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Thomas Jefferson Research Paper

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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. Jefferson wanted a nation in which the state and the federal government shared …show more content…

Thomas Jefferson desired a democracy where governmental decisions would not be affected by religious beliefs and biased views of the situation. Thomas Jefferson viewed separation of church and state here is some of his insight on the topic, “...legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, ' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties” (Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists). Jefferson became the sole author for the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which became the the most important religious separationist papers of the 1700’s. Jefferson’s ideas and writings for separation of church and state helped to form the American Enlightenment period, and to further his ideals based upon his …show more content…

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. Of Thomas Jefferson’s triumphs, his advancement of personal rights has had the greatest effect on modern day America. Without his enlightenment ideas and push for the Bill of Rights, the United States would not be the same amazing country that exists today. God bless

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Jefferson 's contributions to the develpoment of democracy in the United States was unmatched by anyone. He wrote the document the founded our nations freedom and independence. " He was one of the two or three key philosophical thinkers of his time that laid the ideological foundation of America"(Jacobson). His ideas and philosophies are what shaped our country into what it is today. He was also a large supporter of the spread of knowledge. "

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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.

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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.

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Thomas Jefferson- one of the great American founding fathers with exquisite taste in architecture and French wine, but also known to hold a controversial set of ideas- fought frequently and strongly against the Federalists ideas before he achieved Presidency. Jefferson and the other republican democrats who followed suit held the belief that the powers of the federal government should be left strictly to what is granted to them in the Constitution. Those powers not specifically addressed in the Constitution would then be delegated to the state governments. This is to ensure that the federal government did not have too much power as they believe a country runs best under a form of self-government.

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549 Words | 3 Pages

Jefferson supports a strict interpretation of the Constitution to prevent tyranny. Ultimately, Jefferson felt that the central government should make laws for the good of all people instead; the leaders and the majority are taking advantage which makes them similar oppressive rulers. Moreover the fact that Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were political opposites, both these men impacted the United States in positive ways. These great men showed their patriotism by working for the future of the young American

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Morgan Nason History 103 (Bridge History) HW #24 How did Jefferson's view of the role of the federal government differ from those of his predecessors? Jefferson’s role of the federal government differed from those of his predecessors. Jefferson believed that the role of President should be simplistic, while the few Presidents before him lived lavish lives. When first taking office, Jefferson made it very clear that he believed in a simpler government.

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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.

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1. Thomas Jefferson’s most important achievement was being the author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This was an important achievement because Jefferson was personally appointed to Congress to right the Constitution. This shows Congress had faith in Jefferson to right the document that declared independence from Great Britain. Also, Jefferson wrote the Declaration in only 17 days.

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Thomas Jefferson was a vehement believer in strict construction of the Constitution prior to his election as president. However, the pressure and power of his new position swayed his views. During his two terms in office, he made decisions that conflicted with his old ideology. Once elected, Thomas Jefferson drastically distanced himself from his earlier philosophy, exercising the powers of the national government and loosely interpreting the Constitution. Before his presidency, Thomas Jefferson was extremely critical of a strong national government.

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He was afraid that a central government held too much power. Power should be spread out among the individual states. He liked how the Articles of Confederation protected the rights of states and individuals from being taken away (Doc 3). “Our country is too large to have all affairs directed by a single government.” states Jefferson. Jefferson also believed that the people should run the government.

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Thomas Jefferson was a devout Republican and viewed the Constitution as it should be followed strictly by text and empowered congress to enact laws that were mandatory and respectable. He was also a strong supporter of states’ rights and decisions should be left to them to vote on. Here is an example where his stance stood when president Washington ask for advice from his cabinet, while as Secretary of Sate if the United Sates should charter a national bank, “The Bank of the United States”. Jefferson took advantage at every opportunity to express his own views on how to interpret the Constitution and he viewed this as this was not a Congress’s obligation to raise money and was against it. Jefferson sought to limit the powers of the federal government and

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As the author of the Declaration of Independence, the foundational text of American democracy and one of the most important documents in world history, Thomas Jefferson will be forever revered as one of the great American Founding Fathers. Jefferson was the spokesman of liberty and a racist slave owner, the champion of the common people and a believer in limited government, a quiet man who disapproved politics and the most dominant political figure of his generation. The tensions between Jefferson's principles and practices make him all the more suitable symbol for the nation he helped create a nation whose ideals have always been complicated by a

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1. Discuss the ways that Jefferson's presidency betrayed his original vision for the new republic. In what ways did it fulfill that vision? Jefferson’s original vision was to minimize the federal power and reduce the importance of the national government in American life. However, he betrayed that in many ways after being the president.

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Left with the task of forging the first democratic nation in many centuries, the founding fathers delicately pieced together a government inspired by the ideals of the Revolution. On this pubescent time period, Merill Jensen writes: “an attempt was made to write democratic ideals and theories of government into the laws and constitutions of the American states.” The founders made the radical choice to separate church and state. In a draft of his bill establishing religious freedom, Jefferson wrote: “WE the General Assembly of Virginia do enact that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship.” The result of the Revolution was a united push for radical political and social changes that changed history.

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In the anchor document Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson stresses that the rights of the people should take precedence over the power of the Federal Government. Jefferson states in the Declaration of Independence, “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.” By saying that people are, “Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable

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