A New Republican Order, Letter by Letter

Abstract

The article examines Thomas Jefferson's correspondence around the time of the election of 1800 and in the first months of his presidency, using these letters to elucidate Jefferson's view of politics, leadership and governance. Jefferson employed correspondence and letter writing, often under the guise of disinterestedness, as a way to disseminate news to his political supporters. They were also a vehicle for solidifying a party that shared his governing vision. After his election, Jefferson resorted to letter writing, occasionally concealing his identity as author at post-time to prevent interception, to shape a cabinet composed of sympathetic Jeffersonian republicans. Jefferson thus used the mails to craft a government and a political agenda that reflected his ideological position. Meanwhile Jefferson was dealing with the reciprocal correspondence from a broad constituency of ordinary Americans that reached his desk, including letters of support, congratulatory epistles and petitions for jobs.