Thomas Jefferson: Founding Father

He is best remembered as a great president and as the author of the Declaration of Independence. He also won lasting fame as a diplomat, a political thinker, and a founder of the Democratic Party. Jefferson's interests and talents covered an amazing range. He became one of the leading American architects of his time and designed the Virginia Capitol, the University of Virginia, and his own home, Monticello. He greatly appreciated art and music and tried to encourage their advancement in the United States. He arranged for the famous French sculptor Jean Houdon to come to America to make a statue of George Washington. Jefferson also posed for Houdon and for the famous American portrait painter Gilbert Stuart.

Thomas Jefferson was the first one to draft the declaration to defend to oppose English in which he chose “to die freeman rather than to live slaves”. The document he proposed includes principles of natural rights, equality, the right of revolution, and the consent of governed as the ground for government. He blamed the English kings for slavery and the draft he proposed prohibited slavery in nine new states. In addition, he favored democratic settlement to establish freeholders and demanded

Thomas Jefferson captured the presidency in 1800 by running a campaign grounded in eighteenth century republican orthodoxy. He promoted slashing government spending, paying off the national debt, scaling back the professional military in favor of militias, and most importantly, returning to the ideals of the revolution. Reaffirming the guidance Washington offered in his farewell address the new President swore to avoid “entangling alliances” with foreign powers, and professed war to be antithetical to liberty. He thought the U.S. could distance itself from the European great power rivalries while prospering from free trade with all nations. Jefferson shared a common sentiment of the day among Americans; the U.S. was morally superior to their

The document holds historical value as a result of its context. Within the fourth paragraph he states, “it is proper you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our government, and consequently those which ought to shape its administration…stating the general principle” and follows with a list of all of his political beliefs. This is historically valuable because it presents the political opinions of Jefferson through his own words. Also, the document serves the purpose of addressing the people. This is valuable because it shows that Jefferson had to appeal to the people of the nation while giving this speech. So, it can be assumed that he kept this in mind while preparing the

In the documentation of his early life, his views on slavery are not directly expressed. I think this is in part because he was too young to know any different. While his early life did not offer much opinion on his part, it did start the foundation for his opposition to slavery. All that he was ever exposed to. Slavery was his reality at this time and because it was

He was a firm believer in the abolition of the slave trade, which he thought would eventually lead to the failure of slavery. Ever since writing The Declaration of Independence, until his death, he pushed for the plan of “gradual emancipation”: The plan was to start by ending the transatlantic slave trade. Then over time improve slave conditions mainly their living situations, and lessening physical punishment. Then eventually any slave born after a certain date would be free. Lastly complete abolition. Unfortunately after his death the plan died with him, and all it really accomplished was slave owners treating their slaves better. This plan was not just a plan to end slavery, but to humanize slaves, and make them into free men. He undoubtedly practiced what he preached, and would probably have found it insulting if one made the argument that owning slaves invalidates everything he fought

Most Americans know who the founding fathers are. But, not many know what they have done for us and how hard they have worked to be a part of the American Revolution. Subconsciously, each of these men had a great impact on the revolution that started this country. Thomas Jefferson loved education and was well known for being the true author of the Declaration of Independence and for his wisdom. Benjamin Franklin, respectfully known as a diplomat, was also known as a great inventor, printer, and writer. Thomas Paine was a spectacular journalist who is best known for his anonymous pamphlet called “Common Sense.” Through these great men, our country rose.

Thomas Jefferson wrote important letters to James Madison and John Adams when he was around the age of forty-four. He was very a very intelligent and opinionated individual, but was always trying to do what he thought was best for the United States of America. His goal was to make the government of this country the best that it could possibly be. This is ultimately why Jefferson has been given the name of a founding father. Jefferson had his own philosophies on what he thought the United States should become. His way of getting these philosophies know was by writing a letters to James Madison and John Adams to state his opinion. In these letters, he began to inform Madison and Adams what he

Thomas Jefferson composed Notes on the State of Virginia in 1781 during the time of political uncertainty that the United States faced after it declared independence and each state operated its own unique government under the Articles of Confederation. The notes were composed as the answers to a series of questions posed by a “foreigner of distinction” who was residing in Virginia. As Jefferson has a clear bias towards Virginia, it can be concluded that he took offense to the questions posed which likely undermined the value of the state and possibly the country. Jefferson’s status as a notable, wealthy, white man makes his opinions in regard to freedom, slavery, race, and resources the accepted answers to whatever questions had been presented.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (qtd. in Allison 65). Before 1776, Colonial America was a colony of Great Britain. Then, when their mother country became too oppressive, brave revolutionaries planned a Declaration of Independence to rid themselves of their bonds. This document launched the colony into The Revolutionary War with Great Britain. Eventually, The United States of America gained independence at the hands of many brave men and women. Prominent among these heroes and heroines is Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence. Apart from the

American citizens have much to be thankful for; we live in a free country where we have the opportunity to follow our dreams and inspirations. We didn’t just wake up one day and realize we were living in the land of the free and it didn’t happen overnight. Our founding fathers are to thank for our lives of liberty, they fought tirelessly and succeeded. Two of the men that earned that glorious title are Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin a.k.a. Poor Richard. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson became the founding fathers of American history through their principles of morality, law-making and defending the liberty of the American citizens. Those qualities were detailed in their literary works over the course of their lives.

Who was Thomas Jefferson? Most people just think of him as the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence or just one of our many presidents. That’s not the case. Jefferson was more than that, He was a very intelligent man and a loving father and grandfather. Thomas Jefferson was also an inventor and one of the most significant men in the history of making America who we are today.

When most people hear the name Thomas Jefferson, they think of The Declaration of Independence or possibly his political career accomplishments of the first Secretary of State, second Vice President, or third President of the United States (Jefferson, Thomas 111). Jefferson’s success that shaped him began in his early years. His education, family, and his inherited love for the outdoors carried him through each phase of development and into adulthood. Thomas Jefferson said, “On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock. (A Brief 2017)”. Thomas Jefferson possessed responsibility, a strong-will, an outstanding work ethic, love for education, and courage all of which match up with other Founding Fathers of our great nation.

As Christopher Hitchens said,“We make no saint of Thomas Jefferson—we leave the mindless business of canonization and the worship of humans to the fanatics—but aware as we are of his many crimes and contradictions we say with confidence that his memory and example will endure long after the moral pygmies who try to blot out his name have been forgotten.” Jefferson was a great politician, and “beacon of liberty” for the early Americans, but he was also flawed. Sure he’s well known for the aspiring Declaration of Independence, but these flaws, also led him make some choices, that would leave a mark on his impressionable record, and lead to the problems with his presidency.

The American Revolution, perhaps the most momentous war-related milestone in American history, would not have been possible without the strenuous efforts of the courageous men we call Patriots or otherwise known as the Founding Fathers of America, who gave their all in the fight for freedom against the British. Many names of great men come to mind when we think “founding fathers,” such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, or Samuel Adams. Yet there is still one great patriot and founding father who seems to stand out above the rest, and that man is Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson is widely known as being the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Louisiana Purchase that bought more than 20% of the U.S. However, what most