Thomas Jefferson PDF

BACKGROUND April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826 Virginia lawyer, governor, and plantation owner Married to Martha Jefferson; 6 children (2 survived) Main author of the Declaration of Independence; Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom First Secretary of State; Second Vice President...

BACKGROUND April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826 Virginia lawyer, governor, and plantation owner Married to Martha Jefferson; 6 children (2 survived) Main author of the Declaration of Independence; Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom First Secretary of State; Second Vice President  Odd 1/1 EARLY NEUTRALITY In 1803, the peace that Adams had negotiated with France was broken as France and England went to war. Each country began to attack American ships. Remaining neutral became even harder as England began impressing , or kidnapping, American soldiers to serve in the British navy. War fever in America mounted again, only this time it was against Britain.  Even 1/1 BARBARY PIRATES American ships were also under attack by pirates off the coast of North Africa, in the Mediterranean. Before Jefferson took office, the U.S. had already paid two million in tribute to the Barbary Pirates. Jefferson hated war, but he hated paying tribute ($) even more. He sent a small fleet of warships to the Mediterranean to protect American shipping. Eventually, American and European forces were able to destroy the pirate bases.  Odd 1/1 FOREIGN POLICY Jefferson still had France and Britain to deal with. Between 1803 and 1807, they had seized at least 1,500 American ships. Jefferson decided to impose an embargo -a complete halt in trade EMBARGO with other nations. He hoped that the embargo would hurt France and Britain’s economy enough that they would agree to leave American ships alone. Unfortunately, that did not happen. The Embargo hurt American trade more than it hurt Britain or France. One sailor mailed Jefferson his address and asked him to come see him.  Even 1/3 WESTWARD EXPANSION In the early 1800s, United States’ territory only extended west to the Mississippi River. The land on the other side belonged to Spain and then France. Hoping to ensure trade in the area would not be restricted, Jefferson sent a representative to France, who was informed that the land was for sale. Jefferson hesitated because nothing in the Constitution authorized him to purchase the land and he had always emphasized a strict interpretation of the Constitution.  Odd 2/3 WESTWARD EXPANSION: THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE Jefferson’s advisors urged him to make the deal to purchase the territory for fifteen million before Napoleon changed his mind. Ultimately, he decided that the President’s treaty-making powers allowed the purchase of the land. Jefferson was hoping this land would expand American trade and provide plenty of inexpensive and fertile land for farmers.  Even 3/3 WESTWARD EXPANSION: LEWIS AND CLARK Since very little was actually known about the land, Jefferson decided to sponsor an expedition to explore the new territory. He chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to assemble a crew. The expedition left in 1804, working their way up the Mississippi to start. It took eighteen months and nearly 4,000 miles before Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific ocean.  DEATH OF A LEGEND By June 1826, Jefferson’s health had deteriorated so much that he was confined to his bed. He spent his time there going over his finances and debts. After sleeping most of the day on July 3rd, Jefferson awoke and asked his doctor “Is it the fourth yet?” These were his last words; he passed away during the early hours of the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. END OF AN ERA I have done for my country, and for all mankind, all that I could do, and I now resign my soul, without fear, to my God, – my daughter to my country. I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.