Construction for the Virginia State Capitol building began in 1785 and was completed in 1788.1 Thomas Jefferson was not your average architect. Architecture was just one of his many endeavors in life. Jefferson had a wide range of interests. Not only was he the third president of the United States, but was also an avid inventor. One of Jefferson's most influential buildings was the Virginia Capitol building. Jefferson was unsatisfied with the architectural style of his time, so he set out to change that. He was greatly influenced by classical and Palladian styles. The Four Books of Architecture by Palladio were the founding ideas from which Jefferson drew his own style on the relation between architecture, society and state. The construction …show more content…
of the Virginia State Capitol building marked the beginning of the architectural separation from Great Britain. The Jeffersonian style greatly influenced the creation of the new federal city in Washington. "Architecture is my delight, and putting up and pulling down, one of my favorite amusements.” 2 Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743 on April 13, in Shadwell, Colony of Virginia.
He was born into a big family, one of ten children. 3 During this time, the colonies were still under British rule. This plays a significant role in his architecture later in his life. Thomas Jefferson was bright from a young age. When he was just nine years old, he started to learn about the natural world and began to study three different languages. Jefferson soon became well versed in Latin, Greek, and French. These three languages influenced his architectural style and left him with a preference for Classical, Palladian and even a little Greek.4 When he reached the age of 1 1 Ralph G. Giordano, The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson, 6. 2 B. L. Rayner, Rayner's Life of Jefferson, 524. 3 Thomas Jefferson, “Autobiography,” in Thomas Jefferson Writings, 1-3. 4 Ralph G. Giordano, The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson, 11. 3 sixteen, Jefferson enrolled in the college of William and Mary.5 While at school, Jefferson took the opportunity to further his studies in Greek and French. He also began studying mathematics, metaphysics and philosophy. These subjects would have a small impact on his later …show more content…
architectural endeavors. After two years, he began to study law and received his law license. While his college resume seems impressive, even more shocking is the fact that Jefferson never went to school for architecture, he was self-taught. Jefferson became friends with John Adams and joined the Committee of Five. From this committee Jefferson was appointment to work on the Declaration of Independence.6 Jefferson was one of the primary writers of the Declaration of Independence. (view figure No. 1) He was thirty-three years old at the time, making him one of the youngest delegates to contribute to the Declaration. Thomas Jefferson drew from Enlightenment ideas, as well as the writings of John Locke and Charles-Louis Montesquieu, when creating the Declaration of Independence. Locke’s and Montesquieu’s ideas involve a reality where citizens by nature are free and have equal rights.7 Jefferson's architecture can also be a way of removing the some of the structure that reminded citizens of the British rule. Jefferson strongly disliked the architecture of his time. Georgian architecture reminded him of the King so much that it leads him to create something new, something that would change the architecture of the United States dramatically.8 Jefferson proposed the idea to move the capital inland from the coastal city of Williamsburg.9 This offered more protection from coastal invasion. The direction of the time was moving away from coastal colonies and the focus was primarily on moving westward. The 5 Ibid, 12. 6 Ibid, 14. 7 Goldfield, Abbott, et al., The American Journey, 102. 8 Williams H. Pierson, Jr. American Buildings and Their Architects, 297. 9 Ralph G. Giordano, The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson, 95. 4 strategical move of the capital city to Richmond, VA in 1780 meant the city would need a new capitol building. At the time there was no apparent plan for the city, no infrastructure existed. Jefferson was the current governor of Virginia. He lead a committee of five whose sole purpose was to plan and construct public building for the city. Jefferson said he wished “to impose taste and knowledge” for the architecture of Richmond.10 His first idea for the capital building was not just a single building, but three; to visually represent the three branches of the government, the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The design showed a symmetrical, square shaped building. The interior space was circular in style. The design seems to be directly inspired by the geometry of Palladio’s Villa as Jefferson owned a copy of Four Books of Architecture.11(see figure No. 2) Jefferson drew the ideas from the second book in the collection of four as it depicts villas and privately-owned estates all designed by Palladio.12 Aside from detailed illustration and architectural plans, the books held detailed theory on the joint role of architecture in society. Palladio's specific theory involved the relation of architecture and the state, explicitly listing that the location of the site needed to just as important as the buildings design. Jefferson found a perfect location for the construction of the Virginia Capitol Building and planned for the erection of the Virginia State Capitol to be atop a long grassy hill. (see figure No. 3) Palladio was quoted to say that placing a temple on the highest hill is required to have a prominent orientation.13 This is the case so that it is worth being seen by the people of the city. The facade of the Virginia State Capitol should be in such an orientation that it is in view of the people of Richmond as the importance vested in the construction. 10 Thomas Jefferson, “Autobiography,” in Thomas Jefferson Writings, 36. 11 Ralph G.
