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Born the thirteenth of April, 1743 at Shadwell plantation in Virginia. His father was a prominent surveyor/planter, while his mother was born to a successful Virginian family. Thomas attended William and Mary college in Virginia where he graduated from in 1762, after this he studied law under a powerful Virginia attorney. This started his career as a lawyer, in the years between 1769-1775 he served on Colonial Virginia’s House of Burgesses(History.com Editors,29 Oct. 2009). Jefferson had many political feats throughout his life. He was put on to the Continental Congress in 1775, became Governor in Virginia in 1779-1781, along with many more he was the Secretary of State from 1790-1793 the nations first.
Becoming President/VP
One of the seven founding fathers, Thomas jefferson was a prominent figure in our nation. Jefferson, part of the Democratic-Republican party ran for office in the election of 1796 against John Adams, in the outcome Jefferson would end up losing. This made him the VP under John Adams, second in US history. Again in 1800 Jefferson decided to run for president, but this election brought a new rival for jefferson, which was Aaron Burr. The outcome of the election was a tie between the two candidates at 73 electoral votes each. So the decision of the next president would be up to the house, throughout the lengthy process and all 36 ballots the choice would be Jefferson. Thus making Thomas Jefferson the third president of the United States. He served a total of two terms from 1801-1809.
Declaration of Independence
A group made five men called the Continental Congress were given the task of making a statement between the colonies and the British. Most of the drafting of this document was due in part to Thomas Jefferson. He was required to write the declaration mostly by himself, but he did speak in private to Adams and Franklin for their suggestions. After the draft was accepted by the group, it was then sent to Congress. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to be the head drafter because of his publication “A Summary View of the Rights of British America”, this stated that the British didn’t have the right to have authority over the soon to be states(History.com, 27 Oct. 2009).
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Foreign Policies
Embargo Act
After receiving news that 3292 US sailors still were held under British service from James Madison, Jefferson calls for a meeting of his cabinet members. It was December 15 1807, Jefferson found out that Napoleon had no intent on releasing these prisoners and said that he planned on more impressments. Thoughts of an embargo divided the US, so Jefferson took it to congress. James Sullivan, Governor of Massachusetts made the argument against the embargo because of the amount of commercial shipping in his state.
Also, Albert Gallatin- Secretary of the Treasury proposed amending the current Non-Importation Act(Sofka, Jim,27 Nov. 2007). Gallatin also stated, ‘In every point of view, privation, suffering, revenue, effect on the enemy, politics at home, I prefer war to a permanent embargo”.(Sofka, Jim,27 Nov. 2007) However these arguments did nothing to change Jefferson’s mind, days later on December 21, 1807, the Embargo Act of 1807 was passed.(Sofka, Jim,27 Nov. 2007) Jefferson saw this act as a substitute to war, which he wanted to avoid as long as he could.
From 1807-08 Congress passed the additional, supplementary, and enforcement acts. The Additional act worked to “require bonds for foreign vessels engaged in the coastal trade, and it forbade the exportation of goods of any sort by land as well as by sea”.(Sofka, Jim,27 Nov. 2007) The Supplementary Act was like the Additional Act requiring bonds from ships. A dire outcome of the acts was a spike in smuggling.
The acts worked as needed to prevent a war, but were catastrophic to the economy. Initially the British goods prices decreased, but they just began trade with South America. On March 1, 1809 the Non-Intercourse Act replaced the Embargo Act, this allowed all countries to trade with the US except Britain and France. Also it banned those two nation’s ships from US waters.
The Embargo Act still has a lasting impact on the US because it showed how important trade is to our economy. Losing trade with other nations will decrease profits from imports, which does great damage to the people who need to get their product out for their well-being. It basically shows us that it is exponentially harder for a nation to survive without the help of other nations.
