Jeffersonian democracy

Cultural  

1. A movement for more democracy in American government in the first decade of the nineteenth century. The movement was led by President Thomas Jefferson. Jeffersonian democracy was less radical than the later Jacksonian democracy. For example, where Jacksonian democracy held that the common citizen was the best judge of measures, Jeffersonian democracy stressed the need for leadership by those of greatest ability, who would be chosen by the people.

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Example Sentences

“Some people were thinking in terms of Jeffersonian democracy, but that’s just not going to happen in Afghanistan.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 10, 2019

It wasn’t a Jeffersonian democracy, but the system had legitimacy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2018

Jackson’s predecessor, John Quincy Adams, knew well the strains rending Jeffersonian democracy.

From Washington Post • Apr. 24, 2017

If you want to read an uplifting story about Jeffersonian democracy in action, this post isn’t for you.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 18, 2015

He was called "the Goliath of Federalism," and "the high priest of the constitution," by the opponents of "Jacobinism." as Federalists often termed Jeffersonian democracy.

From The World's Best Orations, Vol. 1 (of 10) by Various