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__Thomas Jefferson__

Antifederalist

Thomas Jefferson comes from Virginia. Virginia at this time was largely an antifederalist state and one of the last four states to ratify the new constitution. Virginia's main source of income was tobacco. Virginia had many tobacco plantations along with other smaller farms for food crops. These farmers of Virginia feared a strong central government because that would mean taxation and payments of debts. They felt that a new form of strong central government would oppress them.

Jefferson was a privileged man. He inherited about 5,000 acres of land from his father in Shadwell, Virginia. He attended the College of William & Mary. There he studied philosophy, mathematics, and metaphysics. Jefferson is introduced to 'the three greatest men the world has ever produced" in college (John Locke, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton). These three men greatly shape the ideology of Jefferson in the form of how a government should be. Jefferson then goes on to be a very successful lawyer.

Jefferson was not a member of the Constitutional Convention. Thomas Jefferson did not take part in the Convention because he was Minister to France during the time. Jefferson was in Paris, France and could not partake in the Convention.

Jefferson agreed with some points of the Constitution. He wanted a greater unification of the states. He was adamant about preserving the rights of the people of the states. Jefferson suggested adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution in order to satisfy his, and many other people's, wants.

References: Richard Henry Lee Patrick Henry George Mason

"Annals of American History."//Annals of American History//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. "TeachingAmericanHistory.org Document Library: Select a Document."//TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. .