Thomas Jefferson: life and political legacy

Thomas Jefferson

He was one of the strongest proponents of the aspirations of the American people in new America. Throughout his life, he wore many hats; in addition to being a public official, he was also a philosopher and historian. This text concerns itself with Thomas Jefferson. In so doing, it looks at his life and times and outlines some of his major accomplishments. The text will also briefly highlight some of Thomas Jefferson's blunders that led to his being branded a hypocrite.

Early Years

Described by Freidel and Sidey as a "powerful advocate of liberty," Thomas Jefferson was the United States' third president. He "was born in 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia, inheriting from his father, a planter and surveyor, some 5,000 acres of land, and from his mother, a Randolph, high social standing" (Freidel and Sidey). His mother came from one of the most distinguished, respected, and revered families in Virginia - the Randolph family. To some extent, Jefferson's background, upbringing, and education had a great impact on the direction his life took -- and eventually, on his participation in politics. With regard to his education, Jefferson attended "the College of William and Mary" (Freidel and Sidey). At the age of 29, he met the love of his life, a lady by the name Martha Wayles Skelton, whom he married, and with whom they had six children. Martha passed on ten years later.

Political Career

Prior to joining politics, Jefferson had a brief stint as a civil servant when he served as a magistrate in the local government. It was after his election to the House of Burgesses that his political ambitions started becoming apparent. Although he was not particular a vocal member, his "silent" contribution to the committee, i.e. via his writings, effectively made him indispensible (Blakesley and Hoogeveen 737). In 1775, Jefferson became an alternate selectee as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He played a crucial and pivotal role in the 1776 drafting of the declaration of independence, and as Blakesley and Hoogeveen further point out, this document has been regarded one of Western civilization's most important documents (737). Four-year later, he was elected Governor of Virginia -- replacing Patrick Henry, his predecessor. After the end of his term, Jefferson declined re-election as governor and instead chose to retire to Monticello from where he devoted most of his time to agriculture and writing. Shortly after the death of his wife (in 1782), Jefferson was recalled by Washington as minister to his county, a post he never assumed as the peace (with Great Britain), for which he was to negotiate, was secured before he could assume the said post. He was however appointed Minister of France in 1785 and four years later (on returning), became Secretary of State under the then first president of the United States, George Washington (Freidel and Sidey). After a four-year stint as Secretary of State, Jefferson resigned to establish a political party christened the Democrat-republican party. His first stab at the presidency, in 1976, was not successful. On losing to John Adams, an individual he did not get along with, Jefferson became the country's vice-president. In the year 1801, he decided to go for the top seat one again, and this time, he was lucky.

Key Accomplishments

During his two-decade reign as president, Jefferson accomplished a number of feats. To begin with, it was Jefferson who initiated the restructuring of the American presidency. Adopted during his term, the 12th Amendment "provided that electors would subsequently cast separate ballots for president and vice president…" (Vile 2003). Thus effectively, the said changes meant that two archrivals would never at the same time serve as the country's number 1 and number 2 respectively. As I have already pointed out elsewhere in this text, on being defeated in his 1976 attempt at the American presidency, Jefferson automatically became deputy to the victor -- John Adams, with whom he did not get well along. Relations between the two individuals were strained throughout Adams' term. It was also Jefferson who undertook the well-known Louisiana Purchase, therefore aiding in the extension or expansion of the country's boundaries. According to Gibbons, this particular purchase "almost doubled the land area of the country" (82). It should also be noted that unlike his predecessor, Jefferson was a strong advocate of the rights of individual states. He was also instrumental in the more than a quarter slashing of the federal government spending. Jefferson also played an important role in the "creation of the Lewis & Clark Expedition which explored untamed lands on the upper Missouri River" (Gibbons 82).