Omar Bennett
Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, expressed the belief that the US Constitution should be rewritten every 19 to 20 years. In a letter to James Madison, Jefferson suggested that the government should work in 19-year cycles, including the re-evaluation of the Constitution. He argued that each generation should have the right to adapt its government to changing circumstances, rather than being bound by the decisions of their ancestors. This idea was based on the mortality rate at the time, as most adults would likely be dead in approximately 19 years. Jefferson's views on the periodic revision of the Constitution reflect his conviction that governments need to adapt to survive and keep pace with societal advancements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conviction | Governments need to adapt to survive |
| Belief | The earth belongs to the living generation |
| Opinion | The U.S. Constitution could last perpetually if it were regularly amended to reflect new developments in science and society |
| Idea | A constitution should be revised every 19 to 20 years |
| Reasoning | A majority of adults at any point in time would likely be dead in approximately 19 years, so a new generation should have the right to adapt its government to changing circumstances instead of being ruled by the past |
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What You'll Learn
- Thomas Jefferson believed the US Constitution should be rewritten every 19 years
- Jefferson's reasoning was based on the mortality rate at the time
- He argued that the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead
- Jefferson did not participate in drafting the US Constitution
- He believed constitutions must advance with societal developments
Thomas Jefferson believed the US Constitution should be rewritten every 19 years
Thomas Jefferson, one of America's Founding Fathers, believed that the US Constitution should be rewritten every 19 years. In a letter to James Madison, Jefferson's closest friend, he wrote:
> The earth belongs to the living and not to the dead... The earth belongs always to the living generation.
Jefferson's reasoning was based on the principle that each generation should be free to adapt its government to changing circumstances, rather than being bound by the decisions of their ancestors. He believed that a dynamic society required periodic constitutional revision to avoid being constrained by an outdated social contract. In an 1816 letter to Virginia lawyer Samuel Kercheval, Jefferson wrote:
> Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind... 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 proposed timeframe of 19 years was based on the mortality rate during his era. He argued that within this period, a majority of adults would likely pass away, and a new generation would emerge with different needs and perspectives.
Jefferson's belief in the importance of regular political change extended beyond state constitutions. He recognised that the US Constitution could endure perpetually if it were regularly amended to reflect new developments in science and society. However, he did not advocate for violent conflict as a means to bring about change. Jefferson's ideas on constitutional revision continue to spark debates about the adaptability and relevance of the US Constitution in modern times.
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Jefferson's reasoning was based on the mortality rate at the time
Thomas Jefferson believed that the Constitution should be rewritten every 19 to 20 years. His reasoning was based on the mortality rate at the time. In a letter to James Madison, Jefferson questioned whether "one generation of men has a right to bind another." He concluded that a constitution should lapse after every generation, or roughly every 19 years, since it was first signed and ratified.
Jefferson's reasoning was based on the principle that "the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead." He believed that previous generations could not bind the current generation to pay their debts or accept the laws and constitutions drawn up by their ancestors. This idea was further supported by his observation of the French Revolution, where he witnessed the resistance to reformation by European governments, which ultimately led to violent uprisings by the people.
Jefferson's proposed timeframe for revising the constitution was based on the era's mortality rate. He reasoned that since a majority of adults at any point in time would likely be dead in approximately 19 years, a new generation should have the right to adapt its government to changing circumstances instead of being ruled by the past. This belief in the importance of periodic political change was not limited to state constitutions, as he also advocated for regular amendments to the U.S. Constitution to reflect new developments in science and society.
Jefferson's views on the adaptability of governments and his recognition of the rights of future generations showcase his forward-thinking approach to political systems. By acknowledging the impact of mortality rates and the need for governments to adapt, Jefferson's ideas continue to influence political discourse and constitutional interpretations even today.
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He argued that the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead
Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, argued that the Constitution should be rewritten. In a letter written to James Madison from Paris, Jefferson asserted that any constitution expires after 19 years and must be renewed to avoid becoming "an act of force and not of right". This belief stemmed from his conviction that governments need to adapt to survive and keep up with changing circumstances.
Jefferson's argument that "the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead" had significant implications for constitutional interpretation. He believed that each generation should have the right to adapt its government and laws to suit its needs, rather than being bound by the decisions of their ancestors. This principle, which Jefferson referred to as "political relativism", challenged the idea that a society could create a perpetual constitution or law.
