Simone Lawson
Thomas Jefferson was in France when the US Constitution was drafted in 1787, but he was able to influence its development through his correspondence with those present at the Constitutional Convention, such as James Madison and John Jay. Jefferson was a proponent of government protection of civil liberties, including freedom of the press and religious liberty. He objected to key parts of the original Constitution, such as the lack of a Bill of Rights and the absence of term limits for federal officials. Jefferson believed that constitutions should be periodically revised to keep pace with societal progress and changing circumstances. He once suggested tearing up the Constitution every nineteen or twenty years and starting again. As president, Jefferson's interpretation of the Constitution was tested, and he was willing to expand his narrow interpretation to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Jefferson's view on the constitution | Jefferson believed that the constitution should not be regarded as sacred and unchangeable. |
| Jefferson's view on the need for a new constitution | Jefferson believed that the constitution needed to be rewritten every 19 or 20 years to keep up with the times. |
| Jefferson's view on the role of the government | Jefferson advocated for a federal government with limited powers and the protection of civil liberties, including religious liberty and freedom of the press. |
| Jefferson's view on the Bill of Rights | Jefferson objected to the lack of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution and believed it was necessary to establish term limits for federal officials. |
| Jefferson's view on the Electoral College | Jefferson did not comment directly on the Electoral College, but he was one of the few national leaders who believed in the capacity of the people to govern themselves. |
| Jefferson's view on slavery | Jefferson opposed slavery and worked to end the importation of slaves. |
| Jefferson's view on the separation of church and state | Jefferson supported the separation of church and state and believed that the government should not intermeddle with religious institutions. |
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What You'll Learn
Jefferson's absence from the 1787 Constitutional Convention
Thomas Jefferson was in Paris in 1787 and not in Philadelphia and hence was absent from the 1787 Constitutional Convention. However, he was in correspondence with James Madison, who was a driving force behind the 1787 Constitutional Convention. In a letter dated June 6, 1787, Madison wrote to Jefferson expressing his anxiety about the upcoming meeting in Philadelphia. He also shared a list of the individuals attending the convention but could not reveal more about the substance of the ongoing debates. Jefferson expressed his frustration with the secrecy of the convention but shared some ideas with Madison while it was ongoing.
Jefferson had also been writing about and debating constitutional issues prior to 1787. In 1776, he was unable to attend the Virginia state convention that drew up the Virginia Declaration of Rights, but he sent his own version of a draft constitution back to his home state for consideration. His only book, "Notes on the State of Virginia", was published anonymously in Europe in 1785, and in it, he spent a great deal of time pondering constitutional issues. While in Paris, Jefferson closely followed developments in the United States and corresponded with individuals who would eventually contribute to the formation of the Constitution, like Madison and John Jay, an author of the Federalist Papers.
On December 20, 1787, after the Constitutional Convention was over and while the ratification of the Constitution was being debated in state legislatures, Jefferson wrote a letter to Madison objecting to key parts of the Constitution. He was concerned that the document lacked a Bill of Rights and failed to establish term limits for federal officials. In earlier correspondences, Jefferson had extolled the government's protection of civil liberties and wrote, "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press". He was also a proponent of protections for religious liberty and wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which passed the Virginia General Assembly in 1786.
Thomas Jefferson was a strong advocate for the need for a dynamic society to periodically revise its constitution. He believed that laws and institutions must evolve alongside the progress of the human mind. In a letter to Samuel Kercheval dated July 12, 1816, Jefferson wrote, "Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched". He further added, "We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors".
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Jefferson's correspondence with Madison and John Jay
While Thomas Jefferson was in Paris before the Constitutional Convention, he closely followed developments in the United States. He corresponded with James Madison and John Jay, who would eventually contribute to the formation of the Constitution. Jefferson and Jay discussed the failures of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a more powerful central government.
In 1787, Madison wrote to Jefferson expressing his anxiety about the upcoming Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. During the convention, Madison wrote a letter to Jefferson listing the individuals in attendance but explained that he couldn't reveal more about the substance of the ongoing debates.
After the convention, while the ratification of the Constitution was being debated in state legislatures, Jefferson wrote a letter to Madison on December 20, 1787, objecting to key parts of the Constitution. Jefferson was concerned that the document lacked a Bill of Rights and failed to establish term limits for federal officials. He advocated for government protection of civil liberties, writing, "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press". He also supported religious liberty and wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which passed the Virginia General Assembly in 1786.
In his correspondence with Madison, Jefferson argued for a bill of rights, stating that it would help give the judiciary the power to ensure that other branches of the government would not infringe on citizens' civil liberties. Madison relied on this argument in advocating for the inclusion of a Bill of Rights to the new Constitution.
