Discuss Thomas Jefferson as president, politician and political theorist.

Introduction

Jefferson was born in 1743. He was a member of the house of burgesse from 1776-1782. He was a minister to france in the term of George Washington. He was the third President and second vicepresident. He was the only vice president to serve for two terms as the president.

Thomas Jefferson was a member of the first continental congress. In addition he drafted the famous “declaration of independence” whereby former british colonies declared themselves independent. He also drafted land ordinance.

The first antifederaist president, Jefferson considered his period to be the “second American revolution.” He was the first commoner to become a president. He had full faith on the abilities of common men and even showed lenience towards immigrants. He has been received much appreciation for his foreign policy.

Jefferson as a president

“ jefferson was the greatest man to have ever occupied the American presidency”

JFK

Lousinia purchase:
Lousionia was a part of Spanish territory, which they had given to the French under a treaty concluded in 1800. Jefferson felt that if this party of new Orleans was seeded into U.S, the threat of foreign intervention could be averted. In 1815, napoleon, French president was eager to sell lousinia inorder to raise money to buy weapons against british. Napoleon also felt intimidated that u.s with the support of british could colonize it.therefore, he wanted to sell it. Jefferson sent livingstone with 10 million dollars to buy as much of the land as possible. Living stone informed him that napoleon was willing to sell all of the land for 15 million dollars. Jefferson, bypassed congress and gave him the desired money to buy the land. The addition of lousinia, one of the richest lands in terms of agricultural land and passage of rivers through it, tripled the size of U.S and also laid foundation for its future superpower claim.

Transparency of budget
Jefferson felt that budget should be such that it could be easily understood by common men and elite. Therefore, he appointed galton to make a transparent budget.

Independent judiciary:
Thomas Jefferson stressed upon the construction of an independent judiciary. He also passed an additional law to create more district and circuit courts.

Immigrants
Jefferson was very lenient towards immigrants and he relaxed naturalization process. He relaxed the term of citizenship from 14 years to 5 years.

Jefferson as a politician

a) importance to the will of man

Jefferson gave a lot of importance to the will of common men and was a popular leader among the masses.

b) Belief in common man
Jefferson had a belief in the abilities of common men. Although he believed that ower offices should be held by the educated elite, but he felt that common men should be educated to take up future responsibilities.

c) Republicanism:
In his inaugural speech Jefferson said,

“ we are all republicans we are all federalists”

d) Democratic ideals:
Jefferson was a great friend to democratic ideals and norms. He had all the laws lapsed that curbed the power of media. He also had all prisoners released who had been imprisoned on media related charges. He stressed a lot on press and said

“Had it been for me to decide to have a state without press or press without state, I would not hesitate to favour the latter”

e) Rural democracy: as he was himself from an agrarian background, he was fully ware of the benefits of rural democracy and thus favoured it.

Jefferson as a political theorist

a) Antifederalist: Jefferson was an antifederalist and he gave more autonomy to the state then the centre

b) Laissez faire economy:
Thomas Jefferson held the view that the best government was that which govered little so he stressed upon the national government to maintain minimal control on state economic affairs

c) Slavery issue: as Jefferson held democratic views, he was much opposed to the slavery. But because of his landlord background, he could not do much to abolish it.

e) Religious tolerance: being an atheist himself, Jefferson felt that all citizens should be allowed religious freedom. No religious persecution should take place.

Critical analysis:
Jefferson has largely been criticized for not delivering upon his words. Although he accepted slavery as an evil, he did nothing to abolish it, and to make matters worse, he even had slaves himself. He has also been under fire for bypassing constitution in louisiona purchase.