In his letter, Jefferson discussed the concept of intergenerational equity and the relationship between different generations. He questioned whether one generation had the right to make decisions that would bind future generations, suggesting that each generation should be considered as independent from one another, much like separate nations.
Jefferson's idea of the living generation's ownership of the earth extended beyond just constitutional matters. He believed that previous generations should not dictate factors such as occupation choices or debt repayment for the current generation. This perspective reflected his recognition of the dynamic nature of society and the importance of allowing each generation to shape its own future.
Jefferson's views on the Constitution and the role of the living generation were not universally accepted. His ideas sparked philosophical debates, including a rebuttal from his fellow Virginian, James Madison. Despite this, Jefferson's thoughts on the matter left a lasting impact and continue to shape political discourse even today.
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Jefferson did not participate in drafting the US Constitution
Thomas Jefferson believed that a constitution should be rewritten every 19 to 20 years. In a letter to James Madison from Paris, Jefferson argued that any constitution expires after 19 years and must be renewed if it is not to become "an act of force and not of right". He reasoned that since a majority of adults would likely be dead in 19 years, a new generation should have the right to adapt its government to changing circumstances instead of being ruled by the past.
Jefferson was unable to participate in drafting the US Constitution as he was in France serving as the United States minister. He was also three thousand miles away from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. While he closely followed developments in the United States, he was only able to influence the formation of the Constitution through his correspondence with those who would eventually contribute to it, such as Madison and John Jay.
Jefferson expressed frustration with the secrecy of the Convention but shared some ideas with Madison while it was ongoing. For example, he wrote to Madison explaining why the federal government should not be given the power to veto laws passed by the states. He also objected to key parts of the Constitution after it was drafted, such as the omission of a bill of rights and the lack of term limits for federal officials.
Jefferson's only book, "Notes on the State of Virginia", was published in 1785 and spent a great deal of time pondering constitutional issues. He also wrote about and debated constitutional issues and drafted his own version of a constitution for Virginia, which was never debated. Jefferson's actions as the first secretary of state, vice president, and third president of the United States were also crucial in shaping the nature of the emerging republic and defining the powers of the Constitution.
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He believed constitutions must advance with societal developments
Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, expressed the belief that the US Constitution should be rewritten every 19 to 20 years. In a letter to James Madison in 1787, Jefferson wrote, "the earth belongs . . . to the living," implying that succeeding generations had the right to develop their own constitutions. He believed that constitutions should be revised every 19 years, based on the era's mortality rate. He reasoned that since most adults would likely be dead in 19 years, a new generation should have the right to adapt its government to changing circumstances.
Jefferson's belief in the importance of periodic political change extended beyond state constitutions. He argued that any constitution, including the American Constitution, would lapse roughly every generation (every 19 years based on his calculations) and become null and void. This was because he believed that previous generations could not bind the current generation to pay their debts, work in their father's occupation, or accept the laws and constitutions drawn up by their ancestors.
Jefferson's views on the need for regular revisions of the Constitution were shaped by his experiences with the French Revolution and his observations of the political climate in France. In a letter written to James Madison from Paris, Jefferson stated that a constitution must be renewed if it is not to become "an act of force and not of right." He also wrote about the relationship between generations and their constitutions, saying that there is "no municipal obligation, no umpire but the law of nature" between them.
Jefferson's ideas about constitutions being rewritten every generation have been the subject of modern discussion and speculation. Beau Breslin, a professor at Skidmore, explored what would have happened if Jefferson's ideas had been heeded over the last 235 years. He considered the ways in which American history would have changed and what those constitutions might have looked like. These conversations highlight Jefferson's enduring influence and the ongoing relevance of his ideas in contemporary political discourse.
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Frequently asked questions
Thomas Jefferson said the Constitution should be rewritten.
Thomas Jefferson believed that the Constitution should be rewritten every 19 to 20 years to reflect new developments in science and society. He also believed that the Constitution should be revised or rewritten to give succeeding generations of Americans the right to develop their own constitutions.
No, Thomas Jefferson did not believe that the Constitution was sacred. He believed that the Constitution was too sacred to be touched, stating that "the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead".
