Thomas Jefferson : The Declaration Of Independence Essay

Many would say that America was built on the principle that “all men are created equal” and that U.S. citizens are all given equal treatment, opportunities, and so on. But, is that really the case? Was Thomas Jefferson’s famous words, forever inscribed in the Declaration of Independence, meant for everyone? Taking a look back into America’s short (at least when compared to other countries) history, the phrase “all men are created equal” doesn’t really seem to correlate with the circumstances of that century. Africans were enslaved and forced to do hard, strenuous labor or else be forced to endure a beating by the slave master. But don’t forget, all men are created equal. It says so in the constitution. Fast forward a couple of hundred years where all men still aren’t equal, but are close to it.

The U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are two very important documents in the founding of our nation. This essay compares how these two documents are linked together, but also how they are clearly different. Though both documents were created near the same time, the Declaration of Independence was actually written first. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and was adopted by congress on July 4, 1776, what we know today as Independence Day. The U.S constitution though, was not adopted until eleven years later in 1787. After these two documents were written, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1801.

In 1789 Thomas Jefferson was appointed as the first secretary of state under President George Washington. Ellis states that foreign policy was Thomas Jefferson’s head responsibility. After also being appointed as vice president in 1797, Thomas Jefferson was elected as president in 1801. While in office his primary goal was to undo the federal institutions created by the Constitution of the United States. He wanted to cease the political party battles between the republicans and federalist. Succeeding at doing so, Thomas Jefferson was easily reelected in 1804, winning with 162 electoral votes. In 1807, during his second term, Thomas Jefferson was forced to pass the Embargo Act, due to Napoleonic Wars, which caused naval blockades in the Atlantic and Caribbean Ocean. The act forced to close American ports and exports to foreign countries. According to Ellis he anxiously left office in March of 1809, ready to escape all the consequences of making major political choices. After his retirement he continued to maintain a busy schedule.

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.

The American Declaration of Independence has affected the foundation of the United States more than any other event or document in American history. The Declaration of Independence was the basis for what the country was established on. The document was a way for the colonists to emancipate themselves from the cruelty of King George. This document had such an impacting effect because it was such a new way of bringing up concerns. It was the first of its kind in the history of America in the aspect of liberation of a group of people.

Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia in 1743. Jefferson studied law at the College of William and Mary and became a moderately- successful lawyer. Jefferson served in the House of Burgesses from 1768 to 1775. Jefferson took an active part in the American Revolution. Jefferson wrote a list of grievances known as the Summary of the View of the Rights of British America, he was a Virginian delegate in the First Continental Congress, and wrote the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson became the Governor of Virginia in 1779, and wrote the Notes on the State of Virginia in 1785. Jefferson became a delegate in France in 1785. After Jefferson’s return to America he became the Secretary of State. Jefferson became the vice-president in 1796 and became the President of the United States in the Election of 1800. Jefferson was re-elected in 1804, and the “Burr Conspiracy” took place during Jefferson’s second term.

What they never knew was that Jefferson would both be respected and detested for his choices as president. Thomas Jefferson, a man divided, responsible for doubling our nation’s property through the Louisiana Purchase. But, he expanded it even further by driving the Indians into debt and forcing them to give him land to pay it off. An advocate for public education and religious freedom, Jefferson also degraded blacks. Additionally, Jefferson caused a disaster in his country in the years of of 1807 and 1809, isolating the United States from trade with Britain and France. This hurt the country and its people tremendously, corrupting the Southern economy. Although Jefferson is admired by his many successes, he is also looked down upon because of his numerous faults and imperfections. With his death on July 4, 1826, Jefferson was a man who is to be unforgotten - maybe because of his accomplishments, or his numerous mistakes that certainly made him

