Jeffersonian democracy.
Definition
The political philosophy associated with Thomas Jefferson that emphasized agrarian values, states' rights, limited federal government, strict interpretation of the Constitution, and the idea that yeoman farmers were the backbone of a democratic republic. It stood in contrast to the Federalist vision of a strong central government and industrial economy.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, which doubled the nation's size and provided land for farmers
- 2 Jefferson's opposition to the national bank championed by Alexander Hamilton
- 3 The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions asserting states' rights against federal overreach