A central idea in [[Reading Notes/Thomas Jefferson]]'s political worldview was that there was something inherently virtuous about regular people; especially independent small farmers whom he called Yeoman. Jefferson distrusted city life and believed that wage workers were dependent on their employers and less free than self-sufficient people who could produce their own necessities. His idealized vision of sturdy, independent families spreading across the frontier encouraged him to accept a [[Northwest Territory]] free from slavery, and [[Yankee]] farmers did flock to lands opened by the [[Northwest Ordinance|Northwest Ordinances]]. Jefferson hoped the American economy would grow as an agricultural producer rather than via commerce or manufacturing. This vision became a foundation of the [[Democrats|Democratic]] platform, in contrast with [[Gilded Age/Alexander Hamilton]]'s plan implemented by the [[Federalist|Federalists]].