The Constitutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson

The Constitutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson PDF

Author: David N. Mayer

Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Published: 1994

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13: 9780813914855

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In this comprehensive account of Jefferson's constitutional thought, David N. Mayer offers a fresh perspective on Jefferson's philosophy of government. Eschewing the "liberalism versus civic republicanism" debate that has so dominated early American scholarship in recent years, Mayer examines Jefferson's thought on Jefferson's own terms - as "whig", "federal", and "republican". In the interrelationships and tensions among these three essential aspects of Jefferson's theory, Mayer explains Jefferson's response to the particular constitutional issues and problems of his time. In contrast to other studies that view Jefferson as a champion of democracy, Mayer's book emphasizes Jefferson's commitment to liberty. Jefferson's distinctiveness, Mayer argues, was the degree to which he advocated that government should leave individuals alone, free to govern themselves. Believing that "the natural process of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground", Jefferson stressed the importance of written constitutions, scrupulously adhered to, as well as popular participation and vigilance over government, to keep its power from being abused. Drawing together Jefferson's scattered writings on the subject, Mayer traces the development of his constitutional theory from its beginnings through all the significant periods of Jefferson's life - his early education, the American Revolution, the constitutional debates of the 1780s, the Federalist-Republican political party struggles of the 1790s, his two presidential terms, and his retirement years. The Constitutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson provides a comprehensive explanation of Jefferson's constitutional theory and philosophy ofgovernment, including rights theories (particularly First Amendment freedoms), federalism, constitutional interpretation, separation of powers (including presidential powers), and constitutional change. This is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in Jefferson's ideas about law and government.

The Political Philosophy of Thomas Jefferson

The Political Philosophy of Thomas Jefferson PDF

Author: Garrett Ward Sheldon

Publisher:

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13:

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Was Thomas Jefferson a Lockean liberal or a classical republican? In The Political Philosophy of Thomas Jefferson, Garrett Ward Sheldon aims to reconcile two opposing camps of an ongoing scholarly debate. Offering a revised account of Jefferson's political theory, Sheldon shows that Jefferson's thought comprised a rich constellation of theoretical traditions--including British liberalism, classical republicanism, Scottish moral philosophy, Christian ethics, and Lockean theory. Examining Jefferson's views on democracy, rights, freedom, and slavery as well as the cultural and economic context of his ideas in the Virginia gentry class, this book not only offers a concise introduction to Jefferson's political philosophy but also makes a thought-provoking contribution to a current historiography controversy.

The Constitutional Principles of Thomas Jefferson

The Constitutional Principles of Thomas Jefferson PDF

Author: Caleb Perry Patterson

Publisher:

Published: 1953

Total Pages: 236

ISBN-13:

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"Contends Thomas Jefferson believed in 'constitutional supremacy' in opposition to supremacy of the executive, legislative, or judiciary branches. This means opposition to centralized power, strict construction, and the ultimate supremacy of the people over the Constitution, although Jefferson was no doctrinaire."--Frank Shuffelton.

Jefferson, Madison, and the Making of the Constitution

Jefferson, Madison, and the Making of the Constitution PDF

Author: Jeff Broadwater

Publisher: UNC Press Books

Published: 2019-03-27

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 1469651025

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Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, and James Madison, "Father of the Constitution," were two of the most important Founders of the United States as well as the closest of political allies. Yet historians have often seen a tension between the idealistic rhetoric of the Declaration and the more pedestrian language of the Constitution. Moreover, to some, the adoption of the Constitution represented a repudiation of the democratic values of the Revolution. In this book, Jeff Broadwater explores the evolution of the constitutional thought of these two seminal American figures, from the beginning of the American Revolution through the adoption of the Bill of Rights. In explaining how the two political compatriots could have produced such seemingly dissimilar documents but then come to a common constitutional ground, Broadwater reveals how their collaboration--and their disagreements--influenced the full range of constitutional questions during this early period of the American republic.

Liberty, State & Union

Liberty, State & Union PDF

Author: Luigi Marco Bassani

Publisher: Mercer University Press

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13: 0881461865

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Examines the political ideals of Thomas Jefferson, discussing his views on the rights of man and state's rights, and describing the political theory that guided Jefferson's decisions as the nation's third president.

Classics of American Political and Constitutional Thought

Classics of American Political and Constitutional Thought PDF

Author: Scott J. Hammond

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 1236

ISBN-13: 9780872207875

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From James I's Address Before Parliament (1610) to Joseph R. Biden, Jr.'s Learned Hand Dinner Address Before the American Jewish Committee (2005), this two-volume set offers an unparalleled selection of key texts from the history of American political and constitutional thought.

Thomas Jefferson and Executive Power

Thomas Jefferson and Executive Power PDF

Author: Jeremy D. Bailey

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2007-07-09

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13: 1139466291

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By revisiting Thomas Jefferson's understanding of executive power this book offers a new understanding of the origins of presidential power. Before Jefferson was elected president, he arrived at a way to resolve the tension between constitutionalism and executive power. Because his solution would preserve a strict interpretation of the Constitution as well as transform the precedents left by his Federalist predecessors, it provided an alternative to Alexander Hamilton's understanding of executive power. In fact, a more thorough account of Jefferson's political career suggests that Jefferson envisioned an executive that was powerful, or 'energetic', because it would be more explicitly attached to the majority will. Jefferson's Revolution of 1800, often portrayed as a reversal of the strong presidency, was itself premised on energy in the executive and was part of Jefferson's project to enable the Constitution to survive and even flourish in a world governed by necessity.

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