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

“That is a very Jeffersonian democracy approach on siting and permitting,” said Silverman, a former top official at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

From Seattle Times

“You cannot build a Jeffersonian democracy overnight,” he said in an interview.

From New York Times

The real effort, however, became one of nation building, importing a Jeffersonian democracy at the point of a gun.

From New York Times

He saw some positive progress during his tours in Afghanistan but a U.S. general once told him there was “no way” Afghanistan could ever be turned into something like a Jeffersonian democracy.

From Washington Times

Blasting our way through until those people embrace Jeffersonian democracy, dammit, is not the answer.

From Washington Post