Contributions To The Ordinance Of Elimination, By Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence, a device used to sum up “the grievances and justifications of the American colonists,” (Goldfield et al, 142) for all those whom it concerned. The Declaration of Independence was based off of his essay “Contract theory of Government.” Jefferson claimed to believe that all men were equal. However, many people were excluded from participation in government during the 18th century. Thomas Jefferson also made contributions to the Ordinance of 1784. The Ordinance of 1784 demonstrated that there should be 10 districts or territories, each applying for admission as a state when its population equaled that of the free inhabitants in the least populous of the existing states, settlers