Jefferson's Takeover: A Short Story

With respect to the federal constitution, the Jeffersonian Republicans are usually characterized as strict constructionists who were opposed to the broad constructionism of the Federalists. To what extent was this characterization of the two parties accurate during the presidencies of Jefferson and Madison.

At the beginning of A Lesson Before Dying, Jefferson was a character that didn’t want to speak or interact with anyone, including

“Monticello”, the Italian word for little mountain is the appropriate wording for Thomas Jefferson’s dream home. He picked out the site for such a fabled home as a young boy. At eight hundred and sixty-five feet tall, Jefferson truly does have his little mountain on which to live. Thomas Jefferson built his chalet in an abnormal spot in accordance with the times. Most if not all the people in the seventeen hundreds built their homes in the low lands or near rivers. On the contrary Thomas Jefferson was an abnormal man as that he was a statesman, a designer, a scholar, a astronomer, a philosopher, and lawyer.

Works Cited Sadosky, L. J. (2016). Jefferson, Thomas. Worldbookonline.com. Retrieved from http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar286800&st=thomas+jefferson#tab=homepage Thomas Jefferson. (2009).

     Joseph J. Ellis, a historian who was educated at the College of William and Mary and Yale, is a Ford Foundation Professor of History at Mount Holyoke University. He has written four books on historical topics, centered on the time Jefferson was alive, dealing with issues and personalities Jefferson dealt with firsthand. After authoring a book on a politician such as John Adams, Ellis seems to have felt a need or want to focus on Jefferson, presumably because of his status as founding father and main contributor to the constitution.

In the year of 1800, Jefferson ran for the second time averse to former president, John Adams but unlike the previous election, John Adams wins the presidency, Jefferson was able to defeat John Adams. The Adams lost the election due to passing the Alien and Sedition Acts, Considered unconstitutional laws because the Acts took away the first amendment, freedom of speech. Jefferson was a more promising choice as he promised to have a “Republican Revolution”, Jefferson promised to help the yeoman farmer and decrease the Federal debt the United States had at the time period. Jefferson’s presidency was to a certain extent a “Republican Revolution” and to a certain extent it was a Federalist Continuation.

The “Revolution of 1800” is referred to the election of Thomas Jefferson. His election changed United States history because it marked the first different political party (The Jeffersonians), that came into power. However, the revolution was not revolutionary because government policies did not change when Jefferson was president. For the most part, he kept Hamiltonian policies during presidency, and in forced their philosophies.

We always hear about Thomas Jefferson in our history classes, as one of the most influential American politicians at the time of the nation’s birth. Though, we don’t always take the time to understand why this is the case. Looking at what he accomplished as president and politician seems mind boggling. In my blog, I will discuss Thomas Jefferson’s major accomplishments, his leadership lessons, and criticisms of his actions.

Upon reading and reviewing the text, I began to understand the Jeffersonian Era, and how it was different from the Early Republic Period. Also, why Jefferson was an important president during this era, and some of his problems. This highlights the troubles and triumphs the young country had as it began to shape its identity and place as a nation.

Thomas Jefferson propelled change in the Nation for the better, he was the author of the Declaration of Independence, he voiced the needs of a new America for the people as a whole, he even was the founder of the University of Virginia. He was a controversial man in his views of Native Americans as well as African Americans. The election of 1800 changed the hold of the government from the Federalists to the Democratic Republicans while showing fault in the way the electoral college worked. He truly was a man of the people even if he had opinions that are frowned upon today. The question, if a person achieves great things, does it matter how poor his character might be applies to Jefferson more today than ever, he was a great President with

President Jefferson's presidency was more beneficial for the new American republic than, Madison's presidency due to, the achievements President Jefferson made. Such as, the acquirement of the Louisiana Territory which, doubled the U.S.’s territory. Furthermore, he reduced taxes by reducing the size of the federal government's military and retiring warships. Nevertheless, President Jefferson's presidency was only more beneficial due to, the events that transpired during his presidency. Thus, his presidency could have been very different if he and President Madison's terms were switched.

I think, wait no, I know that Thomas Jefferson would have supported today’s government. Why? Because we live in a world where there is such thing as rebellion. This is what he liked, a weak government. He would’ve approve that people have a say in what goes on, that they can vote for a leader of their choice. According to Jefferson’s letter on Shay’s Rebellion he said “Yet where does this anarchy exist?” He thought what was happening (protesting, people dying) was natural and normal. He also says “ God forbid we should even be 20 years without such a rebellion.” Jefferson is basically saying that we should live in a world where your voice does matter.

The chapter clearly establishes which facts are true, all to question why Jefferson's account has remained so historically persistent. Jefferson left the only recorded account. However, it is also because the conflict and questions implied by Jefferson's account are representative of the issues the new country was facing at the time. One time Hamilton told Jefferson that his financial plan for the nation had reached a Congressional stalemate, because Southern congressmen opposed the proposed assumption of state debt by the federal government. The opposing faction was led by James Madison of Virginia, a longtime associate of Jefferson’s. Hamilton was certain that the nation's survival would be at risk if his financial plan was not adopted.

There are, in fact, numerous lessons learnt throughout the novel A Lesson Before Dying and they are learnt by a multitude of different characters. A significant number of characters throughout the book gradually evolve whilst story unfolds with this gradient of change emphasised in Jefferson, Grant Wiggins and the deputy, Paul. The lessons substantiate themselves in the words and actions of all the characters throughout the novel; however, it is Grant who learns perhaps the most. Through his interactions with Jefferson and his direct community, Grant, even unintentionally, develops his understanding of life beyond the grasp

Most people know Thomas Jefferson played an important part in American political history as the father of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. What many people don’t know is that he played an important part in American food history as well. Thomas Jefferson is what someone would call a “foodie” or a person with an interest and passion for food. He kept a journal of his garden in Monticello, loved vegetables, and spent lots of time experimenting with and trying French cuisine as the Minister to France. There are ten known recipes recorded in Jefferson’s handwriting. Jefferson is also credited with bringing many popular present-day American foods to the United States.