Count De Buffon Declaration Of Independence Analysis

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As a critical writer of the Declaration of Independence and running in office as the third U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson has surely played a major role in shaping our country into what it has become today. Examining his work in the Notes of the State of Virginia, we are able to vastly enhance our knowledge of America during this time period in history and understand the issues that led us to our present-day nation. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” is a common phrase known to all as it is particularly noted in the Declaration of Independence. The way he conveys freedom for man is the ability to do as he pleases, especially religiously, with limited government involvement and interference. While the general meaning of freedom does not change, the concept can evolve over time depending on the …show more content…

His approach can easily be seen as courageous as he comes in defense for America with factual statements and great appreciation regarding his surroundings. Jefferson’s recordings served a great purpose to counteract the allegations a fellow European individual across the sea emanated. Count de Buffon claimed the climate in America had a negative affect on plants, animals, and trees. Jefferson strived to prove Count de Buffon’s theory of the new land to be untrue. “The opinion advanced by the Count de Buffon is, 1. That the animals common both to the old and new world are smaller in the latter. 2. That those peculiar to the new are on a smaller scale. 3. That those which have been domesticated in both have degenerated in America: and 4. That on the whole it exhibits fewer species. And the reason he thinks is, that the heats of America are less; that more waters are spread over its surface by nature, and fewer of these drained off by the hand of man. In other words, that heat is friendly, and moisture adverse to the production and development of large