More handpicked essays just for you.
The evolution of the american political system
Evolution of american presidency
Evolution of american presidency
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Thomas Jefferson was the third American President. Due to the fact that he was such an early President, he influenced our political system greatly, both in the short and long term with his seemingly quiet approach to congressional matters. During his presidency, many things happened that changed the United States as we know it. He coordinated the Louisiana Purchase, assisted in implementing the twelfth amendment, formed the character of the modern American President, and cut the U.S.’s war debt by a third. Jefferson came into office on March 4, 1801 and left office on March 4, 1809. His first term’s vice president was Aaron Burr, and his second term’s vice president was George Clinton. He ran with the Democratic-Republican Party and heavily opposed the Federalist Party. Prior to his election, he had already held many positions in public office; vice president and secretary of state . Because he was preceded only by John Adams and George Washington, Jefferson played a large role in the formation of the character of the American President. For his first inaugural address, according to a reporter, “His dress was, as usual, that of a plain citizen without any distinctive badge of office.” This casual nature showed the American public that he was not a king, but a normal citizen who was there for the people, he was even known as the “Man of the People”. Many other American Presidents used that same style in order to appeal to the public. When Jefferson came into office, he planned to institute the policies of the Democratic-Republicans in domestic affairs. The judicial system had gained a lot of power through the Federalists which forced Jefferson to attempt to shrink their influence. He ultimately prevailed, and even reduce... ... middle of paper ... .... Kindig, Thomas. "Thomas Jefferson." Thomas Jefferson. Independence Hall Association, 4 July 1995. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. . "The Louisiana Purchase." Monticello.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013. . "Miller Center." American President: Thomas Jefferson. Ed. Peter Onuf. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. . Summers, Robert S. "Presidents of the United States (POTUS)." Presidents of the United States (POTUS). N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. . United States. Senate. Thomas Jefferson, 1801. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2013. .
David A. Carson argues in “Blank Paper of the Constitution: The Louisiana Purchase Debates” that Thomas Jefferson did abandon his political ideals when purchasing Louisiana (P. 1). The Louisiana Territory gave the United States control of the Mississippi Valley and the mainland of North American, and it opened the doors for the expansion of slavery across the country (P. 3). Although the acquisition of Louisiana was important to the success and growth of the United States, Carson states that President Jefferson, “Saw that it threatened to make “blank paper” of the Constitution since it expanded the powers of the national government further than even the most die-hard Federalists could have imagined” (P. 3). On the 16th of July, two days after Jefferson received the purchased treaty, he called together his cabinet to help plan the course of the agreements through Congress (P. 4). The cabinet agreed to assemble Congress on the 17th of October to give both houses enough time to act before the closing day of October 30th (P. 4).
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 had abused his executive power and increased the power of the executive branch even though he had original beliefs that the president should not be too strong. Jefferson promising a “Republican Revolution” followed the Federalists path, ending increasing debt as well as the power of the executive branch. Jefferson had made promises to Americans, some of his promises in particular the increase of land for the yeoman farmer and promised not to keep were decreasing National debt and Federal power. Jefferson’s presidency was to a certain extent a “Republican Revolution” but at the same time it had also become a continuation of Federalist policies.
“Jeffersons Influence on the United States -Program No. 35.” VOA Learning English. n.p. n.d. Web. 25 March 2014.
Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and viewed the office of the president to be strictly constructed by the constitution. He, like Washington, believed his power as president derived directly from the constitution and the affection of the people. Although he had a Whig theory, he made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which the president had no authority according to the constitution to do; the congress has control of the purse strings according to the constitution.... ... middle of paper ...
Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." The McGraw-Hill Reader: Issues Across the Disciplines. 8th edition, Ed. Gilbert H. Muller. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003. 305-308.
Thomas Jefferson held firmly to his principles and ideals but the practical reality of leadership forced Jefferson to make decisions for the best interest of the country. When Jefferson was elected adjustments had to be made to the economy and new acts had to be composed in an effort to the United States safe. Events would take place in America where Jefferson would have to determine if should follow his principles or abandon them in domestic affairs. Jefferson was a pacifist at heart, and did his best to keep the United States out of foreign conflicts and entangling. His ideals were peaceful but at points he would have to violate these ideals. Jefferson envisioned a land of agriculture and where government would have minimal power over the Americans lives but that would not be the case. America would need a powerful and intelligent leader at this time.
Thomas Jefferson on the other hand who became our nations third president, was a democratic-republicans (Jeffersonians). He was pro-French and believed in a strong state government, rather than a strong federal government. He believed in laissez-faire, in which every individual had their very own rights, and that the government should be kept as limited as possible. Despite the fact that Thomas Jefferson supports the French belief and was a democratic-republican, he had the support of many artisans and urban worker who had previously supported John Adams a...
Before then he was already a very influential man who had changed the lives of everyone living in America. His contributions made to this country are written in a list, there is no doubt he was strong. In 1803(table), Jefferson launched the Lewis and Clark expedition that would hopefully expand America Westward across the Pacific Ocean(Para.5). In the same year of 1803, The Louisiana Territory was purchased. Jefferson wanted America to grow, with his background, knowledge, and newly gained presidency, he did just
Certainly, the ancestors who helped guide and shape the great United States are a subject of allure to historians. In particular, one man who grew up who grew up in the Virginia colony around the mid 1700 's undergoes much dissection of his actions to better the emerging nation. As a matter of fact, voluminous literature examines his long public career and extensive comments on political issues (Ely Jr., 1996). By the same token, Thomas Jefferson is accredited with several, highly respected transaction in his career. Such as assuming rank of first secretary of state, vice president, leader of the first political opposition party, and even drafting the very document that aided America 's fight for independence (Thomas Jefferson: Establishing A Federal Republic, 2016). Although this may be true, other
Thomas Jefferson came into presidency with the intentions of limiting the size and power of the central government. His success and failures in accomplishing this goal were many. Thomas Jefferson was America’s third president in reign from 1801 – 1809, once tying in the presidential race with Aaron Burr, where the decision was made by the House of Representatives to choose Jefferson whom they thought was less dangerous than Burr.
"Thomas Jefferson biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2014. ."Thomas Jefferson biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2014. .
When considering the Presidents of the United States, Americans unarguably tend to believe each and every one of them to have been great men. Although this is true, some of the men who have led our countries have had a more monumental amount of achievements compared to others. One of these men was named Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the USA. When looking at Jefferson's achievements such as writing the Declaration of Indepencence, instituting one of the first libraries, and coining the idea of Seperation of Church and State, it becomes painfully clear that he was the strongest president.
The first person who is important to US history is Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was an important President, who worked to help the economy of the country he served. “He worked to reduce taxes and cut the government’s budget believing that this would cause the economy to expand and prosper. His cuts included national defense and Jefferson restricted the regular army to three thousand men. England may have needed taxes and debt to support its military empire, but Jefferson was determined to live in peace – and that belief led him to successfully reduce America’s national debt while getting rid of all internal taxes during his first
Thomas Jefferson: President and Philosopher is a special edition of the #1 New York Times bestselling Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by writer Jon Meacham. Jon Meacham is known as the talented author, who is the winner of 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography and Biology for the American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. The book Thomas Jefferson: President and Philosopher holds many historical information about Thomas Jefferson’s itinerary from the beginning to his’s life as the third president of America, then to the rest of his duration. This book also revolves around Thomas Jefferson’s relationships, especially, the relationships between the president and his wife, his possible mistress, his white offspring, and his possible