Giordano, The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson, 95. 12 Andrea Palladio, Four Books of Architecture, 81. 13 Ibid, 90. 5 Thomas Jefferson played a crucial part in writing the Declaration of Independence, deciding the United States as free state from the former British control. Jefferson chose to construct Virginia State Capitol in the temple form to affirm the new government. Palladio's writing describes the temple form in these words, “Temples should be built upon very high places, in the middle of the country.”14 The grass covered hill site of construction would be marked as the relative center of the city of Richmond. (see figure No. 4) Jefferson's decision to follow the temple form marked the first of many buildings that would soon define the architectural style of the government buildings. It was the first step on the path towards establishing an American culture as society severed its ties to Great Britain.15 Personally, Jefferson despised colonial style established in this time period. The Georgian style of the colonies of America did nothing but scream the name of the King. (see figure No. 5) A new nation should not be reminded of its past ruler, and Jefferson was determined to change that.
The design for Virginia State Capitol was modeled similarly to ancient Roman temple form. The choice to model the Virginia State Capitol after the ancient Roman temple, displayed Jefferson's desire to define the new government as a strong and powerful assembly. 16The Roman empire ruled with much success. Jefferson needed the design of the Virginia State Capitol to set a trend for government buildings to bolster the power in the newly formed American government. The Roman temple form was not only a new and fresh architectural culture shift, it provided an added sense of strength to the government building. Thomas Jefferson’s personal religious view also played a critical role in his architecture. Palladio explained that the ancient temple form was dedicated to their gods. Jefferson did not 14 Ibid, 80. 15 Ralph G. Giordano, The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson, 99. 16Ibid, 101. 6
However, the author 's interpretations of Jefferson 's decisions and their connection to modern politics are intriguing, to say the least. In 1774, Jefferson penned A Summary View of the Rights of British America and, later, in 1775, drafted the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (Ellis 32-44). According to Ellis, the documents act as proof that Jefferson was insensitive to the constitutional complexities a Revolution held as his interpretation of otherwise important matters revolved around his “pattern of juvenile romanticism” (38). Evidently, the American colonies’ desire for independence from the mother country was a momentous decision that affected all thirteen colonies. However, in Ellis’ arguments, Thomas Jefferson’s writing at the time showed either his failure to acknowledge the severity of the situation or his disregard of the same. Accordingly, as written in the American Sphinx, Jefferson’s mannerisms in the first Continental Congress and Virginia evokes the picture of an adolescent instead of the thirty-year-old man he was at the time (Ellis 38). It is no wonder Ellis observes Thomas Jefferson as a founding father who was not only “wildly idealistic” but also possessed “extraordinary naivete” while advocating the notions of a Jeffersonian utopia that unrestrained
For most of Thomas Jefferson’s life, Anglicanism had a firm grip on those around him—Virginia in particular. Jefferson did not necessarily disfavor Anglicanism itself, but he was not fond of the lack of diversity within the surrounding area. Many individuals including John Locke, George Wythe, and James Maury inspired him beyond belief as he grew older. He was introduced to the Enlightenment, the age of reason, the influence of nature, the importance of truth, the presence of morality, etc. Which led to one
Jefferson had made promises to Americans, some of his promises in particularly the increase of land for the yeoman farmer and promised not kept were decreasing National debt and Federal power. Jefferson’s presidency was to a certain extent a “Republican Revolution” but at the same time it had also become a continuation of Federalists policies. While making decisions for the best interests of Democratic Republicans, Jefferson had chosen the same path of the Federalist in order to keep his promises, and had to sacrifice some of the ideals and promises of the “Republican Revolution.”
“Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826).” American History Central. MIT school of engineering. August 2003. Web. 24 March 2014.
Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and viewed the office of the president to be strictly constructed by the constitution. He, like Washington, believed his power as president derived directly from the constitution and the affection of the people. Although he had a Whig theory he made the Louis...
