Whitney+-+TJ+-+SP09

Thomas Jefferson
 * Born:** April 13, 1743- July 4, 1826
 * Political Party:** Democratic Republic
 * Terms at Office:** 1801-1805, 1805-1809
 * Vice President:** Aaron Burr, George Clinton

If the presidents were given a grade on how they did in presendicy Jefferson would get a "B". He did some good things as President like reducing the debt by a third, getting rid of the tax on whiskey, and purchasing the Louisana land. When he wasn't serving as president that seemed to be when he did his best work and actually helped the nation.

Some of the goals of Jefferson was to decrease the power of federalism, decrease the debt, and peace through out the nation. To decrease the power of federalism, Jefferson allowed the court system to declare laws passed by Congress to be unconstitutional. He also reduce the debt of America by a third which was a great accomplishment on his behalf. He accomplish that goal by reducing the military, lowering taxes, etc... Due to the fact that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independene he thought it was great and he wanted more people to follwe the constitution better. He believed if this was done the nation would become more peaceful.

Jefferson had a great relationship with the Congress because most of the people that were in Congress were Democratic- Republicans like himself. The two people that would cause him the most trouble were not in congress anymore. Therefore Jefferson and the Congress saw eye to eye on most situations that had to be discussed. In fact Jefferson didn't veto any decisions made by congress in both terms.

The Louisana Purchase in 1803 was one of Jefferson's better decisions. Even though the land cost $15 million it was well worth in considering in double the sized of the United States. At first Jefferson was unsure about the legitamcy of the land, but he gave in because this would be great for the U.S. This land was unexplored and Jefferson wanted to know more about it so he chose two men to explore the new land and create maps of what they saw. Jefferson chose Lewis and Clark to go all the way to the West to see what the new world held for the U.S. This land led to the first pioneers settling into Northwest America. In Jefferson's second term he was more focused on the foreign affairs. The Embargo Act of 1807 was met to help the U.S. This act stopped exports of all goods to and from the U.S. This was because British ships would capture the American ship and force them in to the navy. It would have been a great plan if Britain wouldn't have had a great growing season the next year. So in the end he ended up hurting the U.S and helping the foreigners.

Jefferson made the decision of the federal government having limited powers. Which is now referred to as checks and balances one part of the government can not make a decision by themselves they have certain rules they most obey. Jefferson was also the one who helped develop our capital today Washington D.C he was the first president to give his inauguaral speech in Washington.

The country was better off at the end of his two term as president. What he did in his first term when he bought the Louisana land help a great deal to what the U.S. looks like today. If he hadn't bought that land what would the country look like today. He also help get the government in order with the amount of power that was given to them, and he reduced the debt by a third. So he did many great things for this country that might not have been done other wise.

Bibliograpy [|http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson] http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jefffed.html