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The influence of thomas jefferson
Thomas jeffersons influence on society
Thomas jeffersons influence on society
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A time of immense change and political involvement, the antebellum years of the early 1800s is one of the most intriguing time periods of America’s history. Harry L. Watson’s incredible book, Liberty and Power: The Politics of Jacksonian America, details the ups and downs of politics during Jacksonian America. Watson does a great job on explaining how the eighteenth century concept of republicanism transformed nineteenth century America in the form of a ‘market revolution.’ Social, political and economic changes were the center of life during Jacksonian America. Watson’s synthesis is a must-read for anyone interested in Jacksonian politics.
Two of Washington’s Cabinet: Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton and Jefferson were quarreling over everything from having a strong government that would be wealthy, knowledgeable people, or not having a strong government at all. They had argued on the payments of national and state debts, a tariff on imported goods, manufacturing or farming, a national bank, interpretation of the Constitution, Whiskey Tax and the Whiskey Rebellion, and the whether the Support on the French Revolution. Some believe because of Jefferson and Hamilton’s differences is why that Washington had picked them both to advise him. Jefferson and Hamilton had argued over the government.
Foreign Affairs In the duration of history, Foreign Affairs were critical to display whether or not a president enhanced the country to be viewed as a country which established foreign relations with peace. The way a head of state manages foreign affairs was significant because interrelational conflicts in which occurred could have developed into a greater chaos if not handled correctly. President Andrew Jackson failed to handle foreign responsibilities in the span of his presidency. In 1831, France came to terms to pay for Napoleonic destruction on shipping in the United States.
Within the first chapter, Larson describes how Americans after the American Revolution were hesitant about changing ideas. The idea of federal powers and a new market economy scared the lives of many as they feared the corruption of these higher powers were imminent. The Americans held onto their free market economy with disbelief as they did not understand their own economy could be corrupted as well. In short, the Americans had to pick the lesser of two evils that would give them more liberty with the best chance it would not corrupt their market. The side that embraced the free market was the Democratic-Republicans were the others that opposed it was the Federalists.
The conceptual appeal of the Jeffersonian heritage is important in understanding the Jacksonians. Jackson and his followers “Jacksonians” were suspicious of the new industrial society developing around them and wanted instead for the restoration of the agrarian, republican virtues of earlier times. In destroying the bank of the United States, minimizing federal economic activities, and highlighting state's rights, they made efforts to rebuild a simpler, more decentralized world. Oddly enough, their actions added to the expansion of unregulated capitalism.
When Napoleon of France realized his plan to use the Louisiana territory was unsuccessful, he made a deal with Thomas Jefferson to buy the land with only fifteen million dollars (class lecture). A deal that cannot be ignored with a land that’s only about three cents an acre, Jefferson again had to bend his belief of strict interpretation of the constitution and admitted to the Senators (class lecture, 214). Thomas Jefferson’s decision was accepted, and the senators registered their prompt approval of the transaction (214). Jefferson again deserved the B+ because he changed and adjust his belief to benefit the common good of the United States, which was doubling its size by purchasing the Louisiana Territory
In Andrew Jackson’s time, there was a great deal of cultural and political phenomena that made his populist agenda relevant to the people of the United States. For example, one of the prominent concerns among Americans during Jackson’s era was the rampant corruption which had become prominent throughout the Monroe administration. Indeed, during the 1824 election the issue of corruption was of prominent concern, and Jackson’s engagement with the issue helped achieve him a plurality of electoral votes. However, Jackson’s electoral victory was dismissed when the House of Representatives came together to elect John Quincy Adams in a contingent election. The dismissal of Jackson’s victory at the whim of the political establishment seemed to prove Jackson’s and the country’s concerns over the corrupt political elite undermining the interests of the people.
