Jeffersonian Project: Thomas Jefferson

 

Daniel Goodman

M/J United States History

Ms. Kooiker

6/13/23

Jeffersonian Project: Thomas Jefferson

            Thomas Jefferson is one of the three Jeffersonian presidents and is additionally the first to be elected (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). He was born on April 13^th, 1743, in Albemarle County, Virginia, to his parents Jane Randolph and Peter Jefferson (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”; “Thomas Jefferson | The White House”). Despite his remarkable adulthood, however, his early life was nothing particularly special. He started to study at the College of William and Mary at the age of seventeen, in which afterwards he read the law after he finished his study (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”).

 

            Jefferson’s role in politics would start when he was in his mid-twenties, when he was elected to Virginia’s House of Burgesses (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). From there, he would climb the ranks until he was a presidential candidate in 1796. (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”; “Thomas Jefferson | The White House”). Ultimately, he would attain presidency in 1800, where he would then serve for two terms (“Thomas Jefferson | The White House”). Afterwards, he would retire for the last seventeen years of his life, where he would generally stay at Monticello (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). Thomas Jefferson died on July 4^th, 1826 (“Thomas Jefferson | The White House”).

 

            As aforementioned, Jefferson’s presidency was remarkable, and can be proven with the accomplishments he made during it. In fact, Jefferson himself even wanted three of his achievements to be put on his tombstone (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). The first of these accomplishments is that he authored the Declaration of Independence (“Thomas Jefferson | The White House”). The Declaration of Independence was practically America declaring themselves as their own nation, and with this came the separation of America from Great Britain (“Milestones: 1776-1783”). Further, he drafted it while he was only thirty-three years old, but despite this, it remains to be one of his crowning accomplishments during his life (“Thomas Jefferson | The White House”).

 

            Jefferson’s second remarkable accomplishment was that he authored a bill that established freedom of religion (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”; “Thomas Jefferson | The White House”). The bill is known as the Statute for Religious Freedom, and the quest for its passage started in 1776 (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). Jefferson had just come back to Virginia and decided to be in its legislature, and he ultimately worked together with James Madison to try and pass the statute (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”; “Thomas Jefferson | The White House”). Ultimately, the statute would be passed in 1786 as a collaborative effort between Madison and Jefferson (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”).

 

            Jefferson’s third groundbreaking achievement was that he founded the University of Virginia, which is still thriving to this day (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). It was founded by him in 1819, and it was made for one sole purpose in mind (“About the University”). Jefferson had the primary goal of expanding the knowledge known by humans, but he also wanted to develop an educated nation as well (“About the University”; “Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). Despite not being as monumental as his other accomplishments, the university still holds up well in present times.  

 

            The impact that Jefferson left on American democracy, however, is something that cannot be understated. For example, the Declaration of Independence established various key values and beliefs within American government (“Part I: The Declaration of Independence”). Specifically, the compact theory was preserved as a core idea of due to it, alongside other ideas (“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”; “Part I: The Declaration of Independence”). Another idea that was solidified through the declaration was that the government was meant to protect the rights of the people (“Part I: The Declaration of Independence”).

 

            In a sense, Jefferson shifted the tone of American government, as there would now be more emphasis on the rights of the people due to the Declaration of Independence (“Part I: The Declaration of Independence”; “Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). In addition to writing the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson also had a leading role in developing a federal system of government (“Establishing a Federal Republic”). He did this through his correspondence while he was the United States minister for France back in 1787 (“Establishing a Federal Republic”; “Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography”). Throughout Jefferson’s multiple offices, he was always trying to establish a federal government, and he was successful in doing so (“Establishing a Federal Republic”).

 

            In conclusion, Jefferson has had an outstanding impact on American democracy through a variety of ways. For example, he added more focus to the rights of the people in the democracy and helped develop a federal government (“Establishing a Federal Republic”; “Part I: The Declaration of Independence”). Overall, the change that Jefferson brought about to America can still be felt to this day. Without him, the nation would not be nearly the same as it is right now and could potentially be a lot worse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

“About the University.” The University of Virginia, 2023, www.virginia.edu/aboutuva. Accessed 13 June 2023.

 

“Establishing a Federal Republic - Thomas Jefferson | Exhibitions - Library of Congress.” Library of Congress, 2023, www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jefffed.html. Accessed 13 June 2023.

 

“Milestones: 1776–1783 - Office of the Historian.” Office of the Historian, 2023, history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/declaration. Accessed 13 June 2023.

 

“Part I: The Declaration of Independence.” Basic Readings in U.S. Democracy, 2023, usa.usembassy.de/etexts/democrac/part1.htm. Accessed 13 June 2023.

 

 Peale, Rembrandt. “Thomas Jefferson.” The White House Historical Association, 1800, www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/thomas-jefferson. Accessed 13 June 2023.

“Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography.” Monticello, 2023, www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/brief-biography-of-jefferson. Accessed 13 June 2023.

 

“Thomas Jefferson | The White House.” The White House, 2023, www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/thomas-jefferson. Accessed 13 June 2023.