Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson's ideals and beliefs were derived from a deep regard for life, liberty, and freedom. His concept of individual freedoms strongly disagreed with the notion of a "guided republic" which he believed concentrated a great deal unchecked power among a few people. This could have the potential of tyrannical government that might suppress personal freedoms of any kind especially those of religion, which Jefferson feels very strongly felt should be protected. After fighting hard to rid America of British domination, Jefferson was determined to create a government that was responsible to, and derived its powers from, a free people. As the writer of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Jefferson is thought by many to be the founder of the Democratic Party. He was foremost among the influential men who believed that laws should be made by those who are to obey them. Thomas Jefferson pushed hard to create a government that would serve and protect all its constituents.

A "guided republic" is a form of government where an essentially omnipotent council determines the legislation passed by the legislative body. Though the legislative and executive branches may be elected by the people, they supervising power is not and therefore has the ability to rule in any way they please. The council can, and often does, refuse the rights to freedom of press, speech, and religion. They may prevent bills that attempt to revive these powers and, in the same sense, may prohibit people from speaking about ideas that oppose those of the council. This governing group does not hesitate to use violent force to protect their power. At its worst, a "guided republic" is a tyrannical fo...

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...ht, freedom and practice that a supervised democracy opposed.

Jefferson believed that the American way was the right way. He had faith in the system, which he helped to create, and stood by it until the day he died. The prosperity of Americans under the freedoms that were allowed for by the Constitution of the United States cemented his immense respect for the new republic. Thomas Jefferson was a man of principles who felt strongly about what he believed in. In the final letter of his life, to Roger C. Weightman, he showed immense pride in the fact "that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made" . Because of Thomas Jefferson, "the form [of government]…restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man" .

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