Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, identified two groups in a letter written almost 50 years after the Declaration was signed. These groups were contending for control of the government: those who wanted power in the hands of the elite and those who believed in the power of the people.
This same power struggle persists in America today, almost 200 years after Jefferson penned that letter.
Currently, some advocate for the "elite" to make major decisions affecting our lives. Others believe that the "people" should have the final say.
The outcome of this ongoing battle will significantly impact all of our lives.
"Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, etc. The latter fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society; the former consider the people as the safest depository of power in the last resort; they cherish them therefore, and wish to leave in them all the powers to the exercise of which they are competent."
—Letter from Thomas Jefferson to William Short on January 8, 1825
Do not be confused by the terms (whigs, aristocrats, etc.) used in Jefferson’s day. Focus instead on the essential idea — should power belong to a select elite, or should it reside with the people at large?
This historical perspective can help inform our understanding of contemporary debates about power, governance, and democracy. How do you think power should be distributed in today’s society?
Some are whigs