Stephanie+-+TJ+-+SP09

Thomas Jefferson




 * Born**: April 13, 1743
 * Died**: July 4, 1826
 * Political Party**: Democratic-Republican
 * Terms of Office**: March 4, 1801- 1805 1805 - March 3, 1809
 * Vice President**: Aaron Burr (1801-1805) George Clinton (1805-1801)


 * Presidential Evaluation**

On a grade scale of A-F, Thomas Jefferson deserves an B. He helped cut the United States debt by a third, acquired the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon, and reduced the budget of the Army and Navy. Smaller endeavors included, assisting relationships with Native Americans and attempting to ban the slave trade. Thomas Jefferson had a large impact on the United States and was certainly above average in his presidency.

The main three goals of Thomas Jefferson's presidency were decrease the national debt, land expansion, and improve foreign affairs. In regards to the national debt, Thomas Jefferson handled the situation very well. He didn't feel that the nation needed debt to increase foreign recognition. He repealed multiple taxes, one being the tax of Whiskey that was disliked by many colonists. He also decreased the size of the military. Jefferson felt that if the military was needed, then it would come up at that specific time. He did, however, establish the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1802. Land expansion went extremely well during Jefferson's presidency. This deal gave the United States control of the New Orleans port as well as the Mississippi River. Improving foreign affairs didn't work out as well for Jefferson. There were situations that did go well, like the Barbary War. This ended with a treaty with the pirates that had previously been attacking and stealing from United States ships. The Embargo Act created by Jefferson didn't run so smoothly. The act prohibited American ships to land in foreign ports unless authorized by him. Also, any foreign ships wishing to land in American ports would have to pay a bond equal to the ship and all its cargo before the could dock. This resulted in a damaged economy and an increased amount of smuggling.

During Jefferson's presidency the two major political parties were the Federalists and the Democratic-Republican. Jefferson was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. At the time, he was unaware that he had ended the rule of the Federalist Party forever (John Adams was the last Federalist president of the United States). He was granted permission to choose his own cabinet, positions that were previously held by Federalist Party members. Jefferson resisted the temptations to remove all of the Federalists from their positions. He truly believed that they could be turned to the Republican Party. He kept most officials in their existing positions. The Federalist Party was greatly weakened by Jefferson's presidency. There were many Federalist policies, however, that were kept throughout his terms. He left the Hamilton framework essentially in tact. The national bank and tariffs were continued. His restraint was the beginning of the two-party system that later became a crucial characteristic of American politics.

The decision of Jefferson's presidency that had the most positive impact on the country was the Louisiana Purchase. His first move toward expansion was sending James Monroe and Robert Livingston to France to discuss purchasing New Orleans from the French. Napoleon was desperate for money at the time so he offered Jefferson the land for $15 million. This was a very convenient price, but Jefferson thought that he lacked the power to buy the land. He decided that he would draft an amendment that would allow Congress power to purchase land. The process when much faster when Napoleon threatened to sell the land to Great Britain. His bill passed and the sale was known as the Louisiana Purchase. This nearly doubled the size of the United States at the time. The Lewis and Clark expedition was then set into motion so that they could explore the newly acquired land, learn about the people, and set up some form of trade agreement.

The Embargo Act was definitely the decision that had the most negative impact on both Jefferson's presidency and the United States as a whole. The act, created in 1807, was designed to help the United States gain respect from France and Great Britain by cutting of trade with both nations. The United States was attempting to stay neutral and Jefferson thought that this Act would help improve their stance. The act did nothing but encourage smuggling. As a result, Jefferson had to order military personnel to line the coasts. Because New England depended on trade with Great Britain, the Embargo Act infuriated them and most people turned back to the Federalist Party. This act really discredited Jefferson.

Jefferson greatly impacted future of the country as a whole as well as administrations of the United States. He gave Congress the power to purchase land from other countries. He helped to expand the entire nation. Jefferson was granted the ability to choose his own governing officials. This was a tradition that was kept throughout history. Most importantly, the maintained restraint that he had during his presidency helped to begin the two-party characteristic of American politics. He encouraged education as well, he was a great believer in natural philosophy. He assisted in the creation of the University of Virginia.

In the end, the country was much better off having Jefferson as a president. He doubled the size of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase. The nation's debt was reduced by a third after his presidency, and exploration was encouraged. The findings of the Lewis and Clark expedition were very useful and interesting. Jefferson was a proud patriot who wanted to do things only for the better of the nation and to make sure that the citizens had their individual rights, just like his mentor Patrick Henry had said. Thomas Jefferson was an outstanding president. The only mistakes that he made were those involving foreign affairs. Taking all of this into consideration, Jefferson certainly deserves a B.


 * Bibliography**:

The American Pageant: Appendix and Chapter 11 http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson/ http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/tjefferson.html http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=3