For Independence Day: Thomas Jefferson's Anti-Statist SentimentSocieties exist under three forms, sufficiently distinguishable: (1) without government, as among our Indians; (2) under governments wherein the will of everyone has a just influence, as is the case in England in a slight degree and in our States in a great one; (3) under governments of force, as is the case in all other monarchies and in most of the other republics … It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that the first condition is not the best.~ Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Edward Carrington, Paris, January 16th 1787I am convinced that those societies which live without government enjoy in their general mass an infinitely greater degree of happiness than those who live under the European governments. …  Those in power may conclude too hastily that nature has formed man insusceptible of any other government but that of force, a conclusion not founded in truth, nor experience. Governments of force are governments of wolves over sheep.~ Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison, Paris, January 30th 1787I have no fear, but that the result of our experiment will be, that men can be trusted to govern themselves.~ Thomas Jefferson, Letter to D. Hartley, Paris, July 2nd 1787
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