Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were Americas first presidents and are easily considered to be among the most recognized and influential. They contributed much needed leadership, functionality, and a voice for the citizens. Yet, one president stands out to be the strongest of them all, and that was Thomas Jefferson. There is no doubt that without Jefferson, our country would not have been able to develop as effieciently as it did. For his ideas put into the Declaration of Independance, expansion of America, and his many other contributions for the people like education. The foundation of America is based on the people, a democracy. Jefferson contributed to the "beliefs and the values of the American system and government"(Para.4) all of which are still practiced. In 1776(table) The Declaration of Independance was written and was greatly influenced by Jefferson, he "can be seen as a true miniser and prophet of those ideals"(Para.4). He knew that the people had to be taken into account and that made him strong. Jefferson once said "When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty." …show more content…
Thomas Jefferson served as the third president during the years 1801-1809(table).
Before then he was already a very influential man who had changed the lives of everyone living in America. His contributions made to this country are written in a list, there is no doubt he was strong. In 1803(table), Jefferson launched the Lewis and Clark expedition that would hopefully expand America Westward across the Pacific Ocean(Para.5). In the same year of 1803, The Louisiana Territory was purchased. Jefferson wanted America to grow, with his background, knowledge, and newly gained presidency, he did just
so. "Jefferson had a thirst for knowledge that was virtually unquenchable"(Para.6). With his power he was able to contribute an American Library system that allowed citizens to have access to "large volumes of information at no cost"(Para.6). This was known as The Library of Congress founded in 1825, that started as an experiment in public education. You and I can thank Jefferson for our libraries. Jefferson also contributed to the freedom of religion without being under the rule of the government. He wanted to encourage people to pursue their religion and express their beliefs. This was Jeffersons idea of the "Seperation of Church and State," he diminished some of the governments power and control to let the people have some of their own. Jeffersons list of accomplishments is very worthy to study and admire among everyone. We have him to thank for the freedom and structure he gave America. For his ideas put in to the Declaration of Independance, expansion of America, and push for education. His strenth and perservearance is what helped shape America to be the wonderful country it is today.
The best presidents that the United states has ever seen have to have been Abe Lincoln or George Washington. They were both loyal and cared about their country. George Washington founded the base for our beautiful country that we live in to this day. Abe Lincoln put a stop to slavery during his presidency before he was shot in the back of the head and murdered in the Ford Theater. They both put a lot of time and effort into building our country up. George Washington was an Army general and fought in many hard battles in the cold and across rivers and lakes. We have a lot to thank these men for and lots to learn from their noble actions. Living in their legacy is the whole United States that thanks them for their service. Another great president
Thomas Jefferson’s presidential actions are often less remembered than his work on the Declaration of Independence and his other Revolutionary War contributions, despite their impact on how the United States would, literally, take shape. There were many outcomes from his time in office, the eight years from 1801 to 1809, some good, others less so. Still, I believe that, on the whole, his administration benefited the nation. For one thing, President Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase added hundreds of thousands square miles to the size of the United States. Another, though less direct influence he had was that, in initiating the case of Marbury v. Madison, he unintentionally aided the Supreme Court in gaining the power to exercise judicial review.
Thomas Jefferson has an amazing role in our lives today from the hard work and time he spent to make an easier future for all of us. There are days that some of us could not thrive as the people we are without the appliances he made to make challenging tasks easier for us. Some people look up to him because he never stopped doing great things and never stopped showing unselfishness. Thomas Jefferson revolutionized the world of the 18th century and centuries to come. Thomas Jefferson was one of the most influential people of the 18th century because he was one of the founding fathers of America, he was the founder of the University of Virginia, and he was the creator of many life changing inventions, which drastically changed the world.
How many Americans recognize the man on the back of the one hundred dollar bill? Do you know who he is and why he is on the back of that bill? If you said George Washington then you are right! It is said that when one begins something that others will follow behind you and in George Washington's case that is correct. George Washington paved the way for many other presidents that followed after him up until the one we currently have today. Without our first president we would not have our current president. George Washington made huge contributions and achievements to our country that still stand today.
