What did Thomas Jefferson think about government?

Answer 1

No. Thomas Jefferson was one of the Anti-Federalists, and supported the Articles of Confederation over The Constitution, which favored state governments and a very limited national government (He was actually away in France during the Constitutional Convention).
In his first term as president he suspended the Alien and Sedition Acts, reduced the federal bureaucracy, cut expenses, reduced the army and canceled the navy expansion program. Federal income was reduced to land sales and custom duties.
Contrary to these weak national government ideals though, he did purchase the Louisiana Territory from France and imposed The Embargo of 1807 later in his second term.

Answer 2

Absolutly. Each State was soverign. yet each State could not make laws to usurp another State.

And Each State was soverign to the federal Government. The Fed had no authority over any State.

Enter Abe Lincoln. Who used the ruse of "black slavery" to then give the Federal Government authority to dictate laws to the States.

The rest is future history.

Answer 3

Thomas Jefferson believed in a small Federal Government with the states maintaining their autonomy, which they did until after the Civil War. However, Jefferson went against his own ideals growing the Federal Government and going beyond the authority of the President in both the Louisiana Purchase and the First Barbary War. Jefferson understood at the time that what the country needed superseded his own ideals.

Answer 4

he did not support large government he supported the common man and state rights.

Answer 5

" The equal rights of man, and the happiness of every individual, are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government."