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How Important Are Thomas Jefferson's Actions?

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“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” He should believe so, as Thomas Jefferson’s actions clearly characterize his individual self, while also inducing the question, Does Thomas Jefferson deserve the honor he possesses, through these eminent actions? Many people believe that Thomas Jefferson is a powerful individual who helped form our country, and was a great leader through his presidential career. He made the best out of difficult situations, when he knew the complete situation had to remain unsolved, and he also wrote the Declaration of Independence for the help of our country. On the other hand, it can also be debated that Thomas Jefferson is a hypocritic man that nearly destroyed our military, …show more content…

Thomas Jefferson worked around this and made sure that his slaves had the best environment possible. First of all, even though Jefferson did own slaves, he did not believe in enslavement, which was an act that he attempted to abolish. “But Jefferson always maintained that the decision to emancipate slaves would have to be part of a democratic process; abolition would be stymied until slaveowners consented to free their human property together in a large - scale act of emancipation.” (Monticello.org) Jefferson did in fact take charge in this conflict and attempt to abolish the use of slaves, but because this decision would have to be debated and thought on through a long process, no action was taken in this problem. Next, although Jefferson did own slaves, he treated them in an incredibly admirable way - not acting cruel, like many other men, towards them. “My first wish is that the labourers may be well treated,” he wrote to his overseer Manoah Clarkson in 1792. Rather than force a slave to work under the threat of the whip, Jefferson attempted to motivate slaves to perform tasks with incentives such as “gratuities” (tips) or …show more content…

“ It has been censured for its substance, it has been censured for its form, for its misstatements of fact, for its fallacies in reasoning, for its audacious novelties and paradoxes, for its total lack of all novelty, for its repetition of old and threadbare statements, even for its downright plagiarisms ; finally, for its grandiose and vaporing style.” (oldandsold.com). The Declaration of Independence has been criticized, in which the criticism is towards Jefferson. Because the Declaration affects so many different things, which can also be blamed on Jefferson, the people forget that our life today is because of him. If he didn’t write the Declaration of Independence, then our country wouldn’t be the way that it is. First of all, as Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration, he also took into perspective the affects of the future.“The Declaration of Independence gave birth to many other freedoms in the United States of America that may never have even been intended”, (surfnetkids.com). Thomas Jefferson didn’t only affect now, but affected our future as well, in an intelligent way. Many people need to take this into consideration, for he deserves more honor in his decision. Second of all, Thomas Jefferson put his life at risk for our country, by

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689 Words | 3 Pages

He was very talented, he played the violin, spoke french and acquired the tastes and refinements of the larger world. Thomas Jefferson has served a enormous symbol of what we as people are. He was a man of the Eighteenth Century a very intelligent yet he was just like all human beings; weak and strong. However, many historians argued that Thomas Jefferson could never really make slavery illegal.

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679 Words | 3 Pages

These two pieces of evidence emphasize how Jefferson’s work for our country was crucial for our country’s development each in their own way. The Declaration of Independence was America's first act of becoming a separate nation of Great Britain. It contained the ideals of our nation, the complaints against the British king, and the arguments the colonists used to explain why they wanted to be free of British rule. Only the most patriotic men wrote it because they knew what they wanted in a

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148 Words | 1 Pages

While writing the declaration the problem Thomas Jefferson was trying to address was the unjust treatment of the English colonies. For the most part, the English colonies where bullied and not given the right treatment by England. As a solution to this miss treatment Thomas Jefferson decides that the colonies should run them self as a completely separate country. Even if that means going to war. Jefferson chose the evidence he did to highlight the unfair treatment of the colonies.

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820 Words | 4 Pages

In the olden times of mankind there has always been a vast amount of remarkable people who leave an imprint in history, the heart, and in the lives of humanity; such is the case of Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers and author of the principles of the Constitution. The essence of the Declaration of Independence portrays a cry for fair rights and justice among the leaders of the thirteen colonies. However, the words and expressions of the writer of the most significant legacies this country can have let him be heartfelt about the need for better government. It clearly shows values and principles; among them are intelligence to write a paper able to set the standards of the United States of America, and the courage to get rid of Great

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799 Words | 4 Pages

The Age of Reason is a name used to describe the age that influenced the American Statesmen of the Revolution. Taxes forced upon the colonists by Britain after the French and Indian War enraged the colonists, leading to the Revolution that would change the world forever. Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Thomas Paine’s The Crisis Number 1 were two very important works of literature during the Revolutionary period. Both works used persuasion effectively.

