Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson believed in government by the masses, grounded in the social contract and natural rights ideals, and thought that the people had the right to overthrow governments that failed to protect these rights. His belief system influenced the Declaration of Independence and formed the basis of his support for a republic of property-owning citizens. However, Jefferson's inclusive vision for democracy did not extend to women or non-White men of his time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Jefferson believed that the government should be chosen by the masses because it derives its powers from the consent of the governed. This concept is rooted in the ideas of the social contract and natural rights that philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau advocated. They posited that individuals have the right to overthrow a government that fails to protect their rights. Jefferson applied these principles directly when drafting the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing that citizens had the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
Moreover, Jefferson trusted that in a participatory democracy, the majority, particularly the yeoman farmers, could make decisions for the good of the whole. His belief in limited government and the capacity of the ordinary citizens to rule themselves was contrary to the Federalist perspective, which feared the potential excesses of pure democracy.
Jefferson's ideas on government also emerged from his experiences and observations of economic inequality, which he believed were exacerbated by policies that favored urban commercial classes over rural landowners. He advocated for a nation of self-sufficient property owners, who he believed would form the backbone of a successful republic. However, it's important to acknowledge that Jefferson's views on participatory democracy were limited to white male landowners, excluding women and non-white individuals from his vision of political enfranchisement.