Who Is Thomas Jefferson A Passionate Statesman

aving written the Constitution and having been elected the third President, Thomas Jefferson cemented his place in United States history as a brilliant and passionate statesman. Even though Jefferson was passionate about Science, he became a lawyer and was a representative in the Virginia House of Burgess. Throughout his early political career, Jefferson argued for American self-governance and eventual independence. He was one of the most important figures in liberal and enlightenment thinking. Jefferson came to the Second Continental Congress in 1775, and would then go on to write to Declaration of Independence. He would then send the document to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams who made few edits. It was sent to Congress to undergo severe
That year, he wrote a book and was pointed to a peace commission in Paris. In 1783, Jefferson returned to Congress and two years later wrote the Land Ordinance of 1785, which allowed for the creation of states in the Western territories. Jefferson was also instrumental in creating commerce treaties with Europe, as he was part of a three-man commission to do so with Adams and Franklin. While Jefferson was able to levy French favor even after the commission had been dissolved, he was unable to have France replace Britain as the driving economic force in the world. With his duties in Europe diminished, Jefferson was able to live out his passions by traveling throughout Europe. In 1789, Washington made him the nation’s first Secretary of State, where he served for three years. Jefferson butted heads with Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton over the issue of whether America would side with France or Britain. Jefferson argued for more economic freedom in regards to France and viewed Hamilton’s financial plans as far too pro-British and pro-aristocratic. When the British and French broke out into war, Jefferson tried to improve Anglo-French relations, however he was embarrassed by France’s refusal to do
Despite the inter-quarreling of his party, Jefferson was able to maintain a degree of control over Congress. Former Vice President Aaron Burr came back to haunt Jefferson again when he was believed to be attempting a revolution in the West, which Jefferson was able to squash. Britain and partly France had been interrupting America’s neutral trade rights. Frustrated with this and the havoc of the Napoleonic wars, Jefferson proposed an embargo of all American sea trade, and in 1807, Congress authorized it. The embargo served as a way to economically drive both France and Britain to respect the United States. While it was enforced, the embargo was too damaging to the United States and was later repealed. The embargo marked the last major event of Jefferson’s presidency. Jefferson did not seek a second term and was involved with American politics, although few of his efforts came to fruition. Jefferson left a lasting legacy on public education through proposed legislation in Virginia, as well as being a master planner for the University of Virginia. Jefferson died alongside friend John Adams on July 4th,