How Did Thomas Jefferson Affect The Office Of The President

In George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796), the departing president warned that the creation of political factions, would most certainly lead to “formal and permanent despotism” for the United States, of which he was clearly right. Despite Washington’s words of warning, two of his closest advisors, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, helped to form the factions that led to the dual party system under which the U.S. operates today. Hamilton and Jefferson came to represent the divisions that shaped the early national political landscape, for they had polar opposite views on how the Constitution of the United States should allow, and support, their vision of how the government should be run. Jefferson took a strong position against the creation of a large, central federal government that got itself involved in domestic affairs. According to Jefferson, the role of government should be small and more direct to local citizens, in order to keep the new republic from returning to a tyrannical monarchy.

As a leader of the party, Thomas Jefferson upheld general Democratic-Republican values for a majority of his presidency. After being elected in 1800, Jefferson stated, in a letter to one of his future cabinet members, “The true theory of our Constitution is surely the wisest and best that the states are independent as to everything within themselves” (Doc A). Jefferson stated his overall views as traditionally being in favor of state’s independence. He further reinforces his traditional Republican beliefs by expressing that the government should not be involved with religious affairs.

Before the election of 1800, Jeffersonian Republicans steadily advocated strict construction of the Constitution, which meant that they believed that the power of the government was restricted to what was clearly stated in the Constitution. On the other hand, Federalists promoted a lose construction. This meant that the Constitution could be interpreted, based on the implied powers, by the government. However, between 1801 and 1817, the two parties frequently switched their views in order to justify executive decisions. The presidencies of Jefferson and Madison clearly exemplified how inaccurate the characterization of the Jeffersonian Republican and the Federalist parties was between 1801 and 1817.

On April 30, 1789, Washington took the oath of office and began his new job as President of the United States. He had traveled from Mount Vernon to New York City slowly, accompanied by celebrations, cannon salutes, and parades. Soon afterwards he fell very ill. A tumor was discovered in his leg. When the surgeons went to remove it they were certain they would kill him.

Jefferson says that we are all Republicans and we are all Federalists. He believed that we behold the strongest government on Earth. While he wants happiness and freedom for all, it seems as though the government’s power rests with the people. A fluctuation of power within the government that is powerless enough to abide with the people, but powerful enough to council and execute.

Jefferson advocated for a strict interpretation of the Constitution, believing in limiting federal power and emphasized states' rights and feared that an expansive federal government could encroach upon individual liberties. In Document C, Thomas Jefferson passionately argued for freedom of speech and individual liberties, stating, "strangers unused to think freely and to speak and to write what they think; but this being now decided by the voice of the nation... all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good." (Document C) Jefferson was a staunch advocate for popular sovereignty, placing great importance on the people's voice in shaping government decisions and policies.

Yet, that didn’t stop his presidency and even was able to attain a second term which was strongly opposed of the Federalist. Also, during his presidency run, Jefferson created the Embargo Act of 1807 to protect the ship merchants from the war that was going on between Britain and France. While he attempted to put a stop to the nation’s trade ships entering this battle. The act itself failed to succeed as the nation was not only built but it’s economy was based on through trade and without it the nation suffered. Of course, Jefferson wasn’t the only president to have to deal with the Britain and France war, James Madison who was Jefferson’s successor prohibited merchant ships from trading with either side.

Thomas Jefferson was elected on March 4,1801 as a president that urged the people to come together, and unite as one, instead of separating themselves due to opposing views. He supported the view of all men having the opportunity to vote, and wanted to reduce the power of the national government; exposing the views of a democrat. During his term, the Judiciary Act of 1081 was dismissed, which allowed the government control over the judicial system. Marbury V. Madison declared the law unconstitutional. Jefferson’s goal of trying to decrease the amount of control the federal government had was enacted by trying to decrease the federal budget.

Thomas Jefferson was the third elected president of the United States. He believed violence and war was unjustifiable, foreign alliances should be avoided, and was a advocate that the constitution should be strictly interpreted. His beliefs and desire to make America a powerful nation contradicted each other during the Tripolitan war, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Embargo Act. Jefferson was challenged personally and philosophically. Before the Tripolitan War, Jefferson wanted the United States to set an example for the world by not using military forces and gaining friends by peaceful coercion.

One of Jefferson's previous works, The Kentucky Resolutions, opposed established laws and acts by the Federal government. It favored stronger state government, something Democratic-Republicans strongly agreed with. It brought success, giving the right to states to declare laws and acts unconstitutional. This success was done by Jefferson himself, for helping create this resolution. Jefferson, in his

He showed that quality in the Samuel Chase case. Samuel Chase was a justice on the Supreme Court. On a trial, once, Chase voiced a Federalist opinion. Jefferson thought that the Federalist view may have had some influence in the ruling of the court, but mostly he was curious if he could impeach someone based solely on their opinion.

It is understood that John Locke played a key role of influence on Thomas Jefferson. This influence can be seen through Jefferson’s writing on the nation’s founding document. This document is called the Declaration of Independence. John Locke, the English Enlightenment philosopher wrote his Two Treatises of Government to refute the belief that kings ruled by divine right and to support the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (Doc 1). This piece of political philosophy provided many explanations for the people’s rights and obligations to overthrow a corrupt government.

Thomas Jefferson’s legacy shaped the foundation of America today, his ideas on the limiting federal government, the separation of church and state, and the utmost importance of an individual 's personal rights. Limiting help to control potential abuses by the people in power over the citizens who elected them. His influence on limiting the federal government has prevented many crisis’ that have affected other democracies. Furthermore, his beliefs of separation of church and state helped to advance society by keeping the United States of America from becoming a theocracy. Arguably Thomas Jefferson’s biggest accomplishment comes from his incredibly strong and influential effort to further advance the personal rights of each and every citizen.

Thomas Jefferson had an enormous impact on the American society. He influenced America to unite as one nation. He shaped a strong central government and had a judicial exceed. If he hadn’t shaped a strong government maybe we wouldn’t have the rights we have today. He proceeded by doing this by influencing the constitution.

APUSH DBQ #1 Vivian Yang As the colonies of America further differs with their mother country and began to develop into a successful democratic nation, numerous political had changes occurred. With this divergent, a separation of power began to emerge in the form of two political parties. These were the Jeffersonian Republicans and the Federalists. The parties came to be characterized by certain beliefs, and the usages of those principles would differ during the Jefferson and Madison presidencies.