Thomas Jefferson's Separation Of Power In The United States

Thomas Jefferson was the third American President. Due to the fact that he was such an early President, he influenced our political system greatly, both in the short and long term with his seemingly quiet approach to congressional matters. During his presidency, many things happened that changed the United States as we know it. He coordinated the Louisiana Purchase, assisted in implementing the twelfth amendment, formed the character of the modern American President, and cut the U.S.’s war debt by a third.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty.” Thomas Jefferson believed the best government was the one that governs the least . Jefferson stressed how a small government with limited powers is most likely to leave the people alone and have them enjoy the Blessings of Liberty. Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson was a man who had numerous accomplishments in his life. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence, author of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, founder of the University of Virginia, and the third President of the United States. His strict interpretation of the Constitution was due to his belief that the charter was designed to provide the people with a say in governmental affairs. Mr. Jefferson won the approval from the working class because he fought for them and not the powerful interests of the wealthy. Although Jefferson was a vocal and active leader in the rights of states, his recommendation of the Embargo Act and his support of the Non-Intercourse act resulted in his failure as the Commander In Chief.

Thomas Jefferson tried to lower federal spending and diminish the dimensions of the government; however, on account that of strenuous overseas affairs, corresponding to Barbary piracy, he was once soon compelled to develop the size of the U.S. Military and navy. Thomas Jefferson was once elected on the thought that he would provide the farmers of the United States with an increasing of the economy; however, throughout his Presidency, the direction of the nation was set toward giant executive and

Throughout the period of 1790 to 1825, Thomas Jefferson and his party of Republicans often had differing ideals than Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists. During this time, Federalists had a desire for a strong central government and trade rights. Jefferson and his Republicans, on the other hand, were strong advocates for state power against the tyrannical central government. As a prominent politician, Jefferson spoke out against Hamilton ideas such as a national bank; when Jefferson became president, however, some of his views change and seem to reflect those of Hamilton.

Thomas Jefferson and his followers had a rigid vision of what they thought America would become, and it was in direct contrast to what many other federalists had planned. The Jeffersonian vision was that of state power, where localism was paramount and labor was independent of major imperialism like that of Europe (Brinkley 183). Although this vision did not come to fruition in whole, certain aspects did persist to shape the future of the country in education, economic development, culture and politics.

We always hear about Thomas Jefferson in our history classes, as one of the most influential American politicians at the time of the nation’s birth. Though, we don’t always take the time to understand why this is the case. Looking at what he accomplished as president and politician seems mind boggling. In my blog, I will discuss Thomas Jefferson’s major accomplishments, his leadership lessons, and criticisms of his actions.

Jefferson mentioned that the federal government does not hold the right to exercise power that was not specified in the Constitution, and that the sole purpose of the unity of the states are not for the purpose of a general government, but to be under one that allows self-government. He also mentioned the dilemma involving the Louisiana Purchase and the desire to expand for the sake of future generations. Through his actions and beliefs, he even gained some people to go against him. Thus, through all of this, it is clear that even when Thomas Jefferson left an old position to assume a new position, he held onto his beliefs on

Jefferson accomplished a lot while he was president that affected everyone at this time and even us today. While Jefferson was president, he wrote the Declaration of Independence. It was written to declare the independence the colonies had from Great Britain. He also stated that all men should be created equally and stated that slavery is against our most important rights, life and liberty itself. Jefferson wrote a bill establishing that all virginia schools were to give all children male or female, get three years of teaching in writing, reading arithmetic and history. He also came up with the Louisiana Purchase. It was land deal between the U.S. and France. In order to buy all this land he used Hamilton 's finacial plan, which was a good plan until it provoked the

But because of what he accomplished in his presidency, Thomas Jefferson more so represented the interests of the common man, and he demonstrated this by reducing the national debt, doubling the nation’s territory in 1803, and advocating states’ rights.

President Jefferson believed that the federal government should be less powerful and centralized, and that many powers should be reserved for the states. Also, he believed in a smaller military force, unlike the Federalists. Although the Jefferson Revolution was anti-Federalist, he favored vast and wide territorial growth for the small Republic. Hence, the Louisiana Purchase became a reality under his Presidency. However, unlike the Federalists, he favored an agrarian republic, as opposed to an industrialized powerhouse. For this, slavery was needed, and he had no problem with slavery alongside a populist democracy (Goldfield et al. 226). Ironically, Jefferson was very much an aristocrat, and found no contradictions between aristocratic rule (very similar to the Federalists) at the helm of a

The Revolution of 1800 marked a new era for the United States: The Jeffersonian era. The Jefferson era was full of conflict, partisan zeal, and peaceful power. Although the peaceful transition of power from John Adam’s federalism to Thomas Jefferson’s republicanism marked a new era, to a significant extent Thomas Jefferson did not follow his original republican philosophies and policies he campaigned on during his presidency. Although Thomas Jefferson established Republican views such giving power to the states while campaigning to be president, during his presidency he abandoned these views to a significant extent, which is shown by the establishment of the Embargo Act, the Louisiana Purchase and subsequent Expedition, and Jefferson using the Militia to fight the war of 1812.

Thomas Jefferson captured the presidency in 1800 by running a campaign grounded in eighteenth century republican orthodoxy. He promoted slashing government spending, paying off the national debt, scaling back the professional military in favor of militias, and most importantly, returning to the ideals of the revolution. Reaffirming the guidance Washington offered in his farewell address the new President swore to avoid “entangling alliances” with foreign powers, and professed war to be antithetical to liberty. He thought the U.S. could distance itself from the European great power rivalries while prospering from free trade with all nations. Jefferson shared a common sentiment of the day among Americans; the U.S. was morally superior to their

From the issue of funding the war debt, whether a bank of America should be created, to the Alien and Sedition Act; the two sides did not see eye to eye. However, when Jefferson became president, it could be argued that the same abuse of power that he criticized the Federalists to have done could be argued against his own presidency. It is more than fair to say that Jefferson was a hypocrite not only from a Federalist standpoint but also from the values he held. Jefferson himself greatly contributed to the writing of the Declaration of Independence wherein the first few lines the statement “all men are created equal” is seen. However, the reason for Jefferson and his supporters fearing a strong, central government is that they felt this would call for the abolition of slavery. This directly goes against his own belief system in which he fought for civil rights. He even went so far as to have a child with one of his slaves and the details surrounded that and whether it was consensual could be debated, but that’s a conversation for another time. It’s a tricky subject but it is a stretch to conclude that Thomas Jefferson has out-federalized every other President.

He was intent on shrinking the size and footprint of central government. Jefferson wanted to reduce the number of employees and the size of the army and navy. He believed in a government that “restrained men from injuring one and another and left them free to lead their lives” was the best type. Jefferson wanted strong state militias in place of a strong national army or navy. America has risen to prominence in the world by being the strongest super power.

During 1789, the year George Washington was elected president of the United States, he appointed Thomas Jefferson to be the secretary of State during his time in office. Jefferson was a man who believed that the government should not be in any part of the citizens’ lives during a period in time where America was trying to break away from Great Britain’s ways. He was a man who wanted the government to stay out of his business and worry about problems that had to do with the country and not individual states. He believed in a small government, a weak army, and an agricultural society. He also had a “rivalry” of some sorts with Alexander Hamilton who disagreed with every belief that Jefferson had. Jefferson was also the author of the Declaration of Independence. He was a believer in running your own household the way you wanted to run in. His vision was a country where you have a government that stay out of problems that weren’t worth getting into like state problems and a country where the people would live a life of freedom and prosperity.