Undaunted Courage By Stephen E. Ambrose: Chapter Analysis

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The book Undaunted Courage is written by Stephen E. Ambrose. In the chapter “Thomas Jefferson’s America 1801,” the text mainly discusses the president Thomas Jefferson. The author’s purpose of this chapter is to persuade the readers to respect, admire, and acknowledge the works of Jefferson. Ambrose wants the readers to mainly take away that the United States would not be what it is today if it was not for this specific president. He reveals his persuasive purpose in the chapter through different events, individuals, and languages. There are many specific events that take place in “Thomas Jefferson’s America 1801” that persuade the readers to think that the United States would not be what it is today without Thomas Jefferson. For example, the event where Jefferson saw a hot air balloon flying in the air got part of Ambrose’s purpose across. Ambrose states, “With regard to travel by air, Jefferson was a full century ahead of the curve” (53). This quote proves that Ambrose used events to persuade readers to think that the United States would not be what it is today without JeffersonAmbrose persuades readers to think that …show more content…

He states, “Henry Adams wrote: ‘Jefferson aspired beyond the ambition of a nationality, and embraced in his view the whole future of man…. He wished to bring a new era….’” (57). This quote supports the idea that Thomas Jefferson, in Ambrose’s eyes, helped make the United States what it is today . As a result of Jefferson’s actions, such as sending Meriwether Lewis on his expedition to explore the western front,because the future of man was changed by the United States eventually expandingas a result of his actions from coast to coast. Ambrose uses Adams to help persuade the readers to think of Jefferson in a positive format. Henry Adams’s words give another positive perspective on how Jefferson wished to expand the United

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