Who Is Thomas Jefferson A Passionate Statesman

aving written the Constitution and having been elected the third President, Thomas Jefferson cemented his place in United States history as a brilliant and passionate statesman. Even though Jefferson was passionate about Science, he became a lawyer and was a representative in the Virginia House of Burgess. Throughout his early political career, Jefferson argued for American self-governance and eventual independence. He was one of the most important figures in liberal and enlightenment thinking. Jefferson came to the Second Continental Congress in 1775, and would then go on to write to Declaration of Independence. He would then send the document to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams who made few edits. It was sent to Congress to undergo severe
scrutiny, but the debate only lasted three days and on July 4th, 1776, America became an independent nation with Jefferson’s document leading the argument. On return to his home state of Virginia, Jefferson sought to provide liberal reforms to the local Virginia government. He was able to strengthen the separation of church and state and to get rid of antiquated property laws. While having moderate success, Jefferson was disheartened by his inability to reform the criminal code, which led him to withhold his plans to abolish slavery. In 1779, Jefferson became the Governor of Virginia, but by 1782, scandals over his conduct during the British invasion, which culminated into nothing, and his wife’s death, sent him in despair.
That year, he wrote a book and was pointed to a peace commission in Paris. In 1783, Jefferson returned to Congress and two years later wrote the Land Ordinance of 1785, which allowed for the creation of states in the Western territories. Jefferson was also instrumental in creating commerce treaties with Europe, as he was part of a three-man commission to do so with Adams and Franklin. While Jefferson was able to levy French favor even after the commission had been dissolved, he was unable to have France replace Britain as the driving economic force in the world. With his duties in Europe diminished, Jefferson was able to live out his passions by traveling throughout Europe. In 1789, Washington made him the nation’s first Secretary of State, where he served for three years. Jefferson butted heads with Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton over the issue of whether America would side with France or Britain. Jefferson argued for more economic freedom in regards to France and viewed Hamilton’s financial plans as far too pro-British and pro-aristocratic. When the British and French broke out into war, Jefferson tried to improve Anglo-French relations, however he was embarrassed by France’s refusal to do
so. Jefferson retired in 1793, but kept in the public spot life when the Republicans made him their in candidate in 1796, he was forced to come to the forefront of American politics once more. He lost to Adams and was forced to become his vice president. When the XYZ affair broke out, Jefferson was voice for peace and tranquility. In reaction to Adams’ Alien and Sedition Act, Jefferson drafted the Kentucky Resolutions, stating that states could nullify federal laws if they found them unconstitutional. In 1800, Jefferson tired his luck yet again and ran with Aaron Burr. In an odd turn of events they tied, which as broken in Jefferson’s favor by the House. Jefferson became the first president to be sworn in at the Washington DC White House, but it was in absence of Adams, against whom he had ran a particularly brutal election. By Jefferson's time, tensions in France had defused themselves, leaving him free to implement policies at home. As the de facto leader of the Democratic-Republicans, it came as a shock to many when Jefferson extended an olive branch to the Federalists. Jefferson first scaled back the affects of the Alien and Sedition Act by restoring free speech and reverting the years of residency needed to become a citizen back to five. Jefferson enacted several other reforms such as scaling down the army and navy, abolishing internal taxes, removing some revenue offices, and by enacting a plan to remove the debt. Another significant domestic decision made by Jefferson was his repeal of the Judiciary Act in 1801, which ended Federal Question Jurisdiction and got rid of Adams’ ‘Midnight Judges’, as well as the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase in 1804 since he attacked the repeal, however the Senate acquitted him on all charges in 1805. Jefferson was heavily involved in foreign policy, so it was no surprise that some of his greatest triumphs and defeats came in regards to international affairs. In 1800, Spain have France trading rights to the port of New Orleans, making it difficult for America to grow out West. Another foreign policy issue came to the surface when in 1801, Yusuf Qaramanli, the Pasha of Tripoli, declared war on the United States due to a lack of tribute American sailors paid to pirates. Jefferson responded with naval attacks as well as a ground invasion by the Marine Corps. Another foreign policy victory came in 1803 when Jefferson was able to make the Louisiana Purchase in which America doubled in size by adding 800,000 square miles of land out West from France for $11,250,000. Jefferson commissioned Lewis and Clark to explore the new land. That year, Ohio was admitted to the Union, becoming the first state whose constitution banned slavery. Jefferson won handily in the 1804 election, but his second term was marked with scandal, starting with Aaron Burr. That year, Burr mortally wounded and killed political rival Alexander Hamilton. Burr was indicted for the murder in New York and New Jersey, causing him to flee to Georgia. He would be replaced by George Clinton, who served as Vice President from 1805 till the end of Jefferson’s term. Jefferson’s problems continued when Democratic-Republican John Randolph, the party’s leader in the House, launched an insurgency with other extreme Republicans who called themselves Old Republicans or Quids.
Despite the inter-quarreling of his party, Jefferson was able to maintain a degree of control over Congress. Former Vice President Aaron Burr came back to haunt Jefferson again when he was believed to be attempting a revolution in the West, which Jefferson was able to squash. Britain and partly France had been interrupting America’s neutral trade rights. Frustrated with this and the havoc of the Napoleonic wars, Jefferson proposed an embargo of all American sea trade, and in 1807, Congress authorized it. The embargo served as a way to economically drive both France and Britain to respect the United States. While it was enforced, the embargo was too damaging to the United States and was later repealed. The embargo marked the last major event of Jefferson’s presidency. Jefferson did not seek a second term and was involved with American politics, although few of his efforts came to fruition. Jefferson left a lasting legacy on public education through proposed legislation in Virginia, as well as being a master planner for the University of Virginia. Jefferson died alongside friend John Adams on July 4th,
1826. Jefferson’s legacy in American politics ranges from his brilliant and tactful writing of the nation’s founding documents to the reforms he enacted as President. Jefferson’s administration serves as a template of moderation, as well as strength when faced with scandal and difficult decisions. Jefferson will surely be held as one of the nation’s greatest leaders amongst skeptics and supporters alike as even the most ardent Federalist cannot deny his thoughtfulness.