Final answer:
Jeffersonian democracy was characterized by trust in participatory democracy, particularly of white yeoman farmers, and marked a shift from Federalist ideals of strong central government and elite governance to Democratic-Republican values of states' rights and agrarian virtue.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jeffersonian democracy significantly differed from the original republicanism of the framers' generation in its views on democracy and the role of government. While the framers such as Washington and Adams, who favored strong federal power and were concerned with the potential chaos of pure democracy, the Jeffersonian perspective embraced the concept of a more participatory democracy, trusting the common American yeoman, or small farmers, with the responsibility of making good decisions for the republic. This trust in the majority rule of the yeomanry was in sharp contrast to the Federalist views, which emphasized governance by a learned elite to protect the interests of property and maintain stability in the nation.
Jefferson was inspired by the French Revolution and advocated for the empowerment of the yeoman as the foundation of republican virtue, but his support for participatory democracy was limited to white yeoman farmers. Jefferson's election in 1800 marked a significant shift in American politics, often referred to as the "Revolution of 1800," as it represented not merely a change in leadership but a resounding shift in ideological governance. This transition from Federalist to Democratic-Republican control highlighted a change towards greater states' rights, reduced federal power, decreased taxes, and a scaled-back military, all of which pointed to an America that favored agrarian values over urban commercial interests.