Government
Thomas Jefferson - Kristina Rossi
Background and Significant Features
- Wartime Governor
- Diplomat
- 3rd U.S. President (2 terms)
- Author of Declaration of Independence
- Graduated from William and Mary
- Philosopher
- Elected to the House of Burgesses in 1769
- Elected to Continental Congress in 1775
- Elected to House of Delegates in 1776
- Secretary of State
- Vice President
Painting by Rembrandt Peale in 1800
Photo by John Dunlap on July 4, 1776
Photo by Joy Massof from Wikipedia
Relation to American Government
~~1st amendment: freedom of religion due to his ideal of separation of church and state
- Jefferson's idea of the Louisiana Purchase
~~ This allowed the United States to double in size and expand westward
- Started the Democratic Republicans which opened the way for a two party system instead of just the Federalists
~~ Created the party Democratic Republicans (Republicans) who pushed for democracy
- Brought neoclassicism to America
~~ Provided the plans for the new state capitol in Richmond and founded the University of Virginia
- Made the Constitution the guideline of his political views
~~ Shaped the principles of American democracy
-Wrote the Virginia Constitution of 1776 which was a work for framing a new government
~~ Established the ideals that all men are by nature equally free and independent (1st, 13th, and 14th amendment signify these ideals later on)
~~ Created sovereignty which is the given authority to the people which is still important today (ie. voting rights and trials)
- Declaration of Independence gave the natural rights of man
Citations
Ward, Harry. "Thomas Jefferson." Encyclopedia of the American Revolution: Library of Military History. Ed. Harold E. Selesky. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. Biography in Context. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
Peterson, Merrill D. "Thomas Jefferson." Encyclopedia of the American Constitution. Gale, 2000. Biography in Context. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
Peale, Rembrandt. File:Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale, 1800.jpg. Wikimedia Commons, 1 June 2015. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
Green, John. "Thomas Jefferson & His Democracy: Crash Course US History #10." Youtube. Crash Course, 11 Apr. 2013. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
Dunlap, John. "Thomas Jefferson." Library of Congress. N.p., 4 July 1776. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
Joy, Massof. "Education in Virginia." Wikipedia. N.p., 4 Jan. 2015. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.