Civilization Program
Jefferson’s Indian policy worked to bring us closer to the natives through treaties, for our safety so that they wouldn’t ally with other nations, and it would acquire land. It also worked to civilize these people over time. Hoping them to shift from their way of life to a more European type. Jefferson told his people to not try and convince the indians into selling their land, but to follow his plan. This would be by allowing the indians to buy goods for credit, leading to debt, which would need to be paid off with the sale of land.
The civilization program would help indians with enlightenment, and would aide Jefferson’s interests.(“Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.”,Unknown) Black Hoof, chief of the Shawnee was in favor of the program, leading much of his tribe to live in Ohio becoming farmers. The war leader of the tribe Tecumseh didn’t like the program so he created the pan-Indian resistance. In the south many tribes also accepted the program, making lives just like the whites in the south. Overtime though many indians didn’t trust of the program so they joined the Red Sticks which was an anti-white movement (part of war of 1812).
The civilization program has a lasting impact on today’s society because it brought many acres to modern day America that we didn’t have before. It also brings hate towards our government because they are accused of stealing the land from the indians. It is also relevant because these days we place importance on allies because if there is a war you need more people on your side.
Domestic Policies
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803 Thomas Jefferson made a deal with France, he bought 828,000 sq. miles of land from France for 15 million dollars, this area of land was the size of the current colonies. This area stretched from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west and from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the Canadian border in the north.(History.com Editors, 2 Dec. 2009) 15 present day states were made from the land bought. This land was explored by Lewis and Clark.
U.S. leaders feared that france, under Napoleon’s rule would look to control the land the had in North America. Thomas Jefferson said, “The day that France takes possession of New Orleans…we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation.”(History.com Editors, 2 Dec. 2009) This basically meant that if France sought to come to North America and actually control their land the U.S. would be in hot water.
Due to his fears, Jefferson ordered James Monroe and Livingston to negotiate with the French about buying New Orleans. This was when the French proposed the idea of selling the whole Louisiana territory. This offer is said to be because of the French’s money troubles along with the inevitable war with Britain.(History.com Editors, 2 Dec. 2009) Of the 15 million dollars, 11,250,000 was paid by U.S. envoys and 3,750,000 was from U.S. citizens.(History.com Editors, 2 Dec. 2009)
This is still important today because this area of land makes up a large portion of the United States. The impact it left on our country is added wealth from its resources, and area for states to be made. If we had not gained this area a war could have begun between neighboring nations.
Jeffersonian Ideology
Jefferson was a believer in human reason, due to this, he believed will of the people was very important in elections, and would guide our republic.(The Independence Hall Association, Unknown) He was firm in wanting the central government to be simple and have limited spending. To reduce the federal government he ended internal taxes, reduced the size of the army and navy, and payed off the government’s debt.(The Independence Hall Association, Unknown) In his presidency Jefferson vowed to protect the right of minorities and civil liberties as he said in his inaugural address, “though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression”.(The Independence Hall Association, Unknown)
He had an appreciation for farmers, saying they were chosen by god. His agrarian democracy was threatened only by urbanization and debt, robbing men of independence and economic autonomy. He hoped to put new technology in households but families lack of money put them to work. If it worked, his way of thinking would have been revolutionary. However he contradicted himself, like when he said all men are equal yet he owned slaves.
This has a lasting impact because today because many politicians have new ways of thinking, which sets them apart. Although time and time again they speak of making it happen, and it never happens. He also spread many ways of politics which are around in today’s society.
Remembered For
Thomas Jefferson could be remembered for multiple things whether it be drafting the Declaration of Independence, or orchestrating the Louisiana Purchase. The most important thing he did in my eyes would have to be the Louisiana Purchase. Before he bought this giant chunk of land which was 828,000 sq. miles in total size the United states was half the size. It brought more land for Lewis and Clark to explore and resources to use. If we had not gained the territory in this purchase , another territory could have obtained it, or Spain/France together could have attacked us. 15,000,000 in the 1800’s would be worth $285,722,619.05 today. Anytime anyone thinks about Thomas jefferson they think of this, because of his feet he is remembered, and maybe that is why he is on Mt. Rushmore.
