a. and sb. U.S. Hist. and Politics. [f. the name of Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States 1801 to 1809.]
A. adj. Pertaining to President Jefferson, or holding the political doctrines held by or attributed to him (now called DEMOCRATIC, q.v.).
1800. Aurora Gen. Advertiser, 17 Oct., 3/1. Even in the wild Jeffersonian country, where the famous whiskey campaign was held under Gen. Hamilton, [etc.].
1856. Olmsted, Slave States, 302. A resolute determination … not to be driven from the Jeffersonian creed upon Slavery.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. III. liii. 333. One of these two parties carried on, under the name of Democrats, the dogmas and traditions of the Jeffersonian Republicans. Ibid., 342. In applying Jeffersonian doctrines the slave-holders stopped when they came to a black skin.
B. sb. A supporter or follower of Jefferson; an adherent of the political doctrines held by or attributed to him; a Democrat.
1880. Libr. Univ. Knowl. (N. Y.), I. 91. The Jeffersonians were eager for discriminations against England.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. III. liii. 326. The Jeffersonians had more faith in the masses and in leaving things alone, together with less respect for authority.
Hence Jeffersonianism, the political doctrines held by or attributed to Jefferson.
1815. Connecticut Courant, 24 May, 3/2. They have no disposition to exchange their tried rulers for the mushroom patriots of modern democracy, the cats-paws and pimps of Jeffersonianism.
1876. H. C. Lodge, in N. Amer. Rev., CXXIII. 137. Ultimately Jeffersonianism must have prevailed, but at the time of its actual triumph it came too soon.
