Thomas Jefferson Analysis

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Recommended: What was significant about the declaration of independence

Bailey Naslund
English 6
Ms. Ross Period 4
April 10, 2014
One man envisioned a world free of persecution, where all men were created equal while being governed by respected leaders guiding their country to new heights. Thomas Jefferson, one of the most influential founding fathers of America, was a Democratic-Republican who loved to read and write eventually inspiring the draft of The Declaration of Independence after being elected in one of the most crucial votes in American history. In a time where our country was being transformed, Jefferson molded it in ways that had never been done before. He put freedom of the people before the government, their future leaders would be elected upon popular vote not through family relations. He created the foundation for what would would be one of the most powerful countries to date.
Thomas Jefferson, who was not the finest public speaker, wrote some tremendously inspiring speeches which shaped the course of history. Thomas Jefferson’s First Inaugural address celebrated the closest election ever. It marked the first time in modern history that a government surrendered its power by popular election. He said “Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have (been) called by different names brethren of the same principle.” (Jefferson’s first inaugural address, 1801.) Jefferson meant by this that regardless of their differences, both political parties are devoted to the same Constitution and its ideas are open to interpretation. Despite his views, he used his inaugural address to reach out to his defeated opponents and call for unity. While in the legislature in Virginia Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom which inspired the first amendment of the Un...

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...rs and prodigalities of their rulers, I have cherished their opposites: peace, economy, and riddance of public debt, believing that these were the high road to public as well as private prosperity and happiness.” (The Declaration of Independence)
His robust ideas and speeches guided the Union to freedom from the British Empire. The Declaration Of Independence is a renowned achievement in which he declared all men equal and promised Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. In the most consequential election to date, Jefferson prevailed and made many profound contributions to the US, essentially doubling the size of our nation with the Louisiana purchase. Thomas Jefferson is a respected and reproached man in almost equal measure in American History, inspiring heroic ideas for the founding of the United States, but also created some of its crucial forthcomings.

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