Under what condition did Thomas Jefferson support the Constitution?

Study for the VirtualSC Honors Government Exam. Practice with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations.

Thomas Jefferson's support for the Constitution was closely tied to the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, which aimed to protect individual liberties and human rights. He believed that formal guarantees of rights were essential to prevent the federal government from encroaching on the freedoms of citizens. Jefferson was concerned about the potential for tyranny in a strong central government and argued that explicit protections for freedoms such as speech, religion, and assembly were crucial for safeguarding democracy.

The idea of enumerating rights in the Constitution resonated with Jefferson's Enlightenment ideals, where the government’s legitimacy rests on the consent of the governed and the protection of personal freedoms. His advocacy for amendments that secured civil liberties was pivotal in the eventual adoption of the Bill of Rights, which addressed his concerns and helped ensure his support for the Constitution.

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