The Declaration of Independence, completed and signed in July of 1776, marked the official separation between the 13 colonies and Great Britain. An armed struggle between the colonies and Britain had begun just over a year before, with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The formal declaration of independence established the new American revolutionary government and officially declared war against Great Britain. The primary purpose of the declaration was to assist the Second Continental Congress in obtaining aid from foreign countries. The document also clearly outlines the history of abuses the colonists had suffered under British rule since the end of the French

The Declaration of Independence Each year in the United States of America, Americans honor and celebrate the courageous actions that our nation's founders took on July 4, 1776. In the late 1700’s, the British Parliament passed a number of laws that severely limited the freedoms of English colonists in America. According to the Library of Congress’ official website, “On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State House, approved the Declaration of Independence, severing the colonies' ties to the British Crown” (Loc.gov). Throughout our Nation's history, Americans

The American Declaration of Independence has affected the foundation of the United States more than any other event or document in American history. The Declaration of Independence was the basis for what the country was established on. The document was a way for the colonists to emancipate themselves from the cruelty of King George. This document had such an impacting effect because it was such a new way of bringing up concerns. It was the first of its kind in the history of America in the aspect of liberation of a group of people.

Thomas Jefferson's ideals and beliefs were derived from a deep regard for life, liberty, and freedom. His concept of individual freedoms strongly disagreed with the notion of a "guided republic" which he believed concentrated a great deal unchecked power among a few people. This could have the potential of tyrannical government that might suppress personal freedoms of any kind especially those of religion, which Jefferson feels very strongly felt should be protected. After fighting hard to rid America of British domination, Jefferson was determined to create a government that was responsible to, and derived its powers from, a free people. As the writer of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for

Thomas Jefferson spent most of his career in public office and made his greatest contributions to his country in the field of politics. He loved liberty in every form, and he worked for freedom of speech, press, religion, and other civil liberties. Jefferson was the 3rd president of the United States and best remembered as a great president and as the author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson's interests and talents covered an amazing range. He became one of the leading American architects of his time and designed the Virginia Capital, 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 also won lasting

The Declaration of Independence as said by Thomas Jefferson is “an expression of the American Mind”. Jefferson along with John Locke and other English constitutionalist theorists detailed the abuses by George III, brilliantly summarizing the views of the colonist who were seeking distance from England. Many of these grievances were politically shaped, others dealt with the American economy.

Thomas Jefferson was the author of The Declaration of Independence, and according to Bellis, Jefferson was also a jurist, a diplomat, a writer, an inventor, a philosopher, an architect, a gardener, a negotiator of Louisiana Purchase, but he only requested three of his many accomplishments to be noted on his tomb. (2005). Thomas Jefferson was a very smart politician and he knew what to say to whom in order to enhance their support. This essay will be an analytical paper discussing Thomas Jefferson and The Declaration of Independence. It will also clarify the basic ideas contained in The Declaration of Independence; the influence of the Declaration upon American War of Independence,

In the Declaration of Independence (US 1776), Thomas Jefferson introduces a statement accepted by the Second Continental Congress to declare the causes that compel the thirteen colonies to separate themselves from the British Crown and form their own individual states. This revolutionary document is organized into six sections. The Declaration of Independence (US 1776) opens with an introduction, declaring the reasons the American colonies want to leave the British Crown. They also state that their independence is absolutely necessary and unavoidable. The second section includes the preamble which provides the reasons for writing the Declaration of Independence (US 1776). Also included in this section is the colonist’s beliefs about government and John Locke’s theory on natural rights and social contract. In the third section, 29 grievances are listed against England and King George III. These complaints include taxation without representation, forcing the colonists to keep British soldiers in their homes, restricting the colonist’s trade, shutting down colonial legislatures and their attempts to seek redress from the king for their problems. The fourth section is stating the colonist’s efforts to appeal various decisions made by King George III and how their requests were met in vain. The fifth section is a formal declaration stating that the colonies are now “Free and Independent States” (¶ 6). The colonies state they will rule themselves and discontinue their loyalty to