Joel+B.+-+TJ+-+SP10

=Thomas Jefferson=

Born: April 13, 1743 Death: July 4, 1846 Political Party: Democratic-Republican (//Anti-Federalist//) Date of Term: March 4, 1801- March 4, 1809 Vice Presidents- First Term: Aaron Burr (1801-1805) Second Term: George Clinton (1805-1809)

Thomas Jefferson, being the third president of the United States, had big shoes to fill from his Federalist precedents since he was the first Anti-Federalist to serve as president. This is why he receives a B+ for his overal grade for both terms. He received this grade because of his use of foreign policies, his influence on the rise of republicanism, and the expantion of the United States.

The goal of Jefferson when he became president was to make the governmental body less Federalist for the people of America. When Jefferson became president, he was filling the shoes of a much hated Federalist rule. The people of America were ready for a change and Jefferson was going to give it to the people. In his Inaugural address, Jefferson talks a lot about coming together as a country, Federalists and Republicans a like. The Republicans had been attacked by the previous president, Adams, who had signed off on the Alien and Sedition Acts. These laws allowed the government to monitor the aliens who were coming into the country because most of the aliens coming in were becoming Anti-Federalists. The Federalists wanted the the growth of the opposition to be limited so they put up boundries. Jefferson, being an Anti-Federalist, disliked this greatly, calling the Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional. Jefferson and close friend James Madison, before becoming president, acted on these unconstitutional laws by creating the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. In which, these states did not listen to these laws and later when Jefferson became president, he removed the laws completely from the governmental system. Jefferson disagreed with a lot of the laws placed there by the ealier Federalist presidents like the tax on liquor placed on the American people by Washington so when Jefferson took the position as president, he repealed the tax.

Jefferson had a great relationship with Congress during both of his terms. He must have had good relationships with Congress when he was first elected because they voted for him instead of his soon to be vie president Aaron Burr. There was a tie in the electoral college and it was Congress's job to decide on a rightful president. Jefferson would later go to Congress to ask whether or not they should buy the Louisiana Territory. He also went to Congress when he wanted to abolish acts like the Slave Trade. He also signed off on the creation of the Library of Congress and appointed the first two librarians.

Jefferson's single greatest feat as president was the Louisiana Purchase. The Spanish owned this area of America until the French won it over. The United States wanted to own this area that France owned because they did not want the French to attack them. Jefferson sent Robert L. Livingston and James Monroe to France to negotiate a purchase of only New Orleans and Spanish Florida. Napolean was hard pressed for money since France was in the midst of a war with Britain so he wantd to sell in tho America. The two negotiators bought the Louisiana Territory from France for fifteen million dollars. Jefferson was a bit sketchy about the area since that is not what he asked for. The new idea was taken to Senate and they voted 26-5 for the purchase. This land purchase caused the area of America to double and it gave America the Mississippi River which it would use a lot for trade between states. This new area of America had never been expored before by any American so Jefferson set up an exploration by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. These two men with the help of Sacajawea trecked across this new part of America drawing maps, taking scientific observations, and brings peace to the Native Americans of the land.

Another major event that occered during Jefferson's reign was the signing of the Embargo Act. America was being bullied by France and Britain during the Napoleonic Wars. Both European powers would attack American ships that were heading towards the oppositions ports. Britain was even going to the extreme as to fire upon American ships and hold their ships captive. In response to these attacks, Jefferson signed the Embargo act which stated that American ships could not visit European ports and no European ships could drop off any cargo in any American ports. This was supposed to send a message to the European powers that America should not be bullied and that they need to realize that they need America's exports to survive. Instead, this act hurt the American economy for than the European's. This port workers, sailors, and all other people that were associated with this shipping progress were unemployed and the agricultural workers had a lot of excess products that were wasted in storage. Merchants thoughout America went broke. The one positive thing that came out of this for America was the booming advances in the manufactoring business. People who lost there jobs started working in the new factories that were being opened. Jefferson, at the end of his term, passed the Non-Intercourse Act which slightly lifted the ban on shipping after the previous law basically ruined America's economy.

Because of Thomas Jefferson, the Rebublican party grew and it gained much respect from the people of the United States. He expanded the size of America, helped the Reublican party grow, and kept the country out of the European Wars. He also fought off the first foe that attacked America, Tripoli. Overal, Jefferson was a great president other than the Embargo Act. That is why i give him a B+ grade.

Bibliography

DeGregorio, William A. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents//. Fort Lee, N.J: Barricade, 2005.

"Thomas Jefferson." July 4, 1995. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/jefferson.htm

"Establishing a Federal Republic." February 6, 2001. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jefffed.html