In the 1800’s, Thomas Jefferson campaigned on the ethics of the Republican belief of a weak central government, and to ensure these beliefs are kept one must rely on the principles of lower taxes, justice, and a lack of strongly enforced governmental restrictions. However, Thomas Jefferson failed to follow the very principles he promised to emanate as he created a government trading restriction known as the Embargo Acts, increased taxes due to the Louisiana Purchase, and followed John Adams ideology in the Alien and Sedition act and tried to have Samuel Chase impeached and removed from office on false charges due to his anti-Jefferson mindset. Thus, Thomas Jefferson failed to keep the philosophy of the Republican party and contradicted his
In his remaining years as president, Jefferson passed the Embargo Act of 1807, which prohibited export to all countries. Just as Washington and Adams before him, Jefferson wanted to put an end to Britain's impressments of U.S. soldiers; Britain continued to refuse. The embargo act was violated in many ways as businesses strained, smuggling increased, and the U.S. treasury suffered a huge loss of customs revenue. Everyone opposed the embargo which had successfully ended trade altogether and had crippled U.S. economy “New Englanders became strident in their demands for termination of the embargo” (Ayers, American Passages, 182). Just days before the end of Jefferson's tenure, the Republicans in Congress allowed trade again with every nation except France and England through the passage of the Non-Intercourse
Jefferson’s Election, the “revolution of 1800” was not revolutionary in the sense of “a massive popular upheaval or an upending of the political system”. He did not beat Adams by a landslide or hugely impact society just by winning the election. When considering his election to be a revolution, he meant that America was finally going back to it’s old ways, back to the “original spirit of the Revolution. Jefferson did not agree with Hamilton, Adams or any Federalists views, he believed that they went against what the country stood for. The election of 1800 was justified because for once a president who represented “the common man” was in office.
Jones comments that Aaron Burr was a “narcissist and skilled self-promoter”, which many people tend to depict Trump with this same disposition; however, Trump actually resembles Jefferson’s principles. During Jefferson’s presidency in (1801-1809) many changes and additions to the United States took place. The events of Jefferson’s term could be summarized by the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Marbury vs. Madison, and the Embargo Act of 1807. Jefferson’s decision to expand the United States is a revolutionary movement that forward the nation and is one of the noteworthy achievements of his presidency. In comparison to Trump, the Embargo Act of 1807 brings forth the same foreign policies Trump agrees with.
In the 1790's Thomas Jefferson was an advocate of States' rights. He has also criticized Federalist policies. Upon his inauguration, Thomas Jefferson was very eager to implement his Democratic-Republican views into the U.S. Government. Jefferson however, turned out to be awfully contradictory to his views before stepping into office. Jefferson altered his views for the future of the young nation.
In the period of 1800 to 1810, the power dynamic between the Federalists and Republicans shifted as Thomas Jefferson, the founder of Jeffersonian-Republicans, was elected into office. However, rather than sticking to the ideals that made Republicans such strict constructionists, Jefferson went on to interpret the Constitution rather loosely during his time in office. Thomas Jefferson is quite a complicated character in history as despite writing the iconic and long time debated phrase “all men are created equal,” he himself held many slaves in his Monticello plantation. It is inferred that Jefferson was hopeful that slavery in the south would eventually come to an end, but alas he never lived to see just how deeply the fight over slavery would divide the country.
Thomas Jefferson’s works and ideas laid the foundation for several key aspects on the limits of the United States government, the idea of separation of church and state, and the importance of personal rights. Jefferson wrote many influential pieces of literature which pushed the concept of having limited government power. Jefferson wanted America not to be like the European monarchies that fell due to religious strife, so he emphasized a secular government. Jefferson, following closely with the ideas of John Locke, stressed the importance of the protection of individual rights against the government. Thomas Jefferson believed that a government should have limitations.
His intentions were pure and all for the positive outcome of his country. Therefore, the quote “The greatest measure of the 19th century was passed by corruption, aided and abetted by the purest man in the world” truly explains the approach that the Thirteenth Amendment costed in order to
