Essay On Thomas Jefferson's Lense

Thomas Jefferson is arguably the image of American society and ideology. He represented the vision of an independent United States and endorsed the principles that came with the separation of Britain and the Americas. He became the first secretary of state, second vice president and third president of the separate republic. He was also a talented writer; one of his works of particular infamousy was the Declaration of Independence which would soon become the subject of the contradictory theme emerging in the United States. Jefferson was more than a leader in that he brilliantly manipulated the confused notion of identity within American to gain more power. Jefferson became a public figure for the people of America; he would quickly adopt this

This became obvious during the years leading up to the election of 1800 where he would unitentionally create a political party composed of traditionalists who called themselves ‘Jeffersonians.’ His infatuation with habit works in conjunction with his origin to explain how he was more motivated by self preservation than by equality of ‘all men’ and anything beyond it. The idea of tradition also correlates with the concept of settlement and immigration. In this instance, defining America through Jefferson’s lense is crucial because it demonstrates the power of origin and how it translates to culture. Jefferson’s America was the collection of culture and the hub for immigration. He felt that immigrants “will bring with them the principles of the government they leave...these principles with their language they will transmit to their children.” (Notes on the State of Virginia, 125) The idea of custom is clear here, but beyond that it is evident that custom was a crucial aspect for success in America. This also shows how Jefferson believed that tradition was a tool for culture and in that eminence, which is why he viewed equality as a reserved perk for being a white male. Jefferson’s past was crucial to the development of his identity which only became subject to disguise for the public eye instead of the change it