I know the basics of what Jefferson believed. He had a strict interpretation of the constitution, thought that state governments should have more power than the federal government, wanted a government of the people for the people, thought that merit was more important than birth, etc. He was the main man in the democratic republican party.
What I'm wondering is if Jefferson changed America. Did he put any policies into effect during his presidency? Set any precedents? What has he influenced today?What ways did Jefferson change America?Jefferson's greatest accomplishment was the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Jefferson did not plan to do this; in his inaugural address he had expressed the opinion that the country already had all the land it would need %26quot;for a thousand generations%26quot;.
However, he realized that the U.S. must have access to the mouth of the Mississippi and New Orleans, or we would eventually loose everything beyond the Appalachians. He learned that Spain gave Louisiana back to France and was concerned that the French would incite Indian attacks on settlers. He was also concerned for the security of Pinckney's Treaty, which established U.S. boundaries with Spanish colonies, and Navigation rights of the Mississippi. The worried president sent his minister, Livingston, to negotiate the purchase of West Florida in case that region was also turned over to France.
Jefferson was a comsumate politician, telling people what they wanted to hear. His lack of character was illuminated when as governor of Virginia, he failed to raise a militia; when Arnold led the Brits burning their way through Virginia, Jefferson took off for the safety of the woods.
Pardon my correcting;he did not believe that merit was more important than birth, (or he wouldn't have had over 200 slaves)anymore than did John Adams, who called the poor illegitimate orphan from the West Indies, Alexander Hamilton, the %26quot;bastard brat of a scotch peddler%26quot;; I'll reseve Jefferson's derogatory comments, lest he appear totally lacking in economic vision. Jefferson fought Hamilton on Hamilton's proposal for a national bank, the very bank that made the Louisiana Purchase possible.
Hamilton was the genius and far-sighted forefather to whom we owe: the navy, the customs department, the stock market, a common currency (the states all had different currencies before that), the national bank that gave us a high international credit rating, and handled the federally collected tax funds that fostered the growth of the economy by providing loans for new and existing businesses, spearheaded the interest in the Constitutional convention, wrote many of the 85 essays explaining and defending the ratification of the Constitution. Also, contrasted to Jefferson's sprint for the woods, Hamilton, although seriously ill, got out of bed to lead his men cross the icy Delaware in a frozen boat, marched 9 miles in a brutal snowstorm, to brilliantly perforn as an artillery officer at the battle of Trenton that turned the tide of the war.
It is Hamilton is known for his belief in %26quot;meritocracy%26quot;, merit over birth. He saw slavery not only as socially abhorrent institution, but waste of human intellect. He was a leading abolitionist, and a member of the Manumission Society (anti-slavery). The following is a quote from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/accomplis
%26quot;Hamilton was one of the greatest contributors to the economy of the United States. As the first Secretary of the Treasury, he brought about significant changes in the economy. Many modern facilities like credit creation were introduced in the United States by Hamilton. In the year of 1789, Hamilton presented before the United States, 5 extremely important reports that ultimately shaped its economy.
Two reports regarding public credit were presented in the House of Representatives. Another important reform that was integrated in the economy by Hamilton, was a set of acts laying the regulations for the manufacturing industry and international trade and duties. Hamilton also initiated and supervised the establishment of the United States Mint.%26quot;
While Jefferson and Adams had the benefit of money, connections, and generations of predecessors born in America, it took a poor orphan %26quot;outsider%26quot; to build the country and become, next to Washington, the most indispensable Founding Father.If left to Jefferson,we would be a country of independent farmers; no mercantile or industrial system, no army or navy. We would have been taken over by every dictator coming down the pike. I used to greatly, greatly admire Jefferson, until I was disillusioned by the truths. I had planned on majoring in Jeffersonian studies.What ways did Jefferson change America?A 2009 ranking of Presidential Historians ranked Thomas Jefferson at #7 out of 40 presidencies ranked.
His far-sightedness brought about the US purchase of the Louisiana Territory which more than doubled the territorial size of the United States.
Strangely enough, despite his service as president, Jefferson did not want to be remembered for his service, as can be seen on his tombstone. He was most proud of being a founder of the Univesity of Virginia.
For $15 million, a paltry three cents per acre, the US purchased from France the Louisiana Territory, a vast region between the Mississippi and the Rockies that comprised all or part of the present-day states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Jefferson had authorized his negotiators, Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, to buy only New Orleans and West Florida. Napoleon, hard pressed for cash on the eve of the war with Britain surprised the Americans with an offer to sell all of Louisiana. Although Jefferson was unsure of the constitutionality of such a purchase, he hastily agreed lest Napoleon change his mind. The Senate eventually ratified the treaty by a vote of 26 - 5. The Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States, was the most significant achievement of the Jefferson administration.
