Thomas Jeffersons Presidency Essay - 1121 Words

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†¦show more content†¦While he was in office he suppressed the power of the Federalists quite well and even beat Charles Pinckney in the presidential election of 1804 by an electoral vote of 162-14. Understandably, after h is term ended, the Federalists were able to seize more power, but that hasn’t kept the Jeffersonian Democracy from influencing us today. Even though Jefferson was very opposed to loose interpretation of the constitution and judicial expansion under John Marshal, he did discard his strict principles from time to time when it became necessary. â€Å"Self-preservation—the first law of nature and nations—took precedence over the constitutional limitations that he scrupulously observed in peacetime.† This is especially true in the case of the Louisiana Purchase. Americans were expanding westward and needed a port for transport on the Mississippi, so Spain allowed them to use New Orleans. In 1801 Louisiana was ceded to France by Spain. France was not as cooperative as Spain and closed the port of New Orleans to the U.S. Therefore, a sudden disruption in trade was a legitimate cause for tension between the U.S. and France, and many people believed that a wa r would break out if the Americans did not buy New Orleans. Thomas Jefferson himself thought troubles wereShow MoreRelatedThomas Jefferson s Presidential Election939 Words   |  4 Pagesafter Thomas Jefferson’s presidential election can easily support that Jefferson was not completely consistent with his philosophical ideas. From the Louisiana Purchase to the Barbary pirate’s war, and economic issues can help argue that Thomas Jefferson wasn’t such a consistent president. Although it can be argued that his imposition of the Alien and Sedition Acts was a gratifying action, it can’t compare to the everlasting aftermath of those three main inconsistencies. Essentially, Thomas JeffersonRead MoreThomas Jefferson And His Achievements And Political Decisions1262 Words   |  6 PagesThomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson, one of the most well-known presidents in American history, was the third president of the United States, and was known as one of the Founding Fathers, for he is one of the principle authors of the famous Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson is an important factor of the development of the United States. This leading figured has influenced the prosperity of the America’s with his achievements and political decisions, regarding the United States JosephRead MoreThe Relationship Of Thomas Jefferson And The Declaration Of Independence1563 Words   |  7 Pageswas hypocritical when it came to his ideas of freedom about slaves in America. Thomas Jefferson didn’t grant African American slaves their rights when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. He owned slaves on his plantation which goes against the American freedoms that he wrote about in the Declaration. Jeffersons personal relationships with his slaves affected the way that he viewed African Americans. Thomas Jefferson owned slaves and he was born into a family that had slavery and was veryRead MoreThe Lasting Legacy of Thomas Jefferson948 Words   |  4 Pagesthomas Jefferson The Lasting Legacy of Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson is one of the most influential presidents of the United States. Along with his successes and failures he proved to be a great president by leaving his legacy’s behind. A legacy is something someone has had handed down or left for future generations. Thomas Jefferson is one of the most influential people that left their legacies behind because his presidency commenced the quarter century rule of the Virginia Dynasty. He wasRead MoreEssay about Biography of President Thomas Jefferson1502 Words   |  7 PagesThomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States is one of the more lauded, revered, criticized, and respected presidents of all time. In fact, he’s better to be seen as two people: a quiet and secluded philosopher, and an informal, public and loud president; it just so happens that these conflicting personalities found their home inside of Thomas Jefferson. This paper shall cover how come these personalities came into conflict so often, by examining his philosophies, the actions he tookRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Revolutionary War1050 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Declaration of Independence, which would become the law of the American land. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were two influential individuals, who were originally involved in the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Both were involved in the political side of the Revolutionary war, but when speaking of it, told alternate versions of the war. As they approached the end of their lives, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams dedicated themselves to telling extremely differentiating versions of theRead MoreThe Presidency Of Thomas Jefferson Essay981 Words   |  4 PagesThe Presidency of Thomas Jefferson By: Hayden Osborne The Presidency of Thomas Jefferson- Written by Forrest McDonald, published by the University Press of Kansas in 1976, 169 pages excluding the appendix, 201 pages including the appendix. The Presidency of Thomas Jefferson outlines our third President’s youth, his time as Secretary of State under George Washington, as well as his time in office. However, due to the length of this book, my focus will lie on section two, titled The Republican Tack:Read MoreAnalysis Of The Apostle Of Republican Liberty760 Words   |  4 PagesThe Apostle of Republican Liberty stresses the accomplishments and republican vision of Thomas Jefferson which made America become a thriving nation of small, independent farmers, avoiding manufacturing and world trade, and becoming the richest and most powerful nation in the world in the 19th century. Eugene R. Sheridan focuses on Jefferson’s influence in Americas early development. Jefferson is the greatest and most intellectually consistent founding father, both respected and criticized inRead MoreThe Legacy Of The American Civil Rights During The Jeffersonian Era992 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the Jeffersonian Era, there was a dramatic role switch between Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and President Thomas Jefferson. Some historians argue that Jefferson was hypocritical in his administration, while others argue that he was simply being practical and pragmatic. During his tenure as Secretary of State, Jefferson heavily opposed Alexander Hamilton’s fiscal policy, mainly the funding on war debts. An avid participant of the Democratic-Republican party, Jefferson favored states’Read MoreThe Second President Of The United States953 Words   |  4 Pagesmost influential and devoted people in American history, Thomas Jefferson. He published many works that expressed his views of how to strengthen government in America and put power in the hands o f the citizens (Wagoner, 2004, pg.19). Throughout my learning experience, Jefferson has been one of the three presidents, besides Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, who I have gained an interest in because of what he accomplished during his presidency and his advocacy for a better system of government in the