“Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny,” said Thomas Jefferson, who believed in strict constitutional interpretation, a simple republican society, and the opposition of a powerful, centralized government. Opposed to Hamiltonian visions such as an industrialized nation, a powerful centralized government, the U.S Bank, high tariffs, and an approbation towards the white collar or upper class, Jefferson proposed ideals of agrarianism, a weak centralized government allowing more power to the individual, a miniscule standing army, and an approbation towards the blue collar or working class. Though Jefferson proposed many of these ideas, he was not able to act on many of them throughout his presidency. Due to certain circumstances dealing with war, the Embargo Act, and other urgencies during his presidency, Jefferson was forced into leading a more powerful, centralized government, contesting with his original hopes for the nation.
Thomas Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address Thomas Jefferson ran against Aaron Burr, in the 1800 Presidential Election. They tied with 73 electoral votes, and The House of Representatives was the group who had to make the final decision on who would be best to lead their country. In the end, Jefferson came out on top with Burr as his Vice President. During Jefferson's First Inaugural Address, he states that we need to create a better form of government, separate ourselves from other countries, and unite as a country. Jefferson had his own idea of how the American government should function.
As a leader of the party, Thomas Jefferson upheld general Democratic-Republican values for a majority of his presidency. After being elected in 1800, Jefferson stated, in a letter to one of his future cabinet members, “The true theory of our Constitution is surely the wisest and best that the states are independent as to everything within themselves” (Doc A). Jefferson stated his overall views as traditionally being in favor of state’s independence. He further reinforces his traditional Republican beliefs by expressing that the government should not be involved with religious affairs.
He guaranteed to represent as he felt the Founders proposed, in view of decentralized government and trust in the general population to settle on the correct choices for themselves. From that point onward, these have turned out to be known as Jeffersonian principles. Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and steeped in the rationalist ideals of the Enlightenment, now had the opportunity to put his philosophy into action. He continued to express his trust in educated citizens, yet every one of them men to govern themselves through majority rule over a few landed aristocrats. He contradicted specialized federal aid as anti democratic.
Thomas Jefferson was a smart man. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence and also had input into the writing of the Constitution. He once said, "The Constitution belongs to the living and not to the dead." Jefferson said this because the world is ever changing. There are always improvements made everything and more people are born thus more opinions are formed.
Thomas Jefferson's tone in his speech "Thomas Jefferson Inaugural Address is positive and optimistic. Thomas Jefferson delivers this Inaugural Address after he has won the presidency against Aaron Burr. Thomas Jefferson’s speech is intended for all American citizens and members of Congress. In his Inaugural Address, Thomas Jefferson began to speak about all the problems of the way the government operates. He believes that all the parties should come together to reach a common goal and believed that by changing the government, it will better the nations.
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
Barry Balleck says Jefferson believed people could be more easily influenced or manipulated by higher class members when large cities developed, which would soon happen if he did not expand the country. Jefferson firmly believed the decency of people
Jefferson states that, “During the contest of opinion through which we have passed the animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might impose to strangers unused to think freely and to speak and to write what they think; but this being now decided by the voice of the nation , announced accordingly to the rules of the Constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good”(Commager 134). Jefferson believes that the reason America has gotten to the point it has to this day is the rights and liberties the Constitution gives the states and citizens. He makes a connection to the Pre-revolutionary time in the statement when he tells of the strangers which can’t even dream of the rights every citizen possesses in America. These individual rights he speaks of are the reason, which this country was established on, and he believes they must be upheld in order for the nation to continue progressing forward. He believes strongly in all the rights which and due to the citizens, and in the states’ rights to the power not given to the Federal Government in the Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson Essay Thomas Jefferson held many ideals around 1790. Jefferson embarked many things like foreign policy, the reduction of debt and the army, and also the Revolution of 1800. Jefferson was a very educated man who achieved many things like how he is the author of the Declaration of Independence and also claimed presidency. Jefferson played a huge role in shaping the nation. He serves as a great democratic icon because of his persuasive manner to speak on tensions in understanding the people of America's power.
Jefferson was a man of personal growth and believed in social change. His previous family history set the way for him to become a delegate, which ultimately led to him going as far as paving America’s path into the Revolution. He helped set the country’s new standards by bringing in ideas previously thought to be radical. His political disposition stemmed from his interaction in the American Revolution, which evolved his previous ideals from basic concept into complex thoughts he believed he should act on. Jefferson’s unwavering commitment to equality was also apparent during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson was a multi-layered person whose commitments to the American Revolution were not restricted to his initiative and political accomplishments alone. His thoughts and vision for a popularity based and free society were urgent in molding the direction of American history and improvement of the US. Jefferson's powerful works and addresses gave the philosophical system to the American Insurgency and laid the basis for the standards of American majority rule government that we know today. His confidence in the force of training and his support for a government funded schooling system was likewise instrumental in significantly shaping American culture and guaranteeing that residents had the devices to partake completely in the majority
Thomas Jefferson stated that the purpose of our government is to "secure our rights to life, liberty, and happiness. " I agree with his views due to him supporting the idea that a government should work towards creating an environment where its citizens can live in peace but also be motivated to contribute to its economy to create a stable yet guaranteed utopia. One of the government's main concerns should be its citizens' happiness, meaning it cares for their individual wellbeing and rights. Jefferson agreed that the government being strong would make them secure "economically and military" wise, but feared that a government that is too strong would restrict citizens' rights. I agree with this due to the prior ruling of the king having a past of restricting rights, with no other example of a government its no wonder people of the time feared a strong central government, but due to its
Jefferson stated: “...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,”. This was a very bold statement to say in 1776. Jefferson stated that "all men" had the rights to Life, the rights to Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness, and that government exists to protect these rights of the people. Governments receive their power to rule only through agreement of the people. Jefferson presented a “quest for equality and personal independence that, for many Americans, transcended boundaries of class, race, or gender, and challenged the Revolutionary generation and all who later inherited the nation to bring this ideal closer to reality.”
Thomas Jefferson’s legacy shaped the foundation of America today, his ideas on the limiting federal government, the separation of church and state, and the utmost importance of an individual 's personal rights. Limiting help to control potential abuses by the people in power over the citizens who elected them. His influence on limiting the federal government has prevented many crisis’ that have affected other democracies. Furthermore, his beliefs of separation of church and state helped to advance society by keeping the United States of America from becoming a theocracy. Arguably Thomas Jefferson’s biggest accomplishment comes from his incredibly strong and influential effort to further advance the personal rights of each and every citizen.