On September 6, 1789, shortly before leaving his position as minister to France, Jefferson wrote a letter to Madison declaring "that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living." He alluded to Roman law, arguing that each generation should enjoy the fruits of its labors without being under any obligation to the past. Jefferson concluded that all contracts, constitutions, and debts should be voided and renegotiated every nineteen years, as that was the length of one generation according to Buffon's demographic tables.
Jefferson and Madison's collaboration demonstrated their ability to maintain civility and political decorum despite their differences of opinion on important issues. Their friendship and mutual respect allowed them to work together for the ultimate benefit of future Americans.
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Jefferson's objection to the lack of a Bill of Rights
Thomas Jefferson was in France when the US Constitution was written in 1787, but he was still able to influence its development through his correspondence with those present at the Constitutional Convention, such as James Madison and John Jay.
Jefferson's views on the Constitution were complex and evolved over time. He was a strong advocate for civil liberties and believed that the Constitution should not be seen as a sacred document, beyond amendment. He wrote in a letter to Samuel Kercheval:
> "Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment."
Jefferson believed that a dynamic society required periodic constitutional revision to keep pace with the progress of the human mind. He once suggested that the Constitution should be torn up and rewritten every nineteen or twenty years.
Jefferson objected to several key parts of the original Constitution, including the lack of a Bill of Rights. In a letter to Madison, he expressed his concern over the absence of a Bill of Rights, as well as the failure to establish term limits for federal officials. In earlier correspondences, Jefferson emphasised the importance of protecting civil liberties, writing, "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press". He also advocated for religious liberty and wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which passed in 1786.
Despite his objections, Jefferson's influence on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is undeniable. By the fall of 1788, Madison was convinced of the need to include a Bill of Rights in the new Constitution. Jefferson's impact extended beyond the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, as he also played a significant role in shaping the federal government, the nature of the emerging republic, and the design of the nation's capital.
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Jefferson's views on the separation of church and state
Thomas Jefferson was a key figure in the American Revolution and the formation of the United States Constitution. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and played an influential role in shaping the ideas and principles that would inform the Constitution.
Jefferson's ideas on the separation of church and state were motivated by his belief that religion was a private matter and that individuals had a fundamental right of conscience. He felt that people should be free to think and decide for themselves, without interference from the government or others. In a letter to Lincoln, Jefferson wrote about issuing a condemnation of the alliance between church and state, indicating his commitment to keeping religious institutions separate from governmental authority.
Jefferson's influence on the separation of church and state in the United States has been significant and enduring. The Supreme Court has repeatedly cited his "wall of separation" metaphor, and his ideas continue to shape discussions and debates around religious freedom and the proper relationship between church and state in American democracy.
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Jefferson's belief in constitutional revision
Thomas Jefferson was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was written in 1787. However, he was still able to influence the development of the federal government through his correspondence with those present at the Constitutional Convention, such as Madison and John Jay.
Jefferson was a strong advocate for the protection of civil liberties and believed that "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press". He also supported religious liberty and wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which passed the Virginia General Assembly in 1786. In a letter to Rev. Samuel Miller in 1808, Jefferson wrote:
> "I consider the government of the US. as interdicted by the constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. this results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment, or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the states the powers not delegated to the US."
Jefferson also expressed his frustration with the secrecy of the Constitutional Convention. In a letter to Madison, he objected to key parts of the Constitution, including the lack of a Bill of Rights and the absence of term limits for federal officials. Despite his concerns, Jefferson acknowledged the importance of keeping the Constitution up-to-date with the progress of society:
> "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
Jefferson believed that a dynamic society like that of the United States needed periodic constitutional revision to avoid being constrained by an outdated social contract. He suggested that the Constitution should be torn up and rewritten every nineteen or twenty years. This idea was based on his belief that "the earth belongs to the living generation".
In summary, Jefferson's belief in constitutional revision was rooted in his understanding that society and its institutions must evolve together. He saw the Constitution as a living document that should be periodically revised to reflect the progress and enlightenment of the human mind. While he did not advocate for frequent changes, he recognized the importance of adapting the Constitution to keep pace with the changing circumstances of a dynamic society.
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Frequently asked questions
Jefferson was in Paris serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was being drafted in 1787. He corresponded with individuals who contributed to the formation of the Constitution, like Madison and John Jay. He expressed his frustration with the secrecy of the Constitutional Convention.
Jefferson objected to the lack of a Bill of Rights and the absence of term limits for federal officials. He also believed that the constitution needed periodic revision to keep up with the progress of the human mind. He wrote, "We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
Jefferson's views on the constitution were tested during his presidency. For example, he was willing to expand his narrow interpretation of the Constitution to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France. He also maintained his view of the separation of church and state.
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