Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, is one of the most lauded, revered, and criticized presidents of our nation’s history. These statements might seem like contradictions, but Thomas Jefferson himself was a contradiction. This paper will answer why he fits these contradictory descriptions so well. This paper will do so by examining his presidency and the relationship between his executive actions and the philosophies he held so dear to get there. By far, the most enduring aspect of Jefferson is the philosophies he held. These philosophies were brought up during his contentious debates against Hamilton during Washington’s presidency. At first, Hamilton prevailed and saw his philosophies become policies. Though, later, Jefferson was able to implement his philosophies himself. These famous philosophies of Jefferson were simple. He envisioned an agrarian democratic society, where the states had an upper hand in terms of federal-state power, and the Constitution was read in a strict sense (i.e. not permitting anything not specifically stated). In terms of foreign relations, Jefferson favored the French. This was not a long-lived love, though, with the many horrible things that happened between the U.S. and the French. These opinions held by Jefferson were opposite Hamilton, and both managed to be the foundations of their own parties: the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists, respectively. He also hated the thought of the president holding a sense of nobility, as will become evident during his presidency. Jefferson was elected to be president in 1800. His opponents during the electoral run were Adams, the second president who was a Federalist, and Burr, a fellow Democratic-Republican. The Federalists had... ... middle of paper ... ...ch?v=bzZnqXvRSLE Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-TNJSBrFEk Thomas Jefferson - Mini Biography by BIO | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAt1YLP3T34 [[Websites]] Thomas Jefferson | http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson Thomas Jefferson | http://www.biography.com/people/thomas-jefferson-9353715 Thomas Jefferson | http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/thomas-jefferson-brief-biography Thomas Jefferson | http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/jefferson.htm [[Books]] The Art of Power by Jon Meacham The Works of Thomas Jefferson in 12 Volumes Thomas Jefferson Commentaries on War and Religion The Declaration of Independence The American Nation: Beginnings Through 1877 by Prentice Hall The American Pageant [[TV]] The History Channel's Ultimate Guide to The Presidents PBS' The Presidents
His presidency, as the third president of the United States, started with the Revolution of 1800, the first time political parties sent candidates and campaigned. In his inaugural address, he attempted to unify the two competing political parties: “Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle… We are all Republicans; we are all Federalists.”[3] This quote his reflects Jeffersonian republicanism, which was his views of government. Jefferson implied that in order to best suit the needs of the people, we needed a simple government and to simplify all conflicts in the government. Jefferson held that the common people should control the government. Jefferson had performed the most important act of his presidency in accordance with these beliefs; purchasing the Louisiana territory from France. In 1803, Jefferson doubted whether the Constitution gave him the power to purchase the land Napoleon offered to sell to him. He bought the Louisiana territory, contrary to his own beliefs of strict interpretation of the Constitution,. This more than doubled the size of America, giving America the opportunity to create many more states. The Louisiana Purchase decreased the power of the federal government by increasing the quantity of state governments. Another one of his major accomplishments was clearing the Revolutionary debt the United States incurred. One of Jefferson’s goals as president was to pay off that
Jefferson’s use of strategies and language is ineffective in making his points and persuading readers of his arguments. Using hasty generalization, begging the question, and insulting language in his analysis is a huge flaw which lessens the credibility of his argument and offenses his readers. Jefferson should use other argumentative strategies and prevent himself from using insulting language in order to convince readers of his arguments.
Throughout his life, Thomas Jefferson, a lifelong Enlightenment student, advocated democratic principles in his writing of the Declaration of Independence, his political career, his Presidency, and even his retirement. Jefferson believed that a democratic form of government was the best way for the governed to ensure that their government would guarantee natural rights for all people while ensuring they were capable of governing effectively.
...sition of the Federalist and wanted to limit their power, he also supported the values of the French revolution. Jefferson was anti Great Britain and he fully supported the southern planters and northern farmers. These examples demonstrate Thomas Jefferson's linear way of thinking, wanting advancement along with directing our nation into exploration and newness. Clearly, Thomas Jefferson symbolizes a strong example of a moving forward as reflected in his ownership of a pair of Chippendale chairs. Thomas Jefferson was a transitional figure that maintained his linear views in both his professional and private life.
In 1801, Thomas Jefferson was elected as the third president of the United States. His election caused turmoil between the two biggest parties at the time: the Republicans and the Federalists. The Republicans finally had more control of the government than the Federalists. Since the American government is democratic, neither one had total control of the government. If one party agreed with a proposition, the other party opposed it. There wasn’t a unity between the two parties. Jefferson’s primary point was to unify the two divided parties, one who believed that Jefferson would bring violence, a weak government, and no peace, in order to progress together while using logos and anaphora in his address.
