Thomas Jefferson's Influence In American History

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Born on April 13, 1743, in Shadwell, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson was a man of incredible talents who is remembered today as one of the most influential individuals in American History. Jefferson was elected in 1800 as the third president of the young United States, and throughout his historic presidency, allowed himself to be guided through his own distinct philosophy of government known as Jeffersonianism. A staunch supporter of state’s rights and a limited central government, Jefferson believed that the virtuous and educated farmer formed the backbone to democracy. Jefferson despised the moral depravity that he believed accompanied the big cities and luxurious jobs, and stated that when people “get piled up upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe” (Boyer et al. 225). In addition, Jefferson was a slave owner and believed that the white race should be held superior over the inferior black population. …show more content…

Jefferson was determined to approach each political obstacle sensibly, as demonstrated by the Tripolitan War, and truly believed that the future of the American society depended on the integrity of the common people. Due to the emerging threat of the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of a bitter Aaron Burr, Jefferson experienced a much more difficult second term in office, and as a result saw a slight shift in the concepts of his political philosophy. Once a steadfast supporter of a strict interpretation of the Constitution, Jefferson’s second term saw a slightly more liberal approach to the analysis regarding the Constitution, as shown by his fury regarding the trial of villain Aaron