Kyle+S.+-+TJ+-+FA12

**Thematic Context:**
====The identity of America has changed quickly throughout the beginning of united our nation and becoming independent. When Thomas Jefferson came into office, America was well into the developing stage but still was processing. A major event that occured during his terms in office was the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Napoleon decided to sell the land the french had owned to America in order to pay off all war debts that they were deeply in. Jefferson had previously sent James Monroe and Robert Livingston to Paris to buy New Orleans, but Napoleon felt the nation needed money over land and sold all of their land in North America to America. This Purchase gave America double the land they had already owned, increasing the size of their country allowing them to explore west and grow and develop. The nation could now expand their land and territories and begin to conquer more space gaining more natural resources and materials.==== ====Another event that happened while Jefferson was in office and changed Americas identity was the Lewis and Clark Expedition that was appointed by Jefferson himself. Thomas sent both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an adventure to explore the Louisianna territory that had recently been purchased. This journey advanced the nations scientific and geographical knowledge and introduced America to the west where they would eventually end up controlling as well. Lewis and Clark explore from 1804 to 1806 mapping out the new territory of America and locating new landmarks and resources for the nation.====

**Thesis:**
====Thomas Jefferson played a big impact on the physical growth of American land. He had bought an astonishing amount of land that doubled the size of the nation. He later ordered men to explore this land in curriosity of what it may hold. Jefferson attempted and was pretty successful with building and developing America and its identity. He deserves a B on his presidency for devoting his time in politics towards improving the nation. Thomas put in hard work and achieved his goals in expanding america and constructing it into potential to be a great powerful nation.====

**Goals:**
====Thomas Jefferson had many goals as president. Some of his goals were to increase Republicanism and decrease Federalism, lower taxes, and create a democratic, agricultural nation. He suceeded in giving more power to Republicanism and more power to the states. Jefferson also managed to lower many of the taxes in America. Jeffersons goal to create a democratic and agricultural nation would unfortunately for him fail. Jefferson had my successful goals but also some that were unseccessful.====

**Relationship With Congress:**
====Jefferson had a fairly well relationship with congress. Congress passed many of his requests showing that they approved and had good relations with him. One request that Jefferson had was to make international slave trade a law, which would cut down on the amount of slaves eventhough they were a big part of the souths economy. Congress passed this law and he signed the bill enforcing it apon the citizens. The majority part was the Republicans which was his party so he had much support from the congress and therefore was able to pass many requests. With the majority, power, and support of congress he was able to purchase Louisanna. Without this support, the purchase may have been ratified and never bought.====

**Good/Bad Actions:**
====Thomas Jefferson in 1803, bought the Louisianna territory from Napoleon. This purchase may have been Jeffersons greatest action as president because it was a huge change in land for America and helped America grow quickly and greatly. The purchase increased the size, wealth, and strenght of America with new resources, more land, and more money from the resources. This woudl definitely go down as his greatest action for America.==== ====Jefferson may have had a great actions, but that doesn't mean all of his actions were good ones. In fact, he's had bad actions, and some might say his one action in particular was the worst made by a president. The Embargo act of 1808 was passed by Jefferson in hope to send a message to Europe that they won't have America as a customer of until the impressment was ended. The act stated that no cargo ships in America were allowed to ship to foreign nations and no foreign cargo ships could be shipped and unloaded in America. This act turned out to be the worst action Jefferson could have and did make. The result of this act was that it hurt America economically but not the French or British because they realized they weren't dependent on American goods. America needed trade with the nations in order to receive profit and goods that the nation was dependent on, but with this act America was not receiving these things. The act was finally abolished in 1809 and would go down in history as one of the worst actions by a president.====

**Influence:**
====Jefferson had much influence on future presidents and movements in America due to his actions. Two actions of his that had a great influence would be either the Louisianna purchase, or the abolishment on International Slave Trade. Both of these actions would lead to future actions of presidents. The Louisianna purchase would lead to the exploration of land and increasing the size of the nation. The illegalizing of slave trade would eventually lead to the end of slavery in America. These actions wouldn't lead to one big step in the future but instead lead to little steps towards expantion and ending slavery.====

**Conclusion:**
====cIn conclusion, Thomas Jefferson was a good president for America, even though he made some bad decisions. Jefferson had a lot of impact on how America is today, in a good way. He made many great desicions and actions that improved the unity and power of the new growing nation. He may not have been the best president in history, but that doesn't make him the worst either. Jefferson helped out this nation in many ways and would end up being a great president. Becides the fact that he made bad decisions that hurt the nation, he was a great contribution towards America.====
 * Bibliography:**

"Thomas Jefferson." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Sept. 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. .

"The Embargo Act of 1807." //Suite101.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. .