Achievements And Accomplishments Of Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson is one of the most famous leaders of the American Revolutionary time period. He was a well-respected lawyer and writer who used his pen rather than his voice to support the patriot cause (Freidel). Many others became famous because of their actions and speeches that became known across America. Thomas Jefferson was a quiet man who voiced his opinions eloquently through his writing and was known as the “silent member” of congress (Freidel). During his lifetime, Jefferson wrote more than sixteen thousand letters (UShistory.org). That fact right there should show just how much more writing he did instead of speaking. His life was full of many accomplishments and achievements that changed the United States forever.
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Jefferson ran against John Adams who was the vice president to George Washington. Adams and Jefferson were in a tight race but untimely Jefferson would finish second and become Adams vice president (Biography.com). During his four years as vice president, Jefferson presided over the Senate but there were no other official duties during this time. When he was not busy as vice president he wrote “A Manual of Parliamentary Practice” which was “one of the most useful guides to legislative proceedings ever written” (Biography.com). In 1800, Jefferson decided to run again as one of the Republican candidates for president. He and fellow Republican Aaron Burr each ended up with 73 electoral votes (Biography.com). Since there was a tie the House of Representatives got to select the next president. They selected Thomas Jefferson to be the third president, and Burr would be the vice president (Biography.com). Jefferson’s first term in office was extremely successful and productive. Jefferson had many important accomplishments during his presidency, but the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 was the most impressive (Biography.com). The newly acquired land went from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains which doubled the size of the nation (Biography.com). The Louisiana Purchase also helped create manifest destiny (UShistory.org). The Louisiana Purchase was bought from Napoleonic France for 15 million dollars (Biography.com). Jefferson was re-elected in 1804, but this term he would be faced with many more challenges than his first term. He had to deal with the war between Great Britain and Napoleonic France. Both Britain and France wanted to prevent American from doing business with the other so Jefferson passed the Embargo Act of 1807 which suspended all trade with Europe (Biography.com). This act did nothing positive for the American economy. Thomas Jefferson left

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