Jefferson’s language in the Declaration of Independence shows clear influence from Locke and his theory of Life, Liberty, and Property. Locke’s idea of government is one that sets out to protect these rights and once a government becomes more destructive than useful it is the right of the people to dissolve the government and start over from scratch. It can be seen that Jefferson’s view of government, through his criticisms toward the British Parliament, are in direct alignment with Locke’s.
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).
Jeffersons philosophy was based upon freedom of a nation, the voice of the common man being heard and acted upon, the Constitution being upheld, and freedom maintained through education. Being that Jefferson was one of the primary authors of The Declaration of Independence, he had a strong desire to expand territories within the United States to solidify independence from Britain with a democratic-based governmental system. His purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France enabled Americans to have control of the Mississippi River for the use of ...
Thomas Jefferson held firmly to his principles and ideals but the practical reality of leadership forced Jefferson to make decisions for the best interest of the country. When Jefferson was elected adjustments had to be made to the economy and new acts had to be composed in an effort to the United States safe. Events would take place in America where Jefferson would have to determine if should follow his principles or abandon them in domestic affairs. Jefferson was a pacifist at heart, and did his best to keep the United States out of foreign conflicts and entangling. His ideals were peaceful but at points he would have to violate these ideals. Jefferson envisioned a land of agriculture and where government would have minimal power over the Americans lives but that would not be the case. America would need a powerful and intelligent leader at this time.
Jefferson expressed his concerns and disagreements with the king in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson's main points focused on the lack of natural rights the colonists were granted. With the natural rights of the people removed the people and the government would not be able to function. When the king eliminated freedoms that colonists once had he stripped them of their grounds for life. Jefferson also focused on equality. He stated that all men were created equal and by equality he meant that all men (and women) rich or poor all had God given rights that no person should be able to restrict them from having.
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.
The way that Jefferson structured The Declaration of Independence made the article extremely influential. Jefferson first starts by sharing his belief that governments and monarchies that do not represent the people. He then goes on to tell the rights that he believes all people should have all over the world. The rights he describes are simple and reasonable. From there his last line of that paragraph is “to prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid World.” Then he starts to describe the injustices done to the colonies by the English crown. His structure works well to persuade people because he does not start immediately accusing the king of all these injustices or with strong languages. Like all good speakers and authors, Jefferson starts off with a lightly worded statement about when a group of people should start a new government. He then transitions to a slightly stronger statement about human rights, and then he goes into his compelling injustices of the king. The injustices that he describes include “He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People. The Declaration of Independence is...
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.
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.
...secure the people, and it’s the people’s obligation to obey by the laws instituted to them. He had envisioned a government that wouldn’t abuse the rights of the people. The government can control the people, but the people have a say in how the government should govern them. It was his vision to allow the people to be governed, but still be free. If it wasn’t for Jefferson and his Declaration of Independence, then there wouldn’t have been a democrat government. The United States wouldn’t be what it is today, a government for the free people.
Thomas Jefferson was a strong supporter and spokesman for the common man and self-government. He strongly believed that the purpose of American government is to look after and support the common interests of the people. He was against anything that he felt would hurt the common man such as the Bank of the U.S. and big government. Jefferson believed the Bank was hurting the common man and became a damaging monopoly. "It would swallow up all the delegated powers [of the states], and reduce the whole to one power..."-Jefferson referring to the Bank. He was strongly against big government and felt it would oppress the common man. "I am not a friend of a very energetic government...it places the governors indeed more at their ease, at the expense of the people." Jefferson was also a strong supporter of the Bill of Rights, which protected the rights of the people. "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to..." He felt the Bill of Rights would clearly state and protect people's rights, "freedom of religion, freedom of the press, protection against standing armies, restriction of monopolies, the eternal and unremitting force of the habeas corpus laws, and trial by jury...." It was based on Jefferson's suggestions that Madison proposed a Bill of Rights. Jefferson did everything he could to help the common man.