A Vision Achieved Jefferson envisioned a government that allowed its citizens to exercise inalienable rights. In exact words, he states, “ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” To be more evident, how can we define these “inalienable rights” of “life”, “liberty”, and the “pursuit of happiness?” Have these inalienable rights, achieved Jefferson’s goal? I am convinced, Jefferson’s revolutionary vision of life, liberty, and happiness has at last been achieved in America.
Thomas Jefferson served as President of the United States during the early 1800s. During his time as President, he made many decisions that affected the future of the US. Among these decisions was the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France. Despite the many significant advantages of The Louisiana Purchase, it posed several significant moral dilemmas for President Thomas Jefferson, namely his perception of the extent of power given to the President in accordance with the Constitution.
Jefferson did overstep his boundaries as a Republican president with a few of his actions. Some of those actions required him to search for alternative ways to solve problems and go against his beliefs. Being a president during those times, it was looked down upon to live a life of luxury
It has been said that his particular taking of office had lead to the simplest speech stating that "essential principals" would guide his administration and would support all states with "equal and exact justice to all". And the actual changes of administration were the most peaceful of all, nothing like those previously. Jefferson’s accomplishments were most greatly seen by the ability to simplify the Republican government in the new capital by cutting back the unnecessary branches and less useful positions while replacing Federalists with Republicans. And by the year 1808, Republicans held almost all the government offices. At the same time, Jefferson fought to keep the size of the government from continuously growing.
The election of the 1800 was said to be the most contested and hard fought election in our history. Each candidate believed that if their opponent had won, then they would have ruined the nation. The election was between of 2nd President of the United States, John Adams, who was running as a federalist and the 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, who was a Democratic-Republican. And their running mates were, for John Adams, it was Charles Pinckney, who was a United States Ambassador to France and for Thomas Jefferson it was Aaron Burr, who was a United States Senator From New York and the 3rd Vice President of the United States. The period for the election of 1800 took place from October 31 to December 3 1800.
The specific views of Thomas Jefferson were that the powers should be reserved for the states and that agriculture was the type of work that America needed to focus on if they wanted to be a successful country.He was also a believer in letting people choose and govern themselves. If Jefferson were around today he would be considered a republican. On the other hand there was Hamilton who believed in having a big federal government which could help America become an industrial powerhouse.Also Hamilton believed in a national bank and using funding for their national debt, which is why his is called "The Father of National Debt". If Hamilton were around today he would probably be more of a democrat. One can see how these two could have much conflict
However, the author 's interpretations of Jefferson 's decisions and their connection to modern politics are intriguing, to say the least. In 1774, Jefferson penned A Summary View of the Rights of British America and, later, in 1775, drafted the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (Ellis 32-44). According to Ellis, the documents act as proof that Jefferson was insensitive to the constitutional complexities a Revolution held as his interpretation of otherwise important matters revolved around his “pattern of juvenile romanticism” (38). Evidently, the American colonies’ desire for independence from the mother country was a momentous decision that affected all thirteen colonies. However, in Ellis’ arguments, Thomas Jefferson’s writing at the time showed either his failure to acknowledge the severity of the situation or his disregard of the same. Accordingly, as written in the American Sphinx, Jefferson’s mannerisms in the first Continental Congress and Virginia evokes the picture of an adolescent instead of the thirty-year-old man he was at the time (Ellis 38). It is no wonder Ellis observes Thomas Jefferson as a founding father who was not only “wildly idealistic” but also possessed “extraordinary naivete” while advocating the notions of a Jeffersonian utopia that unrestrained
Thomas Jefferson is an outstanding role model in terms of public service and remarkable dedication to the improvement of the developing nation because of the sincerity he felt towards civic education and republicanism. The overwhelming amount of literature Jefferson expected students to be covering before going abroad to learn about other cultures and ideas about government. A common goal any functioning governing politic wants to accomplish is revealing the most promising students so that government is comprised of the truly remarkable individuals. “By this means twenty of the best geniuses will be raked from the rubbish annually, and be instructed, at the public expense, so far as the grammar schools go” (Yarbrough, p.122). Jefferson knew
Jefferson had a positive look for the country. These are the gathering enterprise to put his disposal into collision. The most important risks to a republic were first, high population and the social remarkable it created, and second, the convergence of cash and force in the hands of a pair. Jefferson needed to lead America far from the large scale which this was important to Hamilton and toward an economy established on yeoman grangers—men who demand their own area, delivered their own nourishment, and were beholding to nobody. Jefferson could accept the agreement on political choices build individuality in light of spotless reason and great sense. (2015, 185 Para # 2).
Jefferson was a firm believer that people were good and able to make the best decisions for the country and for what they wanted. Jefferson voiced his opinion saying, “... according to the rules of the Constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the