Did Thomas Jefferson Believe Country Living was Better for Mankind?
If he did, it’s no wonder. Jefferson’s life was a testament to the benefits of country living, where all the work was done by his enslaved laborers, allowing him to live a leisurely and comfortable life without lifting a finger for himself.
Jefferson's Philosophy on Country Living
In a nutshell, yes. Jefferson fervently believed that country living was the closest thing to heaven on earth. He once wrote, “Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds.” This quote to John Jay in 1785 encapsulates his belief in the value and virtues of living in the countryside.
The Agrarian Ideal
Jefferson’s belief wasn’t unique. The idea that land-owning farmers were the most independent and self-reliant individuals had been around for at least as early as 1730. He was simply advocating this philosophy in the context of his time.
Jefferson saw the small farmer as the backbone of society. As the United States transitioned from a pre-industrial agrarian society where nearly 90% of the population worked and lived in agricultural settings, the agrarian ideal stood prevalent. Notably, Jefferson did not advocate a rural life over a city life, but the rural setting was the natural one for most people, as agriculture was the world’s mainstay and America’s primary economic foundation at that time.
A Proposition for 18th Century Citizenship
Jefferson conceived of a world where many Americans would gain land, become small farmers, and own about 100 acres of land. He believed that such a group of citizens would form the backbone of society as landownership was a requirement to vote in elections. To vote, one needed to own at least 50 acres of land, and the small farmers would likely be the largest voting bloc, as Jefferson envisioned and hoped it would be. In his view, these small farmers would serve as the ideal citizens, relying on themselves for most of their needs and thriving under the Constitution.
Jefferson’s ideal of the self-reliant farmer who owned property and had strong faith made the best citizens was prevalent in the rural areas of his time. These individuals were seen as those who could best exploit the promise of America and live free under its laws.
At the time, such a description typically referred to small farmers living in the countryside. Jefferson’s belief in the agrarian ideal was deeply rooted in his vision of a society where individual freedom and self-reliance were paramount, and he hoped that through land ownership and a return to rural living, a more virtuous and independent citizenry could be cultivated.