Jefferson also had strong views about America's economy. LIke his political philosophy, Jefferson felt that the "common man" should be at the center of the U.S. economy. He envisioned a country filled with small, independent farmers. Since these people were their own bosses, Jefferson believed they would work hard and create prosperous lives for themselves. This would allow the entire nation to prosper as a whole. Because individuals would be largely self-sufficient, the federal government would not have to take an active role in the economy, thus limiting its powers. The job of the government, then, would be to do little more than keep the country safe and secure from foreign threats.