Research On Jefferson's Political Thoughts Of Republican Liberalism

Thomas Jefferson was a important political leaders in the era of independent and founding of United States, It is of significance to study his political thoughts for American of the political thought, it can help us to deepen our understanding about the source and future of development of America politic thoughts. It is different with the usual ideal of Jefferson's thoughts, the author consider Jefferson's thoughts is the mix of liberalism and republicanism, it is the main representative of the era of independent and founding of United States.Jefferson's Republican liberalism not only root in the revolution of free-oriented and his gorgeous experience, but also affected by contemporary European political thoughts, especially Locke's social contract theory and natural rights thoughts, the France rationalism and the Scottish moral philosophy.Jefferson's republican liberalism are mainly reflected in the following aspects. First of all, Jefferson emphasize the freedom of participate, and not only limited to a protection of individual rights and negative freedom. Secondly, Jefferson admit and emphasized the theory of ultimate popular sovereignty, it is different with the Federalists' ideal, Jefferson offer the theoretical foundation of the theory of ultimate popular sovereignty. Finally, Jefferson also awared that it is very important to establish the public morality, it is the foundation of the theory of ultimate popular sovereignty, Moral sense is not entirely a private matter, so Jefferson try to established a public education system to cultivate more qualified citizens, it can provide more and more qualified political subjectsThe Jefferson's thoughts is on behalf of the political expectations of America middle class in the era of independent and founding of United States, it lasts a long tradition of Western political idealism, and bring the steady energies to the America's political development.