Jefferson’s “Revolution”: Though his inauguration was described as a revolution, he actually meant to return to the nation’s earlier tranquility, before government’s drift to despotism. Jefferson and secretary of treasury Albert Gallatin rejected Hamilton’s belief that continued national debt would strengthen commercial class’ tie to government Jefferson and Gallatin repealed taxes and