Thomas Jefferson Research Paper

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, born on 13th April, 1743 in Shadwell Virginia, Albemarle County, began his formal education at age nine, studied at William and Mary College and then began to read law. He married Martha Wayles in 1772, and took her to stay in his Mountaintop home, Monticello (http://www.pbs.org/jefferson). He died on July 4, 1826 in Virginia, Monticello. Jefferson draws my attention in this research due to his powerful advocacy of liberty in the early years of the United States. He effectively held leadership positions and controversies in the government of the United States (http://www.pbs.org/jefferson). This paper provides a detailed research about Thomas Jefferson. He attained many achievements in his lifetime, in
He made his words a reality when he notably wrote a bill that ascertained religious freedom, ratified in 1786. As a legislator, he established numerous social reforms to shield individual civil liberties and the use of personal property. As a Congress member, he constructed a new nation and his influence guaranteed that no church would be the state’s official religion or obtain state financing (Ellis 29). Key events took place in the United States during Jefferson’s tenure. The Barbary wars occurred between 1801 and 1805. This time, the United States, paid approximately 80,000 dollars, as a tribute to the Barbary States in order to receive protection against piracy of the North African. Barbary wars began when Jefferson opposed bribe payments and declared a fight with the pirates. In the midst of the wars of Napoleon in 1803, between Britain and France, Jefferson authorized the purchase of Louisiana (Fleming 31). This chief acquisition of land from France augmented the doubling in size of the United States. The Louisiana Purchase manifested the end of ambitions of the French imperial in North America and the novel national security strategy expanded in the United States. In 1812, the war, which would be named the 2nd war for independence, involving Great Britain and the United States, occurred and between 1817 and 1818, the
He called for cultural uniformity, national self determination, and education for all. His prominence on uniformity could not envision a republic that attained multi-racialism and some groups would not be assimilated totally into the values of the identifiable republican. He enabled the essential components of democracy such as free press and public education. On the other hand, Jefferson was unwilling and unable to abolish slavery till the demands subjected naturally from the entire people’s sensibilities. This became obvious when Jefferson signed a law in the bill, which officially isolated the United States postal system to disallow blacks to transmit mail. I have learned various things about Thomas Jefferson. He was a man who endured immense personal adversity in life from being a person of purpose. He scrutinized life as a prospect to explore the world and expand knowledge of the world around him. His writings are influential, full of enthusiasm for life, exploration and knowledge. He possessed positive leadership qualities concerning interest in diverse ideas and subjects. He was not a leader confined to a single issue, never narrow minded but heavily focused. He was one of the superb leaders who portrayed their values and religious principles during times of instability and turmoil (http://www.geocities.com/peterroberts.geo/ReligPolitics/TJefferson.html).