The Jeffersonian (newspaper)

The Jeffersonian was a weekly newspaper published in Thomson, Georgia, from 1907 to 1917. It was owned and edited by Thomas E. Watson, a prominent Populist politician and writer. The newspaper served as a platform for Watson's political views, particularly his advocacy for agrarian reform, anti-elitism, and, increasingly, white supremacy and anti-Semitism. The Jeffersonian was a key vehicle for disseminating Watson's populist message throughout Georgia and the wider South. It often featured fiery editorials and articles criticizing industrialists, bankers, and other perceived enemies of the common farmer. Over time, its content shifted towards increasingly virulent attacks on African Americans, Jews, and Catholics. The publication ceased operation shortly after the United States entered World War I, and Watson began focusing his efforts on Watson's Magazine. The Jeffersonian remains a significant, although controversial, artifact of the Populist era and a testament to the complex and often contradictory nature of its ideology.