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561 Words | 3 Pages

Fifty years after the writing of the Declaration of Independence, on May 8th, 1825, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Henry Lee. Jefferson wrote to Lee telling him what he remembered and what inspired him and the Committee of Five to write the Declaration. Jefferson wrote he was not looking for new ideas, or principles that no one had thought of but to state the “common sense” of the subject of American independence. He went on to say that nothing was really “copied from any particular and previous writing,” but rather it was the American belief at the time. Even though Thomas Jefferson says nothing was really copied, the Declaration was definitely influenced by other thoughts, ideals, and principles that were written around that time.

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279 Words | 2 Pages

Thomas Jefferson, strict constructionist? One of our most contributing founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, once stated that “A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on interference.” This clearly implies that he’s a man of the people. Although he thought a “president above parties” was the way to go or that “we are all republicans--- we are all federalists” he was sure enough an Anti-Federalist, by far, between the mid 1700s.

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351 Words | 2 Pages

Thomas Jefferson was a man for the people, even while growing up rich and privileged, he was the one to speak for the lower class. He favored a universal education for all who went to show his character. Thomas Jefferson tended to interpret the constitution in a strict way, only going by what was written and the enumerated powers. His interpretation of the constitution goes hand in hand with his philosophy of government which was that the government should protect man's life, liberty, freedom and happiness with a narrow or strict interpretation of the constitution. A very strict and to the point interpretation of the constitution, while it might seem good to limit confusion or abuse of power, really limits the abilities to accomplish

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803 Words | 4 Pages

1. How does Jefferson explain the need for a formal declaration of independence? Jefferson explains the need for a formal declaration of independence by saying “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Obliviously as humans with thinks it’s a pretty basic and obvious idea that God created every person equal to be equal. He’s saying that God gave each person the same basic rights unalienable rights that they can’t be taken away.

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Since one of the main ideas of The Declaration of Independence was to remove the colonists from monarchy, using the term ‘subjects’ and presenting the statement of human rights to the public, would not have been ideal for the former president. Just this little mistake is enough to have the people question Jefferson’s true intentions. On top of that, how could someone who is a slaveowner write The Declaration of Independence? Albeit, this is nothing compared to the rest of his actions, but is a great way to show the type of man he truly

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294 Words | 2 Pages

Thomas Jefferson had many important roles relating to the American Revolution. He is a founding father mainly for drafting the Declaration of Independence. During the American Revolution Jefferson was elected governor of Virginia. He was also a delegate of the Second Continental Congress, which is where he was chosen to and wrote the Declaration. He didn’t actually fight in the Revolutionary war, but instead influenced colonists to seek independence through his many writing.

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150 Words | 1 Pages

Other says the sense of reasons is important. On the other hand, Jefferson’s idea evokes virtue, good conduct, and generous citizenship. In addition, he believes God promises people’s happiness. Once Declaration of Independence was adopted, the idea of good for the whole became stronger.

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172 Words | 1 Pages

The Declaration of Independence was written for the American people. King George III had imposed a number of unwise regulations and the miserable acts so the American people did not want to follow under the rules. This document was to persuade the people to finally leave King George’s power so they could be under their own government with their own laws. Now saying that, a lot of people were not completely on board with this proclamation. During this time going against the King and his acts would make you guilty of treason.

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227 Words | 1 Pages

Thomas Jefferson once said, "Determine never to be idle... It is wonderful how much may be done if we were always doing". I believe that Thomas Jefferson was right to say that we accomplish more if we are always doing something because, a body in motion stays in motion and, people who mope around never get anything done. My first reason is that a body in motion stays in motion and a body at rest stays at rest. If people keep moving they wont even notice that the job is getting done as fast as it is until the job is done.

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748 Words | 3 Pages

In 1787 in a letter to Edward Rutledge Jefferson writes, “"I congratulate you, my dear friend, on the law of your state [South Carolina] for suspending the importation of slaves, and for the glory you have justly acquired by endeavoring to prevent it forever,” Congratulating his friend on the abolishing

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