Locke believed it was the government 's job to protect property because even though life was free, “enjoyment of it was very uncertain and constantly exposed to the invasion of others.” (Locke 61) There was uncertainty because not everyone wanted to follow the natural laws which made life unsafe and unpredictable. Life, liberties and property were at stake and if moral laws could not be followed a government would be formed to maintain that. “Willing to join in society with others, who are already united, or have a mind to unite, for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties, and estates, which I call by the general name, property.” (Locke, 61) Jefferson shares these same viewpoints and focuses on how the British king is ignoring and falling short of these expectations. Jefferson believed the people had the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and when the government fails to secure these rights he thought it was the people’s rights to abolish the government and create a new one. Not only did Jefferson think it was in the people’s rights rather, “...it is their duty, to throw off such government.” Declaration of Independence, 90). The British government failed to maintain the moral laws Locke thought the government should protect and in turn this was ultimately the reason Jefferson thought it was the people’s duties to separate from Great
In 1774, Jefferson wrote “A Summary View of the Rights of British America”, in which he claimed that the colonies were tied to the king only by voluntary bonds of loyalty. The “Summary View of the Rights of British America” was published without Jefferson’s permission. This document was presented as a political pamphlet. It was taking Jefferson’s career to a whole another level, way further than
Thomas Jefferson, an educated, well respected career man, served as governor of Virginia, secretary of state, and president of the United States. The Revolutionary era, during the 1770's, proved to be one of America's most victorious times. Despite the casualties the American colonies suffered, they proved to be stronger than their ruling land, Britain, and won the right to be a free land, becoming the United States of America. Living through this difficult turning point in history inspired Jefferson to write "The Declaration of Independence." Once again, nearly two hundred years later, America faced yet another turning point in history. Watching America struggle through racial integration in the 1960's, King was outraged by how Blacks were being treated, not only by citizens, but by law enforcement. Police brutality became increasingly prevalent, especially in the South, during riots and protests. As a revered clergyman, civil rights leader, and Nobel Prize winner, King's writings sprung from a passion to help America become the land Jefferson, among many people, had promised it to be. ...
There were many men involved in the establishment of the government, the laws regulating states and people, and individual rights in the construction of the United States of America. Two men stand out as instrumental to our founding principles: Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson was an educated, articulate and accomplished man from a well-respected family. He had a great understanding of farming and of the relationship between man and his environment, working diligently to balance the two for the best interest of each. He “considered himself first and always a man of the land” (Jewett, 2005).
In 1774, A Summary View of the Rights of British America was the first of Thomas Jefferson major political writings for the revolutionary debate. June of 1775 Thomas Jefferson took a seat in the Second Continental Congress that is when the revolution started. In June of 1776, he joined Benjamin Franklin and John Adams on the special committee to draft The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was surprised to find himself at the head of the committee to prepare this paper. After Benjamin Franklin and John Adams went over the rough draft the Thomas Jefferson summited to them, they revised it and sent it to Congress. On July 4,1776, the Declaration Of Independence was signed and published.
Thomas Jefferson had a different view on how the government should run over what Thomas Paine felt. I really like how Thomas Paine worded it the best by stating “In order for the colonist to prosper in the long term, the colonies need to be independent.” Paine all so states “by declaring independence, America will be able to ask for help from other countries in its struggle for freedom.” The colonist just needed to break away so they could grow on their own. By the colonists breaking away is how the United States of America was formed.
Jefferson came into office on March 4, 1801 and left office on March 4, 1809. His first term’s vice president was Aaron Burr, and his second term’s vice president was George Clinton. He ran with the Democratic-Republican Party and heavily opposed the Federalist Party. Prior to his election, he had already held many positions in public office; vice president and secretary of state . Because he was preceded only by John Adams and George Washington, Jefferson played a large role in the formation of the character of the American President. For his first inaugural address, according to a reporter, “His dress was, as usual, that of a plain citizen without any distinctive badge of office.” This casual nature showed the American public that he was not a king, but a normal citizen who was there for the people, he was even known as the “Man of the People”. Many other American Presidents used that same style in order to appeal to the public.
Slowly but surely Jefferson finished a small brick building, which was the south pavilion, in 1770. Later the north pavilion was finished and served as a study for his son-in-law.
It has been said that his particular taking of office had lead to the simplest speech stating that "essential principals" would guide his administration and would support all states with "equal and exact justice to all". And the actual changes of administration were the most peaceful of all, nothing like those previously. Jefferson’s accomplishments were most greatly seen by the ability to simplify the Republican government in the new capital by cutting back the unnecessary branches and less useful positions while replacing Federalists with Republicans. And by the year 1808, Republicans held almost all the government offices. At the same time, Jefferson fought to keep the size of the government from continuously growing.
Palladio reinvented the Veneto’s architecture – and his influence eventually extended a long way past the region’s borders. His impact was very much helped by the publication of his I Quattro Libri dell’ Architectura (The Four Books of Architecture) in 1570. Covering classical design and including translations from Vitruvius, illustrative woodcut plates of classical design and of his own Renaissance work, the text was known throughout Europe – particularly in England, notably by Inigo Jones, the 17th Century English architect – and ultimately in America where buildings such as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia (1770) are clearly founded on Palladian principles.