What kind of government does Jefferson seem to prefer? In what ways would his government differ form that of the king he is reacting against? Is he talking about an entirely different system or about the same system but with a different kind of "prince" at the head? How would Jefferson protect the individual against the whim of the state, while also protecting the state against the whim of the individual?.
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, disillusioned with the present government in the American colonies wanted to institute a totally new and radical government. This new and radical government would be called a democracy.
Jefferson's government would have many differences from the one that was currently in place. This would not be the same system but with a differ kind of "prince" at the head. The first and most important difference would be that in this new type of government all men would be created equal and would be "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This was a new and radical belief. Under the government of King George III, monarchy, all men were not created equal. Either you were royalty or you were not, and if you were not part of the royal family you had no political power. Jefferson on the other hand wanted to emphasize political equality among men and protect certain fundamental rights that were granted to them by their mere existence such as the right to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Jefferson believed that "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This meant that the government was for the people and therefore the people should have a say in their government. Under this type of government the people voices would be heard loud and clear. Whenever the government did not fit the needs of its citizens the people would have the right "to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.