The Radical Democratic Thought of Thomas Jefferson: Politics, Space, & Action Dean Caivano A Dissertation Submitted To The Faculty Of Graduate Studies In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements For The Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy Graduate Program in Political Science York University Toronto, Ontario May 2019 © Dean Caivano, 2019 Abstract Thomas Jefferson has maintained an enduring legacy in the register of early American political thought. As a prolific writer and elected official, his public declarations and private letters helped to inspire revolutionary action against the British monarchy and shape the socio-political landscape of a young nation. While his placement in the American collective memory and scholarship has remained steadfast, a crucial dimension of his thinking remains unexplored. In this dissertation, I present a heterodox reading of Jefferson in order to showcase his radical understanding of politics. Although Jefferson’s political worldview is strikingly complex, marked by affinities with liberal, classical republican, Scottish, and Christian modes of thought, this interpretation reveals the radical democratic nature of his project. Primarily, this dissertation expands the possibilities of Jefferson’s thought as explored by Hannah Arendt and other thinkers, such as Richard K. Matthews and Michael Hardt. Drawing from these explicitly radical readings, I further dialogue with Jefferson’s thought through extensive archival research, which led me to engage in the theoretical and historical sources of inspiration that form and underscore his thinking. In so doing, I offer a new reading of Jefferson’s view on politics, suggesting that there contains an underlying objective, setting, and method to his unsystematic, yet innovative prescriptions concerning democracy. Taken together, these three features of his thought point to a vision of democracy that is made possible through a widening of the circle of political citizenship; a form of politics defined by the active and ethical participation of all, enacted upon public spaces and sustained through training, deliberation, and action. ii Dedication To Sarah & Florence Lillian, for pursuing our own maison du bonheur. iii Acknowledgments This project is a result of innumerable exchanges of ideas and endless displays of encouragement. Although my name bears the sole mark of authorship, countless individuals made its conception, execution, and outcome a reality. While it would be fitting to indicate all or even the many who have actively shaped my intellectual curiosity over the years, I find myself confined by time and space to mention only a select few to whom I am deeply indebted for their feedback, guidance, and love. My exploration of Thomas Jefferson’s writings greatly impinged upon archival research. In this regard, the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, VA and the American Political Science Association’s Centennial Center for Political Science and Public Affairs in Washington, DC proved to be beacons of both intellectual and financial support. The opportunity to survey firsthand the vast and daunting canvas of Jefferson’s imagination at Monticello and the Library of Congress was directly tied to the generous funding afforded to me by these organizations. Graduate school is a challenging terrain. Its contours are frequently marked by more failures and struggles than successes. My time at York University has certainly been challenging, underscored by two protracted labor disputes, two life-saving medical procedures, and the financial hardships that accompany graduate-life. On this front, my continuation in the formidable years of the political science program was sustained by the mentorship and assistance of Terry Maley. In the later years of the program, Bob Froese, Janaya Letkeman, and Julian Campisi were not only friends, but became family. Hailey Murphy has been a friend and confidante, helping me to stay afloat during murky waters while cherishing the eudemonia that surrounds us. The pages that follow are a direct result of a dedicated, thought-provoking, and supportive committee. My supervisor, Martin Breaugh, has gone above and beyond, providing guidance and the space necessary to explore new ideas in my effort to chart out an original interpretation of Jefferson. It is quite a rarity – if not, an oddity – in this profession to be treated as an equal, granted the opportunity and autonomy to develop one’s own original voice in the process. On this front, Martin has exceeded even my most idyllic expectations for a supervisor inspiring me, in return, to become a better scholar and person. I have also been fortunate to have Stephen Newman serve on my committee, challenging me to be textually rigorous, while simultaneously conceptually and stylistically clear. I have yet to encounter an educator more generous in their time and energies, providing demanding feedback that is always acutely insightful and beneficial. Formal education – and even expressions of the informal persuasion – is an amalgamation of new ideas, conceptions, and worldviews; an endless voyage that iv proceeds along avenues of scientific inquiry and theoretical vistas. However, my ongoing educational pursuits have been defined by distinct moments: a terrifying, yet sublime, encounter with the Socratic method; a stunning Dostoevskian-exit; and, a presentation of a radical Jefferson. Responsible for these profoundly life-altering experiences is Richard Matthews. I am forever grateful for your constant support on this project and beyond. My parents have made sacrifices beyond comprehension, always giving, yet never expecting anything in return. None of this would have been possible without their love. Lastly, Sarah and Florence Lillian have taught me to be patient, to believe in my abilities, and to embrace an ethic of amor mundi. Together, we have forged our own little world, sustained by laughter, bonheur, and, love. This work is for the two of you. v Table of Contents Abstract.......................................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................ vi Preface .............................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................8 “We are all republicans: we are all federalists” ...................................................................8 “All men are created equal” ...............................................................................................15 “Is it the Fourth?” .............................................................................................................20 An Unknown Jefferson ......................................................................................................24 Rethinking Jefferson ..........................................................................................................28 PART I A Politics of All Chapter 1: Jefferson in the Making: Interpretations, Limitations, & Legacy .....................36 Jeffersonian Interpretations: Liberal, Classical Republican, Scottish, & Christian ..........39 Jefferson, The Radical Thinker ...........................................................................................50 Remaking Jefferson: Exploring the Archives .....................................................................66 On Slavery: Emancipation, Contradiction, & Legacy .......................................................73 Chapter 2: Divide the Counties into Wards: The Politics Omnium Populorum Principle ...95 The Dilemma of the Republican Regime: Political Time-Space and Empire .....................98 The Madison-Hamilton Remedy to the Problems of Republican Self-Government ........104 Jefferson’s Turn to the Past: Classical Thought and Ward Republics .............................119 Approaching the Wards: Property, Ecology, & Pastoralism ...........................................134 Jefferson’s Ward Republics: A Space for a Politics of All ................................................146 PART II Spaces of Radical Politics Chapter 3: Interrupted Freedom: The Anglo-Saxon Tradition in Jefferson’s Thought ..161 The Natural Right of Expatriation: Movement, Space, & Societal Creation ..................165 The Political Struggle to Reopen Freedom ......................................................................174 Rethinking Property-Relations: Allodial Holdings in Colonial America, 50 Acres for All, & a Return to the Hundreds ...........................................................................................185 vi The Unwritten Natural Law: Challenging Settled Forms .............................................203 Chapter 4: Politics Without Government: Political Power and Happiness in Indigenous and Communal Societies ..........................................................................................................213 American Degeneration and