Thomas Jefferson: Statesman, Scientist, Philosopher (Annotated)

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Jefferson also took a leading part in creating foreign policy. The American economy rested on foreign commerce, but only France was open to trade with America. In he was appointed to a three-man commission with Adams and Franklin to negotiate treaties of commerce with the other European powers. He then replaced Franklin as the representative to France and spent the next five years in Europe. On Jefferson's return to America in , President George Washington — appointed him secretary of state.

For the next three years he was chiefly engaged in fruitless negotiations with the European powers. With Spain he sought to secure free navigation of the Mississippi River through Spanish territory to the Gulf of Mexico. With Britain he sought the removal of English troops from the Northwest and settlement of issues left over from the peace treaty. By , relations between the Federalist and Republican parties worsened. When war erupted between France and Britain in , the opposing views of the parties toward these nations threatened American peace.

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Jefferson attempted to use American neutrality. As a neutral country, the nation would support neither side during the war.

By doing this he hoped to force cooperation from Britain and to improve relations between the nations of the Western world. Soon relations with France grew poor and severely damaged Jefferson's political system. Jefferson gave up his post at the end of , again determined to quit public life. But in the Republicans made him their presidential candidate against John Adams.

Losing by only a slim margin, Jefferson became vice president. Republicans doubled their efforts to elect the "man of the people" in the unusually bitter campaign of Jefferson topped Adams in the election and became president on March 4, , in the new national capital, Washington, D. In his inaugural address, or speech after being sworn in as president, Jefferson brilliantly summed up the Republican ideas and appealed for harmony among all political parties. Reform, or improving American society, was the order of the day. Working effectively with Congress, Jefferson restored freedom of the press, scaled down the army and the navy, ended all internal taxes, and began paying off the national debt.

The Jeffersonian reformation was based on the economic plans of the government by reducing the means and powers of government. The reformation sought to further peace, equality, and individual freedoms, and to help solidify the American way of life. The president's greatest triumph came in foreign affairs. When Spain turned over Louisiana and the port of New Orleans to France in , this action posed a serious threat to American security.

Bibliography of Thomas Jefferson - Wikipedia

Even before the treaty was signed, Jefferson planned an expedition to explore this country. The legendary Lewis and Clark expedition led by Meriwether Lewis [—] and William Clark [—] explored the rugged land gained in the Louisiana Purchase, and the expedition became a spectacular product of Jefferson's vision of westward expansion.

Easily reelected in , Jefferson soon encountered troubles at home and overseas.

His relations with Congress weakened as Republicans quarreled among themselves. Especially damaging was when former Republican leader John Randolph — and former vice president Aaron Burr — mounted a revolt in the west. But Jefferson crushed this and, with difficulty, maintained control of Congress. With tension between America and France reaching a boiling point, Jefferson avoided war by installing an embargo, or a suspension of trade, in December On the whole, the embargo was effectively enforced and reasonably successful, but the mounting costs at home led to its reversal by Congress near the end of Jefferson's presidency.

In retirement Jefferson became the "Sage of Monticello. Unfinished business from the Revolution drew his attention, such as revision of the Virginia constitution and the gradual emancipation, or freedom, of slaves. Jefferson was the master planner of the University of Virginia in all its parts, from the grounds and buildings to the university rules, teachers, and subjects taught.

He died at Monticello on the fiftieth anniversary of American independence, July 4, Jefferson remains a major figure in the development of the United States. His accomplishments, both large and small, and his beliefs, both political and personal, remain inspiring to Americans, especially through his masterpiece, the Declaration of Independence. Man on a Mountain. Jefferson and His Time. His philosophy Jefferson rose to fame as an effective spokesman during the American Revolution, and his political thought would become the centerpiece of liberalism, or a movement to develop freedoms, in America.

Service in Congress In Congress, from November to the following May, Jefferson laid the foundations of national policy in several areas. Developing political parties By , relations between the Federalist and Republican parties worsened. President of the United States Republicans doubled their efforts to elect the "man of the people" in the unusually bitter campaign of The second term Easily reelected in , Jefferson soon encountered troubles at home and overseas. Active retirement In retirement Jefferson became the "Sage of Monticello.

For More Information Bober, Natalie. It says on this artichle that Jeffersons birthday is April 13 although when I watch a program on TV about him, it shows his gravestone date of birth April 2, How can you make a mistake like this? In the Julian calendar 'Old Style' - designated "O. The result was an day shift in the date i. So Jefferson was in fact born on the 2nd but, after , celebrated his birthday on the 13th.

Bibliography of Thomas Jefferson

Do any of you guys know what the names of Thomas Jefferson's children were. If you do then, can you provide me with a website that will provide me with any pictures or information about them. I need this information for a school and home project and research. I need this information for a Power Point slideshow presentation.

Thomas Jefferson April 13,[1] — July 4, was an American statesman, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the third President of the United States from to Previously, he was elected the second Vice President of the United States, serving under John Adams from to A proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights motivating American colonists to break from Great Britain and form a new nation, he produced formative documents and decisions at both the state and national level.

He was a land owner and farmer. Jefferson was primarily of English ancestry, born and educated in colonial Virginia. During the American Revolution, he represented Virginia in the Continental Congress that adopted the Declaration, drafted the law for religious freedom as a Virginia legislator, and he served as a wartime governor — With Madison, he anonymously wrote the controversial Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in —, which sought to embolden states' rights in opposition to the national government by nullifying the Alien and Sedition Acts. As President, Jefferson pursued the nation's shipping and trade interests against Barbary pirates and aggressive British trade policies.

He also organized the Louisiana Purchase, almost doubling the country's territory. As a result of peace negotiations with France, his administration reduced military forces. It was a forerunner to the First Amendment to the U. From to , Jefferson served as governor of Virginia, and from to , did a second stint in Congress then officially known, since , as the Congress of the Confederation.

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In , he succeeded Benjamin Franklin as U. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Archived from the original on March 28, Retrieved March 27, Vice President — 1st U. Secretary of State — U. Co-author, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen United States Presidential election Randolph grandson Francis Eppes grandson George W.

Bibliographies of Presidents of the United States. Adams Jefferson Madison Monroe J. Adams Jackson Lincoln A. Johnson Grant McKinley T. Roosevelt Taft Wilson Hoover F.

Roosevelt Truman Eisenhower Kennedy L. Johnson Nixon Carter Reagan G.

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