Thomas Jefferson
and what he did for America...
The Plan
When Tomas Jefferson got elected to be the third president of the United States of America he promised many things. He called this plan " The Jeffersonnian 'Revolution'" It is called the "revolution" because Jefferson had noticed that the American citizens voted for changes, with just as much motivation as America had fought in the French and Indian War. This revolution was a turning point of the 1800s because his election was the first time the the type of political control was given to one political party to the next through a democratic election without violence.
His promises were to pay off the national debt, encourage agriculture and trade, and preserve the country's credit.
His promises were to pay off the national debt, encourage agriculture and trade, and preserve the country's credit.
What he did in the revolution:
- He thought that people was the center of government power and control. Thinking this he wanted a more democratic government, having all the people with equal rights.
- Jefferson did agree with having Federalist support the central government and how they ruled, by the highly educated, wealth. He believed in states rights and rule by the majority. If fact he thought state government were closer to the U.S citizens and families the the Federal government.
- Jefferson didn't like how Alexander Hamilton thought. Alexander had the idea that government should promote banking, commerce, and industry. Jefferson went in a different direction by having a hands-off policy what he called laissez-faire. This French phrase means "let the people do as they choose." The Republicans agreed with Jefferson that the federal government's role should be to keep people from injuring each other. They put it as "free to regulate their own pursuits."
- His major priority was to help cut federal spending and lower taxes. To help him, he appointed a House of Representative: Albert Gallatin, a immigrant of Switzerland, as secretary of the treasury. With him they:
- Pay for national debt
- Encourage agricultural and trade
- Simplify government
- Avoid high coats of war and defense
- Cut military spending
- Cut army and navy
- Cut staff
- Reduce government spending
- Opposed a National Bank; but kept it intact, or untouched
- 5. Another thing they did together was to end all internal taxes. Now only tariffs on imports and revenue from sale of western lands could have internal taxes. This was used for paying for roads, education, arts, and other public works.
- 6. Instead of renewing the disapproved alien acts, he passed a mew naturalization act. With this new act a person would only need 5 years residency requirements for citizenship, instead of the 14 years required by the Alien acts.
...Going back to the Inauguration
It happened of March 4, 1801. Thomas Jefferson became the 3rd president, but the first to take the oath of office in the new capital of Washington, D.C. He was sworn in by Chief Justice John Marshall, who was one of John Adams's last appointees. This is the place where all 41 other presidents will follow suit.
Talents
We know Thomas Jefferson as the 3rd president of the United States of America. As a politician, but he could do so much more! He was a Architect: he made the University of Virginia, the Virginia Capital, and his own home. He also was a musician who played the violin. Being a musician led him to becoming a inventor. He made a special music stand for the people who played with him in the chamber. He was a Linguist, which is a person who can speak many languages. He was a Gardener, a Farmer, a Mathematician, a Writer, a Sculptor, a Surveyor, which is a person who looks over a land. A Attorney, and Lastly a Anthropologist, which is a person who studies the history of humans and the science.
The Virginia Capital
Thomas Jefferson was the Architect for this building.
Jefferson's Invention
A special music stand for the accompaniments with him who were playing in chamber music.
Instrument played by Jefferson
This is a violin played by